TO THE HONORABLE THE JUDGES OF THE COURT OF CLAIMS. THE PETITION OF SAMUEL A. PEUGH RESPECTFULLY SHOWETH: THAT YOUR PETITIONER IS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF JOHN EDGAR, HEREINAFTER MENTIONED. THAT ON THE 12TH DAY OF APRIL, 1769, A TRACT OF LAND, BY METES AND BOUNDS, CONTAINING ABOUT 23,900 ACRES, WAS GRANTED, BY JOHN WILKINS, LIEUTENANT COLONEL OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S EIGHTEENTH ROYAL REGIMENT, COMMANDING IN THE ILLINOIS COUNTRY, UNTO JOHN BAYNTON, SAMUEL WHARTON, AND GEORGE MORGAN, THEIR HEIRS AND ASSIGNS... AFTERWARDS, SAID LANDS WERE...SOLD TO JOHN EDGAR, WHO AFTERWARDS, ON THE 11TH DAY OF JUNE, 1790, FOR A VALUABLE CONSIDERATION, SOLD AND CONVEYED ONE-HALF THEREOF TO JOHN MURRAY ST. CLAIR... ARTHUR ST. CLAIR, THEN ACTING GOVERNOR OF SAID TERRITORY, DID, ON THE 15TH DAY OF MARCH, 1790, CONFIRM THE AFORESAID GRANT TO JOHN EDGAR, AND AFTERWARDS, ON THE 12TH DAY OF AUGUST, A.D. 1800, ISSUED A PATENT THEREFOR TO SAID JOHN EDGAR AND JOHN MURRAY ST. CLAIR... BUT THAT, IN THE YEAR 1810, THEY WERE OUSTED OF THEIR POSSESSION BY THE UNITED STATES, IN CONSEQUENCE OF A REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED UNDER THE ACT OF CONGRESS OF MARCH 26, 1804, AGAINST THE CONFIRMATION OF SAID GRANT..."
Washington DC: July, 1855. Broadside, 8" x 12.5". Mounted with tape along blank inner margin of verso. Old folds and light dusting, Very Good. Signed in type: Samuel A. Peugh. Administrator of John Edgar, deceased; A.H Lawrence, Attorney for Petitioner. On verso in manuscript: "No. 56. Saml. A. Peugh, Admr. of J. Edgar, Petition, Filed July 12, 1855." Very Good.
This rare printed Petition seeks to overturn the invalidation of John Edgar's title to a large portion of the Kaskaskia Lands, a portion of Illinois whose land claims were knotted in confusion and chaos among prior British, French, and Indian settlers. Edgar [1750-1832], a native of Ireland, had served in the English navy until 1776 when, loathing the British, he immigrated to the United States. In 1784 he moved to Kaskaskia, Illinois, with a large amount of stock for sale to local settlers. Successful, he then established a flour mill [which provided large amounts of flour to New Orleans]; became a delegate to the Legislature of the Northwest Territory and Justice of the Peace and judge in Kaskaskia; and a Major General of Militia. Considered the wealthiest man in Illinois, he owned a mansion at which he entertained both common folk and the likes of Governor Arthur St. Clair. Edgar County, Illinois, was named after him.
During the Revolution George Rogers Clark and his Virginians drove the British [as well as Indian communities] out of the Kaskaskia region. Many French settlements were also in place along the Kaskaskia River. "These simple minded French pioneers feared the Americans because of both their pillaging and their Protestantism. Some fled the country and settled in Louisiana... After the Ordinance of 1787, many again became frightened, as they were told they would be required to change their religion- and left their settlements. As might be expected, they sold their land titles for almost anything. Their claims were eagerly bought up by both resident and non-resident land grabbers. Among those who bought these titles were William Henry Harrison, the first secretary, and General Arthur St. Clair, the first governor of the Northwest Territory... St. Clair personally presented no claims, but it is clearly evident that his son, John Murray St. Clair, was closely associated with one John Edgar, merchant of Illinois, who garnered more land claims in the region than any other individual. St. Clair, as governor of this territory, passed upon the validity of these claims, and he seems to have approved the vast number held by John Edgar and, jointly, by Edgar and his son... [Gov. St. Clair] was rebuked by Washington for his actions, and finally was removed by Jefferson in November, 1802. His confirmation of a grant of 30,000 acres to John Edgar and his son was subsequently annulled on the ground that it was made after St. Clair had authority to act as a land commissioner." [Sakolski: THE GREAT AMERICAN LAND BUBBLE: THE AMAZING STORY OF LAND-GRABBING. 1932. pp.180-183.]
OCLC 79778822 [1- AAS] as of November 2020. Item #28245
Price: $850.00