years anterior to 1788 which were not only to form the first settlement
but to plant New England morals, law and institutions upon this vast
inland domain of the nation. Ideas were in inception which, as the prime
impetus in a long chain of causes and effects, were to swell the
tremendous result and effect the destiny not alone of the west but of
the Republic from sea to sea.
[Illustration: Rufus Putnam]
It is a pleasant thought that in the British war against the French,
General Putnam (at the time of his enlistment in 1757, nineteen years of
age) and many others assisted in wresting from the enemy and securing to
their sovereign the very territory which was to become their home; and
it is a disagreeable fact that they had finally so dearly to purchase a
small portion of the domain which they had twice bought by bravery of
arms. The men who fought to win for England the territory which the
French disputed, in 1755–1760, were foremost to win it from her twenty
years later, and thus twice exhibited the hardihood and heroism of their
natures.
Something of the spirit of emigration manifested itself in New England
after the conclusion of the French and Indian war, and in fact was an
outgrowth of that struggle. An organization of ex-soldiers of the
colonies was formed, called “The Military Company of Adventurers,” whose
purpose it was to establish a colony in West Florida (now Mississippi).
Although the project had been entered upon soon after the establishment
of peace, it was not until the year 1772 that anything was accomplished.
General Lyman, after several years’ endeavor, succeeded in procuring a
tract of land. It was decided to explore the tract, and a company of
surveyors, of which the celebrated Israel Putnam was the leader, went
out in January, 1773, for that purpose. Rufus Putnam was a member of the
party. The examination was satisfactory, and several hundred families
embarked from Massachusetts and Connecticut to make a settlement. They
found to their chagrin that the king’s grant had been revoked, and the
settlement was therefore abandoned. Those who did not fall sick and die
returned to their homes. Such was the disastrous end of this project of
settlement, which, had it succeeded, might possibly have changed the
whole political history of the United States. It seems at least to be
within the realm of probability that had a settlement been planted in
Mississippi, Massachusetts would not have made the initial settlement in
the Ohio country and extended her influence over the territory from
which five great States have been created. The enterprise of founding a
colony in the far south, thwarted as it was, undoubtedly had its effect
upon the New England mind, and was one of the elements which prepared
the way for the inauguration of a new scheme of emigration in later
years. The dream which had been fondly indulged in for a long term of
years, was not to be forgotten even when the opportunity or its
realization had passed away.
Soon, however, there arose a subject for thought which overshadowed all
others. What men of shrewd foresight had long expected had come to pass.
The colonies were arrayed against the mother country in a battle for
independence. We shall not here attempt to follow Generals Putnam,
Parsons, Varnum and Tupper, Major Winthrop Sargent, Colonel Ebenezer
Sproat, and the many other brave soldiers who became Ohio Company
emigrants through the perils of those seven dark years of the
Revolution. But is it not natural to suppose that some of them who had
been interested in the old colonization project talked of it around
their camp fires? Is it not possible that the review of the past
suggested the possibility of forming in the future another military
colony, in which they should realize the bright hopes that had once been
blasted? It seems natural that, in the long lulls between the periods of
fierce activity, this topic should have come up frequently in
conversation, or at least that it should have appeared as a vague but
alluring element in many pictures of the future painted by hopeful
imaginations. It is very likely that General Putnam had indulged the
hope of emigration “to some remote land rich in possibilities” for many
years before he led the little New England colony to the Muskingum. He
had very likely cherished the hope unceasingly from the time when the
military company of adventurers was organized, and doubtless the journey
to that far away, strange and beautiful Mississippi had served as a
stimulus to quicken his desire for the realization of a project which
would employ so much of his energy and enterprise, and afford so fine an
opportunity for the achievement of a life success. We know that
Washington, during the darkest days of the Revolution, directed the
attention of his companions at arms to the west, as a land in which they
might take refuge should they be worsted in the struggle, but happily it
was not to be that contingency which should cause the movement of
emigration toward the Ohio. If, during the war, the western country was
the subject of an occasional estray, light thought, the time was to come
when it should be uppermost in the minds of many of the soldiers and
practically considered, not as a land in which they must seek to take
refuge from a victorious foe, but as one in which they might retrieve
the losses they had sustained in repelling the enemy. It must be borne
in mind that the independence of the American colonies was dearly
bought, as indeed has been all the great good attained in the history of
the world. The very men by whose long continued, self-sacrificing
devotion and bravery the struggle against the tyrannical mother country
had been won, found themselves, at the close of the war, reduced to the
most straitened circumstances, and the young nation ushered into being
by their heroism was unable to alleviate their condition. These were the
times which tried men’s souls. Nowhere was the strain any more severe
than in Massachusetts and Connecticut. The joy which peace brought after
seven years of war was in most localities too deep to be voiced by noisy
demonstration, and it was not unmingled with forebodings of the future.
