In 1776, men who enlisted for three years were awarded $20 and 100 acres. After the war, each state controlled the distribution of land. Virginia gave its soldiers land in the Ohio Territory.3
When the United States federal government was established in 1789, it assumed responsibility for the pensions of Revolutionary War veterans.4 Grants were signed by the president himself, and used to encourage westward expansion. Every president before Andrew Jackson personally signed such grants, until an act of Congress allowed for secretarial signatures.5
When the Ohio County Public Library sought vintage artifacts from their archives for an America 250 exhibit, there really was only one viable option. Thus, in the America 250 Main Exhibit, “A Republic — If We Can Keep It,” exhibit, you will see authentic, vintage examples signed by Presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, as well as by Secretaries of State James Madison and John Marshall. You will also see an example from the Military Bounty Land Acts from 1796, signed by President James Monroe, which designates land near Steubenville, Ohio. Finally, there are two Virginia grants that designate land in Ohio County for transfer.
Images and transcriptions of these presidential land grants follow. They can be seen in-person in the exhibit now through the end of 2026. After that time, a request can be made to OCPL Archives to see the documents.
Thomas Jefferson and James Madison
Transcription of Jefferson/Madison land grant:
THOMAS JEFFERSON, President of the United States of America
To All To Whom These Presents Shall Come, Greeting:
Know Ye, That in pursuance of the act of Congress, passed on the first day of June 1796, entitled “An act regulating the grants of land appropriated for military service, and for the society of the United Brethren for propagating the gospel among the heathen:” and of the several acts supplementary thereto, passed on the second day of March 1799, on the eleventh day of February and first day of March 1800, and on the third day of March 1803, There Is Granted unto William Helannen assignee of Ira Stevens, late a soldier in the army of the United States, in consideration of the said Ira Steven’s military service A certain tract of land estimated to contain one hundred acres, being Lot number Twenty Seven in the Fourth Quarter of the Third Township in the Second Range of the Tract appropriated for satisfying warrant for Military service surveyed and located in pursuance of the acts above recited. To Have and to Hold the said described tract of land with the appurtenances thereof, unto the said William Helannen and to his heirs and assigns forever, subject to the conditions, restrictions and provisions contained in the said recited acts.
In witness whereof, the said Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States of America, hath caused the seal of the said United States to be hereunto affixed, and signed the same with his hand, at the City of Washington; the twentieth day of May in the year of our Lord 1806; and of the Independence of the United State of America the thirtieth.
By the President, Thomas Jefferson
James Madison Secretary of State.
John Adams and John Marshall
Transcription of Adams/Marshall land grant:
JOHN ADAMS, President of the United States of America
To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting:
Know Ye, That in pursuance of the act of Congress, passed on the first day of June 1796, entitled “An Act “ regulating the grants of Land appropriated for Military service, and for the society of the United Brethren for propagating “the gospel among the Heathen;” and of the several acts supplementary thereto, passed on the second day of March 1799, and on the eleventh day of February and first of March 1800, there is granted unto William McCluney certain tract of land estimated to contain Four Thousand acres, being the second Quarter of the First Township in the fourth Range of the Tract appropriated for sales or in Warranty for military services surveyed and located in pursuance of the acts above recited. To Have and to Hold the said described tract of land, with the appurtenances thereof unto the said Williiam McCluney and to his heirs and assigns forever, subject to the conditions, restrictions and provisions contained in the said recited acts.
In witness whereof, the said John Adams, President of the United States of America, hath caused the Seal of the said United States to be hereunto affixed, and signed the same with his hand, at the
city of Washington, the seventeenth day of February in the year of our Lord 1801; and of the Independence of the United State of America the twenty fifth
By the President, John Adams
John Marshall Secretary of State
James Monroe
Transcription of Monroe land grant:
JAMES MONROE, President of the United States of America
To All To Whom These Presents Shall Come, Greeting:
Know Ye, That William Gamble of Jefferson County Ohio having deposited in the General Land Office a Certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Steubenville whereby it appears that full payment has been made for the North East quarter of section three in township fourteen in range seven of the Lands directed to be sold at Steubenville by the Act of Congress, entitled “An Act providing for the sale of the Lands of the United States in the Territory north west of the Ohio, and above the mouth of Kentucky River,” and of the Acts amendatory of the same, There is Granted, by the United States, unto the said William Gamble the quarter lot or section of Land above described: To have and to hold the said quarter lot or section of Land, with the Appurtenances unto the said William Gamble his heirs and assigns forever.
In testimony whereof, I have caused these Letters to be made PATENT and the Seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed. GIVEN under my hand at the city of Washington, the twenty-first day of May in the year of our Lord one Thousand eight hundred and nineteen and of the Independence of the United States of America the forty third.
By the President, James Monroe
Recorded Volume 22 Page 3 of 5
Josiah Meigs Commissioner
of the General Land Office.
State of Virginia Grants
The remaining two grants, though not Revolutionary War payments, are signed by significant players in the Founding Era, governors Patrick Henry and Edmund Randolph (on loan from the Archives of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston), a signer of the Constitution. These are land grants that prove a settler bought parcels of land in the Ohio territory. They contain interesting landmarks, including specific types of trees, to mark the boundaries of the parcels.
