Beschreibung:

WASHINGTON, GEORGE, 1732-1799, President . Two documents signed ("G:Washington") as President, Washington, D.C. and Fairfax County, Virginia, both 16 December 1797. Together 4 pages, very long sheets: folio, 1380 x 405mm. (65 3/4 x 16 in.) and 960 x 405mm. (37 3/4 x 16 in.) respectively, occasional light marginal stains, slight wear at edges and a few separations at central folds . [ With :] Autograph cover sheet (a wrapper for the above), signed twice in third person ("Washington"), 1 page, 4to, 200 x 282mm. (11 x 8 in.), edges worn, browned . THE PRESIDENT LEASES 23,000 ACRES OF FRONTIER LANDS TO A SPECULATOR: AN EXCEPTIONALLY LARGE AND COMPLEX PAIR OF DOCUMENTS (ONE MEASURING OVER FIVE FEET IN LENGTH) A fascinating but melancholy record of a major transaction of Washington's late years which went sour. From his early days as a land surveyor, Washington was actively involved in the lease, sale and purchase of real estate; by judicious acquisitions he managed to almost treble the size of his Mount Vernon estate and acquired extensive lands in the frontier areas as well. These two extraordinarily large documents, both signed by Washington and James Welch, record the complex transaction by which "his Excellency George Washington Esquire of Mount Vernon in the State of Virginia" leases to "James Welch of the County of Greenbrier" four tracts of land "upon the River Kanawah" near the confluence of the Great Kanawah and the Ohio Rivers (probably in present-day Cabell County, West Virginia, north of Huntington, West Virginia, bordering Ohio). The boundaries of each parcel is described in great detail with reference to trees, streams and other natural landmarks. Welch first proposed renting Washington's Kanawah lands about 1 December; there was considerable haggling over the terms (see Letters of Washington , ed. J. C. Fitzpatrick, 36:82-83). In a letter of 10 December to his attorney James Keith Washington summarized the terms finally agreed upon: "the term of 30 years, to commence on the 1st of January...at a rent of $5,000 for the first year...$8,000 the next year, and from thence to the expiration...for $11,143 annually; and for 99 yeares therafter on an annual rent of $22,286....Welch, not only may, but shall, lay out the...tracts...into convenient tenements...from 50, to 500 Acres...and may let the same....Each tenent being obliged...to build a comfortable dwelling house of Stone or Brick, or of Wood with a stone or Brick Chimney; build a Barn, plant orchards and make meadow [clear the trees]..." Additional stipulations regarding Welch's purchase "for fee simple" of the lands were set out. Both indentures were drawn up by Keith, who has signed among the witnesses in both cases. Unfortunately, Welch proved to be an untrustworthy speculator and a bad partner. In February 1799, he had still not made payment of the annual rent, to Washington's annoyance, and the former President learned that Welch was claiming to have bought his lands outright, using that claim to obtain credit. Finally, in April of that year, Washington wrote him a stinging letter of rebuke, declaring that "you have not got a person now, that will be trifled with in your dealings," and declaring that "however you may have succeeded in imposing upon, and deceiving others, you shall not practice the like game with me, with impunity" (Fitzpatrick, 37:176-178). Welch promised to pay by November (37:215), but it is not known whether he did so. Washington mentioned this and other leases in his Last Will and Testament, drawn up in the summer of 1799 (37:284), and enumerated in detail in the Schedule attached to it (37:298). On 14 December Washington died. The two indentures, which came down in the family, may well indicate that Welch defaulted, as Washington fully expected, and was forced to surrender his copy of the lease agreement, voiding the contract altogether. Provenance : George Washington -- Lawrence Lewis, executor and nephew of George Washington (sale, T