“The rejoicings,” says a local historian,[3] “were mostly expressed in
religious solemnities.” There were still difficult problems to be
solved—and there was the memory of husbands, fathers, sons, brothers,
and lovers who would not return with the victorious patriots, and it may
in many cases have been difficult “to discern the noise of the shout of
joy from the noise of the weeping of the people.”
General Benjamin Tupper, in the early autumn of 1785, had gone to the
Ohio country to engage in surveying under the ordinance passed by
Congress May 20 of that year, but owing to the hostility of the Indians
and consequent hazard of entering upon the work, he returned to New
England. General Tupper was one of the men who had been most intently
engaged in planning western settlements, and was undoubtedly a co-worker
with his intimate old friend, General Putnam, advocating and agitating
the scheme which had proved unsuccessful. He returned from the west
filled with admiration of that portion of the country which he had seen,
and made enthusiastic through the descriptions given by traders of the
region farther down _la belle riviere_ than he had journeyed. Doubtless
he pondered upon the idea of removing to the west, during the whole time
spent there, and was chiefly occupied with the subject while making the
tedious return to his home. Early in January he visited, at his house in
Rutland, Worcester County, Massachusetts, General Putnam, and there
these two men, who may be properly called the founders of the Ohio
Company, earnestly talked of their experiences and their hopes in front
of the great fire, while the night hours fast passed away. In the
language of one whom it is fair to suppose had preserved the truthful
tradition of that meeting: “A night of friendly offices and conference
between them gave, at the dawn, a development—how important in its
results!—to the cherished hope and purpose of the visit of General
Tupper.”[4] As the result of that long conversation by a New England
fireside, appeared the first mention in the public prints of the Ohio
Company. The two men had thought so deeply and carefully upon the
absorbing theme of colonization, were so thoroughly impressed with the
feasibility of their plans as they had unfolded them, so impatient to
put them to that test, that they felt impelled to take an immediate and
definite step. They could no longer rest inactive. They joined in a
brief address, setting forth their views to ascertain the opinion of the
people. It appeared in the newspapers on the twenty-fifth of January,
and read as follows:
INFORMATION.
The subscribers take this method to inform all officers and soldiers
who have served in the late war, and who are by a late ordinance of
the honorable Congress to receive certain tracts of land in the Ohio
country, and also all other good citizens who wish to become
adventurers in that delightful region, that from personal inspection,
together with other incontestible evidences, they are fully satisfied
that the lands in that quarter are of a much better quality than any
other known to the New England people; that the climate, seasons,
products, etc., are in fact equal to the most flattering accounts that
have ever been published of them; that being determined to become
purchasers and to prosecute a settlement in that country, and desirous
of forming a general association with those who entertain the same
ideas, they beg leave to propose the following plan, viz.: That an
association by the name of The Ohio Company be formed of all such as
wish to become purchasers, etc., in that country, who reside in the
commonwealth of Massachusetts only, or to extend to the inhabitants of
other States as shall be agreed on.
That in order to bring such a company into existence the subscribers
propose that all persons who wish to promote the scheme, should meet
within their respective counties, (except in two instances hereinafter
mentioned) at 10 o’clock A. M. on Wednesday, the fifteenth day of
February next, and that each county or meeting there assembled choose
a delegate or delegates to meet at the Bunch of Grapes Tavern in
Boston, on Wednesday, the first day of March next, at 10 o’clock A.
M., then and there to consider and determine upon a general plan of
association for said company; which plan, covenant, or agreement,
being published, any person (under condition therein to be provided)
may, by subscribing his name, become a member of the company.
Then follow the places of meeting:
At Captain Webb’s, in Salem, Middlesex; at Bradish’s, in Cambridge,
Hampshire; at Pomeroy’s, in North Hampton, Plymouth; at Bartlett’s, in
Plymouth, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket Counties; at Howland’s, in
Barnstable, Bristol; at Crocker’s, in Taunton, York; at Woodbridge’s,
in York, Worcester; at Patch’s, in Worcester, Cumberland and Lincoln;
at Shothick’s, in Falmouth, Berkshire; at Dibble’s, in Lenox.
RUFUS PUTNAM,
BENJAMIN TUPPER.
