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US Territories Surrounding Kentucky

Southwest Territory Map, 1795

A rare 1795 map of the Southwest Territory, officially the "Territory of the United States South of the River Ohio," produced by Joseph Scott.

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Southwest Territory Map, 1795

A rare 1795 map of the Southwest Territory, officially the “Territory of the United States South of the River Ohio,” produced by Joseph Scott.

This map of the Southwest Territory, or territorial Tennessee, officially known then as “Territory of the United States South of the River Ohio,” was produced by Joseph Scott and published in 1795. The Southwest Territory was created in May of 1790 from lands ceded to the Unites States by North Carolina in payment of obligations owed to the United States Federal government.

The territory became the state of Tennessee, the 16th state of the Union in 1796. Knoxville, Nashville, and Clarksville are identified on this map and the rivers are located in detail. Other important features identified are Fort Massac, Ross’s Iron Works, the boundaries of the Military Reservation (for North Carolina Revolutionary War land grants) in Middle Tennessee, as well as the three counties that make up the Mero District — Tennessee, Davidson, and Sumner.

Northwest Territory Map, 1795

This rare tankard displays an exquisite transfer of an American ship and its 15 star and 15 stripe American Flag.

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Northwest Territory Map, 1795

This rare tankard, c. 1795, displays an exquisite transfer of an American ship and its 15 star and 15 stripe American Flag.

This mint condition tankard is 6” in height and was produced in Liverpool, England for the American market. Very few tankards from this period survive in excellent condition, and the imagery on this tankard is finely produced and shows exquisite detail. This rendering is c.1795, as the ship carries the 15 star flag which represents Kentucky as the 15th state of the Union and part of the US around the time our Federal government was being formed. George Washington was president when Kentucky was accepted as the 15th US state, and President Washington was an advocate for Kentucky statehood.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

A rare 1787 printing of “An Ordinance for the Government of the Territory of the United States, North-West of the River Ohio.”

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Northwest Ordinance of 1787

A 1787 printing of “An Ordinance for the Government of the Territory of the United States, North-West of the River Ohio.”

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 officially titled, “An Ordinance for the Government of the Territory of the United States North-West of the River Ohio,” was adopted by the Confederation Congress on July 13, 1787. Also known as the Ordinance of 1787, the Northwest Ordinance established a government for the Northwest Territory, outlined the process for admitting a new state to the Union, and guaranteed that newly created states would be equal to the original thirteen states. Considered one of the most important legislative acts of the Confederation Congress, the Northwest Ordinance also provided strong protection to civil liberties.

This printing of the North-West Ordinance in the supplement to the first volume of the Columbian Magazine is a rare contemporary publication of this important document. The Columbian Magazine, or Monthly Miscellany, “was the most ambitious project in magazine publication yet attempted in this country.”

NW and IN Territory Laws, 1802

A letter from the US Secretary of State in outstanding original condition.

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NW and IN Territory Laws, 1802

This letter of the Secretary of State of the United States, is an important collection of laws concerning laws on taxes on land by county, and was printed in January, 1802.

In outstanding original condition and containing 53 pages, and printed the 14^th of January 1802, this document is titled, “Letter from the SECRETARY of STATE, Accompanying certain Laws of the North-Western and Indiana Territories of the United States, in Pursuance of a resolution of the House the 24^th Ultimo. 14^th January,1802. Ordered to Lie on the Table”

It is a collection of Laws which predates the publication of Indiana Territory Laws in the West. The Laws concern taxes on land, by county, and in the Indian territory as well.

William Blount Document

William Blount was the only governor over the Territory South of the River Ohio, and this 1795 signed document requests military funds.

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William Blount Document

William Blount was the only governor over the Territory South of the River Ohio, and this 1795 signed document requests military funds.

William Blount was the first and only Governor of the Territory South of the River Ohio, which became Tennessee in 1796. Blount was a signatory on the US Constitution and was appointed by George Washington as the first and only Governor of the Territory South of the River Ohio. Blount later became one of the first two senators of Tennessee.

In this rare document, Blount is requesting funds to pay for a “Company of Mounted Infantry commanded by Thomas Murray from the regiment of Davidson County.” Co-signers on his document include Charles McClung, who initially laid out the city of Knoxville, TN in 1791, and who also helped draft the Tennessee state constitution. Also, David Henly, who served George Washington during the Revolutionary War as his intelligence officer. This document carries an official paper and wax seal.

1799 Arrest Warrant, NW Territory

This 1799 NW Territory arrest warrant is on finely crafted paper with the original wax seal of the court at Marietta.

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1799 Arrest Warrant, NW Territory

This 1799 NW Territory arrest warrant is on finely crafted paper with the original wax seal of the court at Marietta.

The NW Territory, also known as the “Territory North-West of the River Ohio” was established in 1787. The first Governor of the territory was Arthur St Clair, and he located the government in Marietta in Washington County. Benjamin Ives Gilman (1766-1833) was an early pioneer, shipbuilder on the Ohio River, extensive landholder, a delegate to the 1802 Ohio Constitutional Convention from Washington County, and the writer of the State of Ohio Constitution.

This rare 1799 Northwest Territory document is signed Benj. Ives Gilman as Prothonotary (a chief clerk in a court of law, he was Clerk of Courts for Washington County from 1795 to 1803.) The Document measures 13” x 7.75”. In amazing condition, the original paper and wax official embossed Territorial Seal is fully attached at upper left.

The North-West Territory was an “Incorporated Territory” of the United States spanning what is now Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin. The Territory existed legally from July 13, 1787, until March 1, 1803. Official Documents that are of the “Northwest Territory” are extremely scarce in any condition, let alone in pristine condition which this document is.