Unusual J. Madison DS With Patents & Certificates Enabling Soldier “To Obtain Titles to Certain Lands… In Consideration of Military Service." Act Passed by Second Congress W/ PSA/DNA LOA

1p, [7.75” x 9”], April 1st, 1802. Unique DS boldly signed as Secretary of State “James Madison”, bearing an official wax and paper seal with ribbon. Some splits, with one line of text somewhat ink-eroded and reinforced on verso, marginal toning and wear, overall very good.

“To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting: I certify, that the annexed writings are true copies of original patents (and of) the Certificate of the then Secretary of War, thereupon endorsed, carefully examined and collated with authentic records in my office”.

“In Faith whereof, I James Madison Secretary for the Department of State of the United States of America, have signed these presents, and caused the Seal of my Office to be affixed hereto, at the city of Washington, this first day of April A.D. 1802, and in the Twenty sixth year of the Independence of the said States.

James Madison”

12p, legal folio, [9” x 14.25”] Washington, April 1, 1802, secretarially signed by President John Adams, Timothy Pickering and James McHenry, being the '...original patents, and...certificates of the then Secretary of War' attesting to the rights of Lt. Henry Dawson who served three years on the Virginia Line during the Revolution. The patents state that Dawson was awarded “300 acres of land situated between Little Miami and Sciota, Northwest of the River Ohio.” Expected foxing, stains, and tearing along folds. Overall very good.

The unique document reads in part:

“Know ye that in consideration of military service performed by Henry Dawson, a Lieutenant for three years to the United States in the Virginia line on Continental establishment, and in pursuance of an act of the Congress of the United States passed on the 10th day of August in the year 1790, entitled an act to enable the officers and soldiers of the Virginia line on Continental establishment to obtain titles to certain lands lying north=west of the river Ohio between the Little Miami and Sciota”.

In January of 1790, the Second Congress of the United States passed an act that reads in part:

“An ACT to enable the Officers and Soldiers of the Virginia line on Continental Establishment, to obtain Titles to certain Lands lying north west of the river Ohio, between the Little Miami and Sciota…

…And whereas the agents for such of the troops of the state of Virginia who served on the continental establishment in the army of the United States, during the late war, have reported to the executive of the said state, that there is not a sufficiency of good land on the south-easterly side of the river Ohio, according to the act of cession from the said state to the United States, and within the limits assigned by the laws of the said state, to satisfy the said troops for the bounty lands due to them, in conformity to the said laws…

…Be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the department of war, shall make return to the executive of the state of Virginia of the names of such of the officers, non-commissioned officers and privates of the line of the said state, who served in the army of the United States on the continental establishment during the late war, and who in conformity to the laws of the said state, are entitled to bounty lands; and shall also in such return state the aggregate amount in acres due to the said line by the laws aforesaid.”

This is the first document of its kind signed by James Madison that we have handled and it comes with a full LOA from PSA/DNA.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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