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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

  • Creation: 1787-1800
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1787-1793

Creator

History of the Ohio Company

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)

Related Archival Materials

Related material: "The Ohio Company in Acct. Currt. with Benj. Heywood" (Articles of an association by the name of The Ohio Company), VAULT Graff 4810, Newberry Library.

Processing Information Note

Formerly known as Ayer MS 379b. Circular formerly known as Ayer MS 656a.

In box with title: Benjamin Heywood. Diary. 1787-1793.

Status
Catalog Record Only
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the The Newberry Library - Modern Manuscripts and Archives Repository

Contact:
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