CHAPTER X.

LETTER FROM GENERAL PARSONS-CORRESPONDENCE OF PUTNAM AND CUTLER-DIRECTORS' INSTRUCTIONS TO PUTNAM AND CUTLER-LETTER TO SARGENT PUTNAM'S LETTER-DIARY, 1790-LETTERS-DIARY, 1791.

MARIETTA, Dec. 11, 1788.

Dear Sir:-I can not longer neglect to inform you of the occurrences which have taken place here since you left us. The surveys of the 8 acre, 3 acre, and City Lots being completed, and the expectation of a Treaty still continuing, all further surveys were suspended until about five weeks ago, when we all concurred in an Order to extend four of our Town Lines to the 11th Range; and, Judge Varnum dissenting, two of the Directors extended this Order to the 12th, being 24 miles west, and to survey the meanders of the Ohio as far as to meet the Cross Lines in their South Direction. The meanders of the River, and the first and second Lines to the 12th Range are completed, the 3d and 4th, on a Treaty, being rendered certain and soon to commence, are, at the desire of the Governor, suspended for the present. The Line commencing 6 miles on the 7th Range appears nearly to terminate the River Hills, and after passing about 4 miles West of the Muskingum exhibits an excellent campaign Country, very fertile and well watered. The other Line passes over the River Hills through a broken Country, interspersed with good Lands and rich Bottoms, but not of so great present use as the Lands further north. In this Line is found excellent Iron Ore being burnt and pulverized nearly is attracted by the magnet. It appears to be in great Plenty. The Treaty has just commenced, and upon the close we will pursue our Surveys.

The time of the meeting of the Proprietors having arrived, a number sufficient to proceed did not appear; an adjournment took place, at which time 140 Shares only appeared personally, and by special authority, Colonel Crary not having then

arrived. We then proceeded to take the Opinion of the Proprietors present on the subject of granting Lands to Settlers, and altering the former mode of dividing our Lands agreed upon by the Agents at Boston. They (five shares only dissenting) gave it as their Opinion that it was a matter well within the Authority of the General Agents, and requested them to take up the matter and to grant Lands to Settlers, not exceeding 100 acres, out of each share, and to divide the common Estate in such manner as would be most conducive to the common Interest without respect to former votes. The Agents have taken up the subject, 957 Shares being represented, and Colonel Crary being Chairman, voted (214 Shares represented by Colonel Crary excepted), unanimously, to make grants of Lands to encourage Settlement, not exceeding 100 acres to each share in the funds, and appointed a Committee to reconnoiter the Country, and affix the proper places for that purpose, repealed the votes ordering the Mode of Division, and directed the Committee to examine where are proper places to divide farms to the Proprietors. You see we have decided the main point that we will give. I believe I ought to say we were unanimous on this question, for, altho' Colonel Crary would not vote for it, he publicly declared that he was fully in Opinion with us on the general question. Judge Varnum appears the only dissatisfied person, but he is now so far advanced in the stages of a confirmed Consumption that nothing ought to be remembered against him. I think it more probable he will die within a month than that he will ever recover. He intends setting out for Orleans in a few days as the only remaining Expedient for his recovery.

The Settlers here appear highly satisfied with the measures we have taken, and very many will go out to those Lands. As they must be settled in the spring, or early next summer, it will be necessary for as many as wish to receive the Donations to be out as soon as possible. We have had an addition of about 100 within two weeks, and more are expected. We are constantly putting up buildings, but arrivals are faster than we can provide convenient covering. Between 40 and 50 Houses are so far done as to receive families, and 10 more

are in building, about one-half of which I expect will be able to receive families next week.

We still continue our Sabbath Exercises, and last Monday we had the first Ball in our Country, at which were present 15 Ladies, as well accomplished in the manners of polite circles as any I have seen in the old States. I mention this to show the progress of Society in this distant Country. I believe we shall vie with, if not excell, the old States in every accomplishment necessary to render life happy. My wife has beat a parley, and submitted a prisoner of war; she agrees to send one of our daughters next summer, and with the family to remove when I can make it convenient. This, you know, must give me great satisfaction. I think, Sir, your Return here is not only necessary, but that you will be received with great Cordiality by all our Citizens. I am convinced Judge Varnum will never return; when all animosity will cease.