RUTLAND, January 10, 1786.
The plan suggested by Generals Putnam and Tupper was carried out, and
upon the first day of March the delegates from the several counties
assembled at the Bunch of Grapes Tavern, the designated place in Boston
(which was then a considerably smaller city than is now the capital of
Ohio), and there discussed, in conventional form, the proposed
organization of the Ohio Company. The delegates present at that
historical meeting were: Manasseh Cutler, of Essex; Winthrop Sargent and
John Mills, of Suffolk; John Brooks and Thomas Cushing, of Middlesex;
Benjamin Tupper, of Hampshire; Crocker Sampson, of Plymouth; Rufus
Putnam, of Worcester; Jelaliel Woodbridge and John Patterson of
Berkshire; Abraham Williams of Barnstable.
General Putnam was made chairman of the convention, and Major Winthrop
Sargent, secretary. Before adjournment a committee of five was appointed
to draft a plan of an association, as “from the very pleasing
description of the western country, given by Generals Putnam and Tupper
and others, it appears expedient to form a settlement there.” That
committee consisted of General Putnam, Dr. Manasseh Cutler, Colonel
Brooks, Major Sargent, and Captain Cushing.
On Friday, March 3, the convention reassembled and the committee
reported the following:
_Articles of agreement entered into by the subscribers for
constituting an association by the name of the Ohio Company._
PREAMBLE.
The design of this association is to raise a fund in Continental
certificates, for the sole purpose and to be appropriated to the
entire use of purchasing lands in the western territory belonging to
the United States, for the benefit of the company, and to promote a
settlement in that country.
ARTICLE 1st.—That the fund shall not exceed one million of dollars in
Continental specie certificates, exclusive of one year’s interest due
thereon (except as hereafter provided), and that each share or
subscription shall consist of one thousand dollars, as aforesaid, and
also ten dollars in gold or silver, to be paid into the hands of such
agents as the subscribers may elect.
ARTICLE 2nd.—That the whole fund of certificates raised by this
association, except one year’s interest due thereon, mentioned under
the first article, shall be applied to the purchase of lands in some
one of the proposed States northwesterly of the river Ohio, as soon as
those lands are surveyed and exposed for sale by the Commissioners of
Congress, according to the ordinance of that honorable body, passed
the twentieth of May, 1785, or on any other plan that may be adopted
by Congress, not less advantageous to the company. The one year’s
interest shall be applied to the purpose of making a settlement in the
country and assisting those who may be otherwise unable to remove
themselves thither. The gold and silver is for defraying the expenses
of those persons employed as agents in purchasing the lands and other
contingent charges that may arise in the prosecution of the business.
The surplus, if any, to be appropriated as one year’s interest on the
certificates.
ARTICLE 3rd.—That there shall be five directors, a treasurer and
secretary, appointed in manner and for the purposes hereafter
provided.
ARTICLE 4th.—That the prosecution of the company’s designs may be the
least expensive, and at the same time the subscribers and agents as
secure as possible, the proprietors of twenty shares shall constitute
one grand division of the company, appoint the agent, and in case of
vacancy by death, resignation or otherwise, shall fill it up as
immediately as can be.
ARTICLE 5th.—That the agent shall make himself accountable to each
subscriber for certificates and invoices received, by duplicate
receipts, one of which shall be lodged with the secretary; that the
whole shall be appropriated according to articles of association, and
that the subscriber shall receive his just dividend according to
quality and quantity of lands purchased, as near as possibly may be,
by lot drawn in person or through proxy, and that deeds of conveyance
shall be executed to individual subscribers, by the agent, similar to
those he shall receive from the directors.
ARTICLE 6th.—That no person shall be permitted to hold more than five
shares in the company’s funds, and no subscription for less than a
full share will be admitted; but this is not meant to prevent those
who cannot or choose not to adventure a full share, from associating
among themselves, and by one of their number subscribing the sum
required.
ARTICLE 7th.—That the directors shall have the sole disposal of the
company’s fund for the purposes before mentioned; that they shall by
themselves, or such person or persons as they may think proper to
entrust with the business, purchase lands for the benefit of the
company, where and in such way, either at public or private sale, as
they shall judge will be the most advantageous to the company. They
shall also direct the application of the one year’s interest, and gold
and silver, mentioned in the first article, to the purposes mentioned
under the second article, in such way and manner as they shall think
proper. For these purposes the directors shall draw on the treasurer
from time to time, making themselves accountable for the application
of the moneys agreeably to this association.
ARTICLE 8th.—That the agents, being accountable to the subscribers for
their respective divisions, shall appoint the directors, treasurer and
secretary, and fill up all the vacancies which may happen in these
offices respectively.
ARTICLE 9th.—That the agents shall pay all the certificates and moneys
received from subscribers into the hands of the treasurer, who shall
give bonds to the agents, jointly and severally, for the faithful
discharge of his trust; and also, on his receiving certificates or
moneys from any particular agent, shal make himself accountable
therefor, according to the condition of his bonds.
ARTICLE 10th.—That the directors shall give bonds, jointly and
severally, to each of the agents, conditioned that the certificates
and moneys they shall draw out of the treasury shall be applied to the
purposes stipulated in these articles; and that the lands purchased by
the company shall be divided among them within three months from the
completion of the purchase, by lot, in such manner as the agents or a
majority of them shall agree, and that on such division being made,
the directors shall execute deeds to the agents, respectively, for the
proportions which fall to their divisions, correspondent to those the
directors may receive from the Commissioners of Congress.
ARTICLE 11th.—Provided, that whereas a sufficient number of
subscribers may not appear to raise the fund to the sums proposed in
the first article, and thereby the number of divisions may not be
completed, it is therefore agreed that the agents of divisions of
twenty shares each shall, after the seventeenth day of October next,
proceed in the same manner as if the whole fund had been raised.
ARTICLE 12th.—Provided, also, that whereas it will be for the common
interest of the company to obtain an ordinance of incorporation from
the honorable Congress, or an act of incorporation from some one of
the States in the Union (for which the directors shall make
application), it is therefore agreed that in case such incorporation
is obtained, the fund of the company (and consequently the shares and
divisions thereof) may be extended to any sum, for which provision
shall be made in said ordinance or act of incorporation, anything in
this association to the contrary notwithstanding.
ARTICLE 13th.—That all notes under this association may be given in
person or by proxy, and in numbers justly proportionate to the
stockholder or interest represented.
These articles of agreement were unanimously adopted and subscription
books were immediately opened. A committee was appointed, consisting of
three members, to transact necessary business, and some other measures
taken to advance the project of the association; but in spite of all the
exertions made, there was but little progress in the affairs of the Ohio
Company. When the next meeting was held—a little more than a year from
the time of the first, that is, upon March 8, 1787—it was found that the
total number of shares subscribed for was only two hundred and fifty.
And yet, all untoward circumstances considered, that was probably a fair
exhibit, and more than was expected. One active friend of the movement,
General Tupper, was the greater part of the year in the west. The
influence of the others was very largely counteracted by events of an
alarming nature—the dissatisfaction which finally culminated in Shay’s
rebellion. That civil commotion growing out of the imposition of heavy
taxes upon the already impoverished people threatened for a time
exceedingly dire results, but fortunately it was speedily quelled. It
served as a startling illustration, however, of the great depression in
New England, and of the desperation to which men can be driven by ill
condition. Possibly the outbreak gave a slight impetus to the progress
of the Ohio Company’s project, by way of increasing the disposition of
some citizens to seek in the west a new home. General Tupper, whose
immediate neighborhood was “deeply infected with the sedition,” returned
from his second visit to the Ohio country in time to take a prominent
part in subduing the revolt. The dawn of 1787 witnessed the pacification
of the troubled country, but no marked increase in prosperity.
It was reported at the meeting held on the eighth of March at Brackett’s
tavern in Boston, that “many in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, also
in Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire, are inclined to become
adventurers, who are restrained only by the uncertainty of obtaining a
sufficient tract of country, collectively, for a good settlement.”
It was now decided to make direct and immediate application to Congress
for the purchase of lands, and General Putnam, Dr. Manasseh Cutler and
General Samuel H. Parsons were appointed directors and especially
charged with this business. General Parsons had previously been employed
to negotiate for a private purchase, had petitioned Congress, and a
committee of that body had been appointed to confer with him. “To that
committee,” says Dr. Cutler, “he proposed a purchase on the Scioto
River,” but as the proprietors in Massachusetts “were generally
dissatisfied with the situation and lands on the Scioto, and much
preferred the Muskingum,” the negotiation was suspended. The directors
now employed Dr. Cutler to make a purchase upon the Muskingum. It was
considered desirable that the negotiations be commenced and the purchase
consummated as soon as possible, as other companies were forming, the
spirit of private speculation rapidly increasing, and there was a fear
that the lands which the Ohio Company wished to possess would be bought
by some other organization, or perhaps some part of them by individuals.