Description:

Colonial Pennsylvania
Huntington County, PA, ca. 1799
John Nicholson 1799 Pennsylvania Land Archive, 13pp
MDS
[PENNSYLVANIA.] John Nicholson et al., Manuscript Documents Signed, Copies of Documents from Nicholson vs. Heirs of Loudon, 1799, Huntington County, Pennsylvania. 13 pp., various sizes. Attached with pin; some edge chipping and general toning.

This set of documents from the case of Nicholson vs Heirs of Loudon reflects the confusion of multiple surveys and land grants in the wake of the Revolutionary War. John Nicholson and Company argued that their claim to the land in question in Huntington County in central Pennsylvania rested on older warrants than those of the heirs of John Loudon. The Surveyor General's Office in 1795 decided that in Robert Martin's related challenge to the surveys upon which Loudon's claims rested, they would accept the Loudon surveys.

Excerpts
"Statement of the case made out at the request and by the appointment of The Pennsylvania Land Company for the Counsel on behalf of The Plaintiffs in the following action in ejectment intended to be tried nisi prius in Huntington County viz- / John Nicholson Lessee v The Heirs of John Loudon
"This cause arises on an appeal from the decision of the Board of property on a caveat filed see schedule No 1 and decided upon see No 2. The warrants on which the plaintiff claims the lands are older than those of the defendants for a copy of the application list of the plaintiffs warrants see No 3 for a copy of the application list of the defendants warrants see No 4. It is expected that the warrants in the hands of the deputy will be allowed to be given in evidence as it will save expence to both sides see No 5. however it appears that some mistake was made in the warrant different from the application see No 6. It hath been contended that there is no branch of the stream which makes the first forks of Clearfield where we lay our leading warrant and it is thought on that and that one view of our place of beginning should be had by a jury previous to the trial the lands called for in the leading warrant in the name of Wm Machey (Nicholson & Co) were discovered located and surveyed by Robert Martin he consequently knew well where he intended his location should lie in the case of the warrants now in controversy-our warrants were duly paid for see No 7 The warrants of the defendant were paid for the day of (see No 8) Ours were put into the hands of the deputy See No 5 – theirs were put into his hands (see No 5) It is expected that Robert Martin who contracted for these lands and who is interested to establish the title will attend on the trial."

"8th May 1795 / Robert Martin enters a Caveat agt the Issuing Pattents in the Returns of Survey in the Names of the following persons (to Wit) Peter Brown, William Yards Emanuel Eyers, George Eyers...he said Martin alledging he has War[ran]ts for the same Land of a Prior date in the following names (to Wit) Daniel Montgomery, John Painter, William Montgomery Jr., Robert Lyon...& Robert Martin."

"At a meeting at the Surveyor General's Office 18 Feb. 1795... On hearing the parties and examining the General Plots of survey's and Warrant's, it is the opinion of the Board, that Martin's warrants ought not to affect Lowdons surveys, as it seems probable that a part of them are shut out by old Survey's & if not, that the mode of extending them round many other Surveys in order to come at the Land surveyed for him, said Lowdon cannot be permitted; and therefore it is ordered that Lowdon's surveys shall be adopted."


John Nicholson (1757-1800) was born in Wales and immigrated to Philadelphia before the Revolutionary War. He became a manufacturer and land speculator. From 1778 to 1781, he served as clerk to the Board of Treasury of the Continental Congress. He then served as a commissioner to settle the accounts of the Pennsylvania line. In 1782, he became the comptroller general of Pennsylvania. Under the Federal Loan of 1792, Nicholson exchanged $60,000 in New Loan certificates, which he had acquired for virtually nothing, for federal securities. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives began impeachment proceedings against Nicholson in 1793 and began a suit against him to recover the funds. In the impeachment trial in the Senate, House prosecutors were unsuccessful in convicting him on any of seven counts. He was acquitted but in 1794 resigned from all his public offices. He then partnered with Robert Morris in land speculation, promoting the development of Washington, D.C., and other areas. With Morris and James Greenleaf, he created the North American Land Company in 1795. Early in the winter of 1799-1800, he was imprisoned for debt, and when he died in December 1800, he left behind a widow, eight children, and more than $4 million in debts. The settlement of his estate took half a century.


This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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