1819 Pennsylvania Land Patent to Colonel George Ely Jr.—Governor William Findlay Signed—Northumberland County
An impressive early Commonwealth of Pennsylvania land patent issued to George Ely Jr. for property in Shamokin Township, Northumberland County. Dated February 12, 1819, the large engraved and manuscript document is signed by Pennsylvania Governor William Findlay, countersigned by Land Office Secretary John Cochran, and retains its remarkably crisp embossed Great Seal of Pennsylvania.
The patent grants Ely a tract containing nine acres and forty-five perches, with the customary six-percent allowance for roads. The property adjoined lands belonging to James Wilson and George Ely, was surveyed on March 16, 1818, and was based upon a land warrant dated February 1, 1813. The grant was officially recorded in Patent Book H, Volume 15, page 526.
The grantee was probably Colonel George Ely Jr. (1745–1820), a Revolutionary War militia officer and prominent early landholder who relocated to the Shamokin area after the Revolution. The nearby Northumberland County community of Elysburg was later named for the Ely family. Although the document does not include his military title, its name, date, and location strongly support this identification.
Governor William Findlay served as Pennsylvania’s fourth governor from 1817 to 1820, United States senator from 1821 to 1827, and director of the United States Mint from 1827 to 1841.
Printed by G. Green, the patent features an elaborate calligraphic Commonwealth heading, an early Pennsylvania coat of arms, extensive manuscript boundary descriptions, original official signatures, and a large paper seal depicting the Commonwealth’s ship, plow, wheat sheaves, and motto.
Complete and generally well preserved, with original folds, wrinkles, scattered soiling, and an old piece of adhesive touching the paper seal. The seal remains extraordinarily distinct and visually impressive.
An impressive early Commonwealth of Pennsylvania land patent issued to George Ely Jr. for property in Shamokin Township, Northumberland County. Dated February 12, 1819, the large engraved and manuscript document is signed by Pennsylvania Governor William Findlay, countersigned by Land Office Secretary John Cochran, and retains its remarkably crisp embossed Great Seal of Pennsylvania.
The patent grants Ely a tract containing nine acres and forty-five perches, with the customary six-percent allowance for roads. The property adjoined lands belonging to James Wilson and George Ely, was surveyed on March 16, 1818, and was based upon a land warrant dated February 1, 1813. The grant was officially recorded in Patent Book H, Volume 15, page 526.
The grantee was probably Colonel George Ely Jr. (1745–1820), a Revolutionary War militia officer and prominent early landholder who relocated to the Shamokin area after the Revolution. The nearby Northumberland County community of Elysburg was later named for the Ely family. Although the document does not include his military title, its name, date, and location strongly support this identification.
Governor William Findlay served as Pennsylvania’s fourth governor from 1817 to 1820, United States senator from 1821 to 1827, and director of the United States Mint from 1827 to 1841.
Printed by G. Green, the patent features an elaborate calligraphic Commonwealth heading, an early Pennsylvania coat of arms, extensive manuscript boundary descriptions, original official signatures, and a large paper seal depicting the Commonwealth’s ship, plow, wheat sheaves, and motto.
Complete and generally well preserved, with original folds, wrinkles, scattered soiling, and an old piece of adhesive touching the paper seal. The seal remains extraordinarily distinct and visually impressive.