We continue to enjoy health and peace, and I have Reason to hope all matters will be settled with the Indians. They continue to say they have no objection to this settlement, and that we are much more acceptable to them than any Settlers with whom they have been before acquainted. If you intend the vote to close all payments in June shall be extended to a further Time, you must be here, or at least bring Sargent and Putnam to support it. I shall agree for myself and Barlow; the votes will then stand:

The weather continues very fine. I finished sowing my

grain this Day. No snow.

I am, with great esteem and respect,

Yr. ob't serv't,

SAM. H. PARSONS.

23d Jan'y, 1789. My letter not having met the expected Conveyance, Mr. Oliver having altered his mind, I can now inform you that the Treaty ended the 17th, to the satisfaction. of all concerned, and we still continue in peace, and have a prospect of remaining so. Judge Varnum left this world, in which he was very unhappy, the 10th inst., for a better, I hope, where he will enjoy a Tranquillity to which he was a stranger here. He was buried the 14th with great Decency, not less than 200 men attended in the Procession; the Masons. Cincinnati, civil Officers, and those of the Militia, formed part of the Procession.

We chose another Director, the 19th, when the choice fell on Griffen Greene, Esq.,* from Rhode Island, in exclusion of Colonel Crary. Votes for Mr. Greene, 566; for Colonel Crary, 124. Mr. Greene has made himself very agreeable to us since. he has been here; appears much of the Gentleman, and a person of great Candor. Br. Crary is much mortified, and is about protesting against the Choice. I feel sorry for his mortification; I was the only person voting for him, but I own I am well pleased with Mr. Greene. Our animosities have subsided, and all appear friendly.

We have ordered a Division to the Proprietors of 160 acres to each Right to be drawn the 3d Tuesday of March, within the settling Rights. We have voted to give 200 settling Rights to Non-proprietors before the first of Oct'r, and those Proprietors who by that time will agree to settle their own Rights by

* Griffen Greene was born in Warwick, Rhode Island, 1749. He served during the Revolution as Commissary to the Rhode Island troops, Paymaster and Assistant-Quarte: master when his cousin, General Nathaniel Greene, was Quartermaster-General of the Army. He came with his family to Marietta in 1788, and was appointed by Governor St. Clair, Justice of the Peace and Judge of the Court of Quarter' Sessions. In 1802 he was appointed by President Jefferson, Postmaster at Marietta, Revenue Collector for that district, and Inspector of the Port, ships being then cleared from that place. He died in 1804. Mr. Greene, in 1795, constructed the model for a steam-engine, to be used in propelling boats on the Ohio River. With Mr. Elijah Backus he expended a considerable sum in building an engine in Philadelphia. It proved a failure, by reason of defects in the construction.-See Hil dreth's Lives of the Early Settlers of Ohio.

themselves, or others, shall have Right so to do-if any more vacant Rights at that time they shall aslo be given to settlers. The Duties are five years' residence on the Donation lands, within that time to build a House, at least 24 by 18 feet, a stone or brick chimney, a cellar, and to clear twenty acres within three years, to set out 50 apple Trees and 20 peach Trees, and obey all militia laws.

you.

I beg you will come on as soon as possible; we all want you, I am sure you will be welcome, I can preach no longer for Deacon Story does very well, but on the public Thanksgiving I was obliged for the first time to preach, much against my will, from Psalm 103, v. 2, and such a piece of work I believe you never heard; I am sure I never did. To confirm my wife in her faith I have sent it to her perusal.

Y'r friend,

[To Rev. Mr. Cutler by Captain Dodge.]

S. H. P.

MARIETTA, March 25, 1789. Dear Sir:-Before this reaches you I presume you will see the proceedings of the Company relative to promoting a settlement in the Country, as they were some time since forwarded to Colonel Platt, with an order to publish them in the papers, and I hope they will meet your approbation, as well as every other proprietor. For what has been done in consequence of them, I must refer you to Captain Dodge for information. Mr. Story has been with us one Sabbath. By him I received your favor of the 18th of November last. We rejoice much at his arrival, and I trust we shall make his situation agreeable.

With respect to the Indians in this quarter, I must also refer you to Captain Dodge. Mr. Ludlow arrived yesterday from Judge Symmes' Settlement at the Miami; the Indians are friendly in that quarter, and come in to trade. Mr. Ludlow has surveyed the Ohio down to the Scioto River, and

* Israel Ludlow, afterward prominent among the early citizens of Cincinnati, was then in the employ of the United States Government as a Surveyor, and was engaged, under direction of Captain Thomas Hutchins, Surveyor-General, in running the exterior lines of the lands purchased by the Ohio Company, by Cutler and Sargent for the Scioto Associates, and by Judge Symmes.