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James Wilkinson letters

 Collection
Identifier: VAULT box-Ayer-MS-982

Abstract

Small collection of correspondence and a few orders written by James Wilkinson, military officer, western land speculator, and governor of Louisiana, between 1792 and 1818. The majority of the letters were written at Fort Washington and Fort Hamilton in Ohio and relate to Indian affairs and military operations in the Northwest Territory during the 1790s. The correspondents include quartermaster general Samuel Hodgdon, Pennsylvania militia officer John Armstrong, and Lieutenant William Simmons. Miscellaneous letters from the first two decades of the 1800s include two warrants to pay Choctaw chiefs Occhummia and Phufeiahomia for services rendered in 1802.

Dates

  • Creation: 1792-1818

Creator

Biography of James Wilkinson

James Wilkinson, military officer, western land speculator, and governor of Louisiana, was born in Calvert County, Maryland in 1757. During the 1790s Wilkinson served in the military operations against Indians in the Northwest Territory. In 1805 he was appointed governor of Louisiana where became involved in the Aaron Burr conspiracy to create a southwestern empire. Although Wilkinson was acquitted of the charges, his reputation was permanently tarnished. Following the War of 1812, he was discharged from the military and moved to Mexico where he died in 1825.

Extent

0.1 Linear Feet (19 folders)

Language of Materials

English

Ownership and Custodial History

Forms part of the Edward E. Ayer Manuscript Collection (Newberry Library).

Bibliographic References

Butler, R.L. Checklist of Mss. in the Ayer Coll., 982-992.

Processing Information Note

All items except "To the Miami, Shawanese, Delaware ... ", 1792 formerly known as Ayer MS 983-992.

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

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