{"product_id":"general-walter-stewart-signed-1793-agreement-for-14-000-acres-in-pennsylvania","title":"General Walter Stewart — Signed 1793 Agreement for 14,000 Acres in Pennsylvania","description":"\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eExceptional original manuscript agreement signed by \u003cstrong\u003eGeneral Walter Stewart (1756–1796)\u003c\/strong\u003e, celebrated Irish-born officer of the Continental Army, together with Pennsylvania land agents \u003cstrong\u003eDaniel Rees and James McNeal\u003c\/strong\u003e. Dated February 1, 1793.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnder this detailed agreement, Rees and McNeal undertook to locate, survey and patent at least \u003cstrong\u003e14,000 acres in Pennsylvania’s Luzerne and Northumberland Counties\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStewart 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 \u003cstrong\u003e“Irish Beauty,”\u003c\/strong\u003e he retired with the rank of brevet brigadier general and later became a prominent Philadelphia merchant and major general of militia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eApproximately 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eConfirmation of Walter Stewart connection\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Walter Stewart signing this agreement is almost certainly \u003cstrong\u003eGeneral Walter Stewart\u003c\/strong\u003e, not merely someone sharing his name. The evidence includes:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePhiladelphia-area date and setting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStewart’s known postwar business and land-investment activities\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHandwriting and signature consistent with known examples\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDirect Pennsylvania land-record evidence connecting \u003cstrong\u003eJames McNeal to Walter Stewart\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 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. \u003ca class=\"decorated-link\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.phmc.state.pa.us\/bah\/dam\/rg\/di\/r17-522warranteetwpmaps\/r017Map2872LuzerneBlackCreekWeb.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com\"\u003ePennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission warrant map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eContents\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRees 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tracts include lands:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAlong the dividing waters of Roaring Creek and Catawissa Creek\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNear Nanticoke or “Nanticokes Tavern”\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAlong Catawissa and Beaver Creeks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOn a branch of Black Creek\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNear Sugar Loaf\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAlong Big Wapwallopen Creek\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNear the Susquehanna River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdjoining lands associated with Nathan Beech, Samuel Ogden, James McNeal, George Ashbridge, Jacob Hageman and Archibald Stewart\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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 \u003cstrong\u003eone-quarter dollar per acre\u003c\/strong\u003e, advance the warrant and land-office fees, and pay an additional $200 as partial payment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis was therefore potentially a transaction worth at least \u003cstrong\u003e$3,500 in 1793 currency\u003c\/strong\u003e, exclusive of fees—a very considerable land speculation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWalter Stewart\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIrish-born Walter Stewart joined the Continental Army in 1776 and rose rapidly:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAide-de-camp to General Horatio Gates\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCommander of the 13th and later 2nd Pennsylvania Regiments\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFought at Brandywine and Germantown\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWounded at Monmouth\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHelped suppress military unrest and participated in the Yorktown campaign\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRetired with the brevet rank of brigadier general\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLater became a Philadelphia merchant and major general of Pennsylvania militia\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStewart was famously known as the \u003cstrong\u003e“Irish Beauty”\u003c\/strong\u003e and was described as one of the handsomest officers in the Continental Army. His Revolutionary service is documented by the \u003ca class=\"decorated-link\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/york\/learn\/historyculture\/stewartbio.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com\"\u003eNational Park Service\u003c\/a\u003e and the \u003ca class=\"decorated-link\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amrevmuseum.org\/virtualexhibits\/cost-of-revolution\/pages\/the-irish-beauty?utm_source=chatgpt.com\"\u003eMuseum of the American Revolution\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCondition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe manuscript is in very good condition for a large working land agreement:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExpected original folds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eScattered light toning and staining\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeveral small holes or punctures at folds and along the edges\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMinor edge tears and losses\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA narrow horizontal separation or weakness across part of the sheet\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInk remains dark and highly legible\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAll three principal signatures are strong\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWalter Stewart’s signature is especially large and attractive\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo seals appear to survive, although folded seal tabs remain\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProfessional archival stabilization of the horizontal fold would be advisable.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Signature Documents LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52737662222618,"sku":null,"price":1850.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2221\/0931\/files\/IMG_2477.jpg?v=1787588737","url":"https:\/\/www.thearchiveauthority.com\/products\/general-walter-stewart-signed-1793-agreement-for-14-000-acres-in-pennsylvania","provider":"Signature Documents LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}