Beschreibung:

George Washington (1732-1799). First President of the United States (1789-1797). Signed land grant, vellum, 14 x 12 in., February 8, 1797, at Washington, granting Lieutenant Colonel John Jameson 1,000 acres in the Northwest Territory, in what is now Southern Ohio, between the Little Miami and Scioto Rivers. Signed by George Washington as president and Timothy Pickering as secretary of state. Professionally framed to 19.5 x 17 in. John Jameson (1751-1810) was a member of the influential Jameson family of Virginia. The family was of Scottish descent and young John was a graduate of the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA. He and other men of Culpeper, Orange and Fauquier Counties volunteered for "minuteman" service in the spring of 1775. The Culpeper Minutemen were the first such militia in Virginia. He was engaged in the first battle of the Revolution on Virginia soil, defeating John Murray's troops and temporarily wresting the state from British control. He was elected captain of the 3rd troop of Horse, defeating six competitors, including Henry Lee. He joined Washington with the Virginia Line, fighting at Brandywine Creek and staying at Valley Forge, where he signed the oath of allegiance, one of the first, that winter of 1777-'78. He remained with Washington at Monmouth, and was promoted to Colonel in August 1779. His service included exposing the treason of Benedict Arnold. Washington suspected a traitor passing information to the British. So he placed trusted commanders around West Point, NY. Jameson was placed in Tarrytown under General Benedict Arnold's supervision. When "John Anderson," later found to be Major John André envoy to Sir Henry Clinton, British commander-in-chief, was stopped by militiamen and found to have documents outlining the defenses of West Point secreted in his boot, Jameson had him arrested and notified General Washington. Benedict Arnold had demanded Jameson bring André along with all papers he was carrying to him, but Jameson, even though he did not yet suspect Arnold, sent the papers to Washington, realizing their importance. He did however, notify Arnold, who fled. Investigations finally revealed that Arnold, angry at being thwarted for a promotion, made a deal with the British to turn over West Point in exchange for a commission in the British army and a sum of money (upon reaching England he received his Brigadier Generalcy, an annual pension of £360 and a sum of £6,000). In a letter to Jameson dated 25 Sept. 1780, Washington emphasized that André must not be allowed to escape, and the British were certainly going to try to get him back. Washington suggested that he be brought to headquarters by a different route than typically used. He also informed Jameson that Arnold was on the British sloop-of-war Vulture. Jameson was thus instrumental in saving West Point, and whatever else Arnold may have turned over to them, from British control. After the war Jameson also joined Washington as a member of the Society of Cincinnatus in Virginia. He acquired thousands of acres of land in Ohio, Virginia and Kentucky, this grant being for one of those pieces of real estate. Condition: Some warping, especially at top edge. One small hole at fold intersection near the center. Printed and inscribed text fully legible, save for line obscured by the main horizontal fold. Both signatures nice and bold