Ohio Company records
Collection
Identifier: VAULT-Ayer-MS-3091
Abstract
Company formed Mar. 1, 1786, by Revolutionary War officers to raise capital for the acquisition and settlement of federal lands northwest of the Ohio River. Minutes, correspondence, accounts, receipts, powers of attorney, lists, etc. (bulk 1787-1793) of Ohio Company of Associates agent, Benjamin Heywood, a former Continental Army officer and resident of Worcester, Mass.,Included are minutes of Worcester area subscribers' meetings (1787-1789) in which Heywood was elected one of three agents replacing Rufus Putnam who was leaving for Ohio; proceedings of proprietors' and agents' meetings held in Marietta, Ohio, Dec. 3-15, 1788, discussing problems encountered by intending settlers and resulting revisions to plans; correspondence, receipts, powers of attorney to receive military bounty lands (often detailing military service), and other documents generated by Heywood and his divisional subscribers; Heywood's subscriber lists noting shares owned, specific Ohio lands held, and interest owed; correspondence and accounts with company treasurer Richard Platt (1788); and a 1792 circular letter addressed to Heywood, signed by company directors Putnam, R. Oliver, and M. Cutler, requesting corrected accounts and subscriber lists. There is also one 1800 letter regarding the sale of shares and the probable value of Ohio lands.
Dates
- 1787-1800, bulk 1787-1793
- Majority of material found within 1787 - 1793
Creator
- Ohio Company (1786-1796) (Organization)
Biographical / Historical
Company formed Mar. 1, 1786, by Revolutionary War officers to raise capital for the acquisition and settlement of federal lands northwest of the Ohio River. Subscribers, who purchased shares for $1,000 Continental specie (often partially in military bounty land warrants) and $10 silver or gold, were formed into divisions comprising twenty shares. Each division appointed an agent to transact its subscribers' business with the company, and the agents in turn voted for the company's officers. While Ohio Company lands were settled slowly, in 1788 the firm was successful in founding Marietta, Ohio, under the leadership of Rufus Putnam.
Extent
0.1 Linear Feet (1 box)
Language of Materials
English
Ownership and Custodial History
Forms part of the Edward E. Ayer Manuscript Collection (Newberry Library)
General Note
Formerly known as Ayer MS 379b.
General Note
Circular,formerly known as Ayer MS 656a.
General Note
In box with title: Benjamin Heywood. Diary. 1787-1793.
- Bounties, Military -- United States -- History -- 18th century -- Sources
- Correspondence -- 1751-1800
- Cutler, Manasseh -- Correspondence
- Edward E. Ayer Manuscript Collection (Newberry Library)
- Heywood, Benjamin
- Land companies -- Ohio -- History -- 18th century -- Sources
- Land settlement -- Ohio -- History -- 18th century -- Sources
- Manuscripts, American
- Marietta (Ohio) -- History -- 18th century -- Sources
- Ohio -- History -- 18th century -- Sources
- Ohio Company (1786-1796) -- Records and correspondence
- Oliver, Robert -- Correspondence
- Platt, Richard -- Correspondence
- Putnam, Rufus
- Real property -- Ohio -- History -- 18th century -- Sources
- United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Veterans -- Sources
Creator
- Ohio Company (1786-1796) (Organization)
- Status
- Catalog Record Only
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the The Newberry Library - Modern Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
60 West Walton Street
Chicago Illinois 60610 United States
312-255-3512
reference@newberry.org
60 West Walton Street
Chicago Illinois 60610 United States
312-255-3512
reference@newberry.org