Description:

Monroe James



James Monroe Signed Illinois Territory Land Deed Granted to War of 1812 Veteran

 

Land grant signed by 5th U.S. President James Monroe (1758-1831) as “James Monroe” at bottom right. The document is handsomely presented in a gilt frame behind burgundy velvet matting and glass. The deed appears beneath the president's bust portrait at upper right, and a plaque engraved with his biographical information at upper left. Not examined out of frame. The sight size of the land deed is 11.5" x 8.75" while the overall size of the frame is 21.25" x 24.25" x 1". Accompanied by copies of Morett's land deed data retrieved from the U.S. General Land Office Records database.

 

Partially printed and partially handwritten on vellum, the land grant was signed at Washington, D.C. on November 17, 1817. Also signed by then Commissioner of the General Land Office Josiah Meigs (1757-1822) as “Josiah Meigs” at bottom center. With embossed paper General Land Office seal in lower left corner. Expected folds and isolated ink fading not affecting signatures, else near fine.

 

In the upper left corner of the land deed, a female form embodying the new Republic is shown bestowing a land deed on a returning soldier; this was an idealized visual representation of legislation already confirmed. On May 6, 1812, the 12th U.S. Congress authorized the awarding of land bounties to eligible War of 1812 veterans. Land was assigned to them in modern day Illinois, Louisiana, and Michigan.

 

The land deed reads in part:

 

"President of the United States of America. To all of whom these presents shall come, greeting:

 

Know Ye, That, in pursuance of the Acts of Congress appropriating and granting Land to the late Army of the United States, passed on and since the sixth day of May, 1812, Micajah Morett having deposited in the General Land-Office a Warrant in his favour, numbered 8216 there is granted unto the said Micajah Morett late a Private in Johns Company of Artillery a certain Tract of Land…"

 

Micajah Morett was granted a quarter section of land in what is today Calhoun, Illinois. Morett and his heirs became the owners of 160 acres of land located in the northwest quadrant of Section 19 of Township 13 south in Range 1 West in Illinois Territory.

 

Ultimately, War of 1812 veterans received over 29,000 land grants, encompassing some 4,800,000 acres of the 6,000,000-acre land trust set aside for that purpose, according to a summary found in an 1881 House of Representatives Congressional Serial Set (234-235).

 

This signed land grant testifies to a period of rapid western expansion. During James Monroe’s two presidential terms, five states joined the Union: Mississippi in 1817, Illinois in 1818, Alabama in 1819, Maine in 1820, and Missouri in 1821.

 

James Monroe is considered one of America's Founding Fathers. This last president of the so-called Virginia Dynasty also ushered the nation into both the nineteenth century and the Era of Good Feelings. Monroe first became involved in revolutionary politics as a teenaged orphan when he stormed the Virginia Governor's palace; he was later wounded at the Battle of Trenton. Monroe studied law under then Governor of Virginia Thomas Jefferson. His brilliant political career included stints as Continental Congressional delegate Virginia Senator, Virginia Governor, U.S. Minister to France, U.S. Minister to the United Kingdom, U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. Secretary of War, and finally 5th U.S. President (1817-1825.)

 


WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!
Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. ***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR SHIPMENT TO BE SENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE ON FILE WITH INVALUABLE, YOU WILL NEED TO INFORM US OF THIS AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS SUBMITTED FOR YOUR WINNINGS. ALSO, ALL PACKAGES SHIPPED FROM OUR OFFICES REQUIRE A DIRECT SIGNATURE UPON DELIVERY.*** Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

December 5, 2018 10:30 AM EST
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000