Formation of the Glasgow Ohio Company
Nahum Ward, a representative of the Ohio Company, went to Scotland in 1823 to sell land. A group of Glasgow merchants formed the Glasgow Ohio Company to pool resources in order to buy Ohio land. A series of legal documents were issued to form the Scottish Association, and to negotiate the deeds.
One of the principle players in this Company was my great great great great grandfather George Richardson.
Between 1823 and 1824 George, and most of the other men listed in the legal documents, moved their families to the newly founded town of Stirling, Meigs County, Ohio.
A list of these other immigrant families can be found on the ship manifest
To read George's reports he sent back to Scotland see What George Wrote
DEEDS
Glasgow Ohio Company
to
George RICHARDSON
Meigs County, Ohio
Vol. 1 pp. 515-516
June 30, 1823
2761 acres
Know all members there present that Harvey STRONG Esquire American Consul for Scotland, Alexander
JOHNSON merchant, James MILLER stationer, John FISHER bookbinder, and George
BALBIRNIE dyer all in the City of Glasgow in the part of Great Britain called Scotland,
considering that by minute of agreement dated at Glasgow the thirtieth day of June eighteen hundred
and twenty three entered into between us and George RICHARDSON late merchant, William McKAY
teacher, Daniel NICOL shoemaker, and George DUNCAN farmer we agreed to enter into an association
to be stylese the Glasgow Ohio Company for the purposes of purchasing from Nahum WARD
Esquire a certain tract of land in the County of Meigs in the State of Ohio and of cultivating
the ame and establishing a town thereon. That the parties last named proceeded last summer to said
State and purchased said tract of Land consisting of two thousand seven hundred and sixty one acres
at the price of fourteen hundred pounds payable to two instalments of seven hundred pounds each.
And seeing that we reside on or near the lands with full powers to carry the objects of the association
into effect, Therefore we the parties first above named for ourselves and the other members of the
said association resident in Scotland do hereby satisfy and approve the purchase of said tract of
land on the terms above mentioned. And we have named as we do hereby name constitute and appoint the
said George RICHARDSON, William McKAY, George DUNCAN and also Archibald FISHER
son of the said John FISHER all of the said County of Meigs State of Ohio and resident on
or near the said lands our true and lawful Attorneys for us and in our names and to and for the
use and behoof of the said Association and whole members thereof to make and complete the purchase
of the said tract of land in the terms above mentioned to preserve legal titles there to and obtain
the Association seized therein and either to grant bills for the price on or to execute a deed of
Mortgage over the said lands in favor of Mr. WARD for the balance of the price and all
other writings necessary for that purpose.And we authorize and appoint our said attornies to take possession of said lands and proceed to the clearing and cultivating the same agreeably to the said minute of agreement and instructions therein referred to and such further instructions as theymay receive from time to time. And as the members of the Association have agreed by their contract to furnish a sum of one thousand pounds for the purposes of the Association over and above paying the price of the lands, so our said attornies are hereby authorized to draw bills in separate sums and as need may require on the Company to the extent of said sum. But they are hereby expressly discharged from drawing or granting bills and contracting debts to any greater extent,
And also from burdening or affecting the said lands in any manner of way except to the said Nahum WARD for the balance of the price as before provided for and excepting also in the case of emergency to the extent of three hundred pounds but which sum of three hundred pounds shall be held to less part of the said sum of one thousand pounds for which sum ony the members of the Association are liable or shall be responsible.
Declaring that all bills drawn or granted debts contracted or burdens imposed upon the said lands by our said attornies to any great extent that the sums above specified or for any other than the just uses of the Association shall no be obligatory on the said Association or members thereof but null and void to all intents and purposes.
And it is understood that other members of the Association intend to go out to the lands we hereby declare that such member shall on their arrival there become joint Attorneys in this power as fully and actually as if