Patrick Henry
Transcription of Patrick Henry land grant:
Patrick Henry Esquire, Governor of the Commonwealth of VIRGINIA, TO ALL TO WHOM these Presents shall come, GREETING: KNOW YE, that by virtue of a certificate in right of settlement
Given by the Commissioners for adjusting the Titles to certificate Lands in District of Monongalia of Ohio Youghiogheny and in Consideration of the ancient composition of one pound fifteen shillings sterling paid by John Atkerson into the Treasury of this commonwealth there is granted by said Commonwealth unto The said John Atkerson a certain Tract or Parcel of Land, containing Three hundred and twenty four acres by Survey Bearing Date the twentieth day Of February one Thousand Seven hundred and eighty four lying and being in the County of Ohio on the Ohio River him leaving his Settler’s cut made thereon in the Year 1774 and bounded as followeth to wit South Beginning at a large Walnut on the River bank corner to Williams Grohgan and with his lines. South Sixty-one degrees East. one hundred and Fifty Four poles to a Black oak on the top of a Banks. Thence North Seventy Six degrees East Ninety eight poles to a broken top white oak and back. Thence East Eighty-Eight poles to a walnut in Daniel Harries line and with said line North Twenty two degrees East one hundred and forty poles to an ash corner To John Wilson and with his line North twenty four degrees West. Two hundred and eighty five poles to a Walnut on the River bank. Thence down the River according to the Several meanders Thereof said leavings. Thereon one Hundred and Seven of Seven poles to the Beginning. with its appurtenances; TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said Tract or Parcel of Land with its Appurtenances to the said John Atkerson and his Heirs for ever.
IN WITNESS Whereof, the said, Patrick Henry Esquire Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, hath hereunto set his Hand and caused the letter Seal of the said Commonwealth to be
affixed at Richmond, on the Tenth Day of July in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-six and of the Commonwealth the eleventh
P. Henry
Edmund Randolph
Transcription of Edmund Randolph land grant:
Edmund Randolph Esquire, Governor of the Commonwealth of VIRGINIA,TO ALL TO WHOM these Presents shall come, GREETING: KNOW YE, that by virtue of a certificate in right of settlement given by the Commissioners for adjusting the Titles to Certificated Lands within district of Monongalia Youghiogheny and Ohio and In consideration of two Pounds Sterling paid by James Martin into the treasury of this Commonwealth there is granted by said Commonwealth unto The said James Martin A certain Tract or Parcel of Land, containing Four hundred acres by Survey bearing date the twenty second day of April one Thousand Seven hundred and eighty-seven, lying and being in the county of Ohio, including his settlement made thereon in the year lying on the Waters of middle Wheeling and bounded as followeth to wit Beginning at a black oak corner to Walter Summers and with his line South fifteen degrees West three hundred Poles to a white oak. Thence leaving Summers line North fifty five degrees. West one hundred and eighty four poles to a white oak. Thence North fifteen degrees West one hundred and four poles to a sugar tree. Thence North thirty degrees East Two hundred and seventy two poles to a black oak. Thence South thirty degrees East one hundred and ninety four poles to the Beginning, with its appurtenances; TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said Tract or Parcel of Land with its Appurtenances, to the said James Martin and his Heirs for ever.
IN WITNESS Whereof, the said, Edmund Randolph Esquire Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, hath hereunto set his Hand and caused the letter Seal of the said Commonwealth to be affixed at Richmond, on the Third Day of July in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-eight and of the Commonwealth the twelfth
Edm. Randolph
The Gnadenhutten Massacre
Interestingly, the two federal grants signed by Jefferson and Adams mention a series of Acts passed by Congress from 1796 to 1800, titled, “An Act regulating the grants of Land appropriated for Military service, and for the society of the United Brethren for propagating the gospel among the Heathen.” [emphasis added].
The latter term refers indirectly to victims of the “Gnadenhutten Massacre,” during which 96 Christian pacifist Lenape (Delaware) native people were deceived, falsely accused of making raids, bound, and then bludgeoned to death and scalped by members of the Pennsylvania militia during the Revolutionary War in 1782.6 According to one source, the women and girls were systematically raped before the murders occurred. Instead of resisting, the pacifist victims reportedly sang hymns and prayed. 7
This atrocity took place just outside an Ohio village founded by the Moravian Christian missionaries who had converted the Lenape. This was a mere 58 miles from Wheeling in the Tuscarawas Valley. There is now a monument in place at the site.
In addition to compensating Revolutionary War veterans, these laws were intended to provide reparations for this massacre, which Benjamin Franklin wrote, had given him “infinite Pain and Vexation.” 8
End Notes
1 Blaakman, M. Speculation Nation: Land Mania in the Revolutionary American Republic. University of Pennsylvania Press. 2023.
2 “Real Estate and the Revolution,” JSTOR, online: https://daily.jstor.org/real-estate-and-the-revolution/
3 “Land for Service: How Revolutionary Soldiers Were Paid in Acres” AgnetWest online: https://agnetwest.com/land-service-revolutionary-soldiers-paid-acres/
4 Graves, W. Pension Acts: An Overview of Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Legislation and the Southern Campaigns Pension Transcription Project. https://revwarapps.org/revwar-pension-acts.htm. 2017.
5 University of California, Autry Museum of the American West. Land grant for military service to William and James Taylor signed by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, 1897, 1807. Online https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8td9w3m
6 Sterner, E. Anatomy of a massacre : the destruction of Gnadenhutten, 1782. Westholme, 2020.
7 Thompson, R. A Woman of Courage on the West Virginia Frontier: Phebe Tucker Cunningham. Arcadia Publishing. 2013.
8 Sterner, E. “Moravians in the Middle: The Gnadenhutten Massacre.” Journal of the American Revolution. Online: https://allthingsliberty.com/2018/02/moravians-middle-gnadenhutten-massacre/
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