General Walter Stewart — Signed 1793 Agreement for 14,000 Acres in Pennsylvania
Exceptional original manuscript agreement signed by General Walter Stewart (1756–1796), celebrated Irish-born officer of the Continental Army, together with Pennsylvania land agents Daniel Rees and James McNeal. Dated February 1, 1793.
Under this detailed agreement, Rees and McNeal undertook to locate, survey and patent at least 14,000 acres in Pennsylvania’s Luzerne and Northumberland Counties for Stewart. The lands were distributed among numerous approximately 400-acre tracts situated along the waters of Catawissa, Roaring, Beaver, Black, Wapwallopen and Fishing Creeks and near the Susquehanna River.
The agents were required to supervise the surveys personally, ensure that all boundary lines were properly run and examine the quality of each tract. Stewart agreed to pay one-quarter dollar per acre, advance the necessary warrant and land-office fees, and provide an additional $200 toward the purchase. The parties bound themselves to performance under a substantial £1,000 penalty.
The agreement’s execution is corroborated by surviving Pennsylvania land records. A state warrant map records a 400-acre James McNeal survey made in February 1793 and patented to Walter Stewart in April 1794.
Stewart entered the Continental Army in 1776, served as aide-de-camp to General Horatio Gates, commanded Pennsylvania troops at Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth, and participated in the Yorktown campaign. Known to contemporaries as the “Irish Beauty,” he retired with the rank of brevet brigadier general and later became a prominent Philadelphia merchant and major general of militia.
Approximately three manuscript pages on a large folded sheet, signed by Walter Stewart, Daniel Rees and James McNeal and witnessed by two others. Expected folds, scattered toning, several small holes and edge tears, and localized fold weakness. The writing and signatures remain dark and highly legible.
Confirmation of Walter Stewart connection
The Walter Stewart signing this agreement is almost certainly General Walter Stewart, not merely someone sharing his name. The evidence includes:
- Philadelphia-area date and setting
- Stewart’s known postwar business and land-investment activities
- Handwriting and signature consistent with known examples
- Direct Pennsylvania land-record evidence connecting James McNeal to Walter Stewart
A Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission warrant map records a 400-acre survey in the name of James McNeal, surveyed February 19 and patented to Walter Stewart on April 4, 1794—exactly the type of transaction contemplated by this 1793 agreement. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission warrant map.
Contents
Rees and McNeal agree to locate, survey and secure patents for a minimum of 14,000 acres, with title ultimately placed in Walter Stewart’s name or in the names of persons he designated.
The tracts include lands:
- Along the dividing waters of Roaring Creek and Catawissa Creek
- Near Nanticoke or “Nanticokes Tavern”
- Along Catawissa and Beaver Creeks
- On a branch of Black Creek
- Near Sugar Loaf
- Along Big Wapwallopen Creek
- Near the Susquehanna River
- Adjoining lands associated with Nathan Beech, Samuel Ogden, James McNeal, George Ashbridge, Jacob Hageman and Archibald Stewart
The document requires Rees or McNeal to attend the surveys personally, ensure that boundary lines are properly run and examine the quality of the lands. Stewart agrees to pay one-quarter dollar per acre, advance the warrant and land-office fees, and pay an additional $200 as partial payment.
This was therefore potentially a transaction worth at least $3,500 in 1793 currency, exclusive of fees—a very considerable land speculation.
Walter Stewart
Irish-born Walter Stewart joined the Continental Army in 1776 and rose rapidly:
- Aide-de-camp to General Horatio Gates
- Commander of the 13th and later 2nd Pennsylvania Regiments
- Fought at Brandywine and Germantown
- Wounded at Monmouth
- Helped suppress military unrest and participated in the Yorktown campaign
- Retired with the brevet rank of brigadier general
- Later became a Philadelphia merchant and major general of Pennsylvania militia
Stewart was famously known as the “Irish Beauty” and was described as one of the handsomest officers in the Continental Army. His Revolutionary service is documented by the National Park Service and the Museum of the American Revolution.
Condition
The manuscript is in very good condition for a large working land agreement:
- Expected original folds
- Scattered light toning and staining
- Several small holes or punctures at folds and along the edges
- Minor edge tears and losses
- A narrow horizontal separation or weakness across part of the sheet
- Ink remains dark and highly legible
- All three principal signatures are strong
- Walter Stewart’s signature is especially large and attractive
- No seals appear to survive, although folded seal tabs remain
Professional archival stabilization of the horizontal fold would be advisable.
Exceptional original manuscript agreement signed by General Walter Stewart (1756–1796), celebrated Irish-born officer of the Continental Army, together with Pennsylvania land agents Daniel Rees and James McNeal. Dated February 1, 1793.
Under this detailed agreement, Rees and McNeal undertook to locate, survey and patent at least 14,000 acres in Pennsylvania’s Luzerne and Northumberland Counties for Stewart. The lands were distributed among numerous approximately 400-acre tracts situated along the waters of Catawissa, Roaring, Beaver, Black, Wapwallopen and Fishing Creeks and near the Susquehanna River.
The agents were required to supervise the surveys personally, ensure that all boundary lines were properly run and examine the quality of each tract. Stewart agreed to pay one-quarter dollar per acre, advance the necessary warrant and land-office fees, and provide an additional $200 toward the purchase. The parties bound themselves to performance under a substantial £1,000 penalty.
The agreement’s execution is corroborated by surviving Pennsylvania land records. A state warrant map records a 400-acre James McNeal survey made in February 1793 and patented to Walter Stewart in April 1794.
Stewart entered the Continental Army in 1776, served as aide-de-camp to General Horatio Gates, commanded Pennsylvania troops at Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth, and participated in the Yorktown campaign. Known to contemporaries as the “Irish Beauty,” he retired with the rank of brevet brigadier general and later became a prominent Philadelphia merchant and major general of militia.
Approximately three manuscript pages on a large folded sheet, signed by Walter Stewart, Daniel Rees and James McNeal and witnessed by two others. Expected folds, scattered toning, several small holes and edge tears, and localized fold weakness. The writing and signatures remain dark and highly legible.
Confirmation of Walter Stewart connection
The Walter Stewart signing this agreement is almost certainly General Walter Stewart, not merely someone sharing his name. The evidence includes:
- Philadelphia-area date and setting
- Stewart’s known postwar business and land-investment activities
- Handwriting and signature consistent with known examples
- Direct Pennsylvania land-record evidence connecting James McNeal to Walter Stewart
A Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission warrant map records a 400-acre survey in the name of James McNeal, surveyed February 19 and patented to Walter Stewart on April 4, 1794—exactly the type of transaction contemplated by this 1793 agreement. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission warrant map.
Contents
Rees and McNeal agree to locate, survey and secure patents for a minimum of 14,000 acres, with title ultimately placed in Walter Stewart’s name or in the names of persons he designated.
The tracts include lands:
- Along the dividing waters of Roaring Creek and Catawissa Creek
- Near Nanticoke or “Nanticokes Tavern”
- Along Catawissa and Beaver Creeks
- On a branch of Black Creek
- Near Sugar Loaf
- Along Big Wapwallopen Creek
- Near the Susquehanna River
- Adjoining lands associated with Nathan Beech, Samuel Ogden, James McNeal, George Ashbridge, Jacob Hageman and Archibald Stewart
The document requires Rees or McNeal to attend the surveys personally, ensure that boundary lines are properly run and examine the quality of the lands. Stewart agrees to pay one-quarter dollar per acre, advance the warrant and land-office fees, and pay an additional $200 as partial payment.
This was therefore potentially a transaction worth at least $3,500 in 1793 currency, exclusive of fees—a very considerable land speculation.
Walter Stewart
Irish-born Walter Stewart joined the Continental Army in 1776 and rose rapidly:
- Aide-de-camp to General Horatio Gates
- Commander of the 13th and later 2nd Pennsylvania Regiments
- Fought at Brandywine and Germantown
- Wounded at Monmouth
- Helped suppress military unrest and participated in the Yorktown campaign
- Retired with the brevet rank of brigadier general
- Later became a Philadelphia merchant and major general of Pennsylvania militia
Stewart was famously known as the “Irish Beauty” and was described as one of the handsomest officers in the Continental Army. His Revolutionary service is documented by the National Park Service and the Museum of the American Revolution.
Condition
The manuscript is in very good condition for a large working land agreement:
- Expected original folds
- Scattered light toning and staining
- Several small holes or punctures at folds and along the edges
- Minor edge tears and losses
- A narrow horizontal separation or weakness across part of the sheet
- Ink remains dark and highly legible
- All three principal signatures are strong
- Walter Stewart’s signature is especially large and attractive
- No seals appear to survive, although folded seal tabs remain
Professional archival stabilization of the horizontal fold would be advisable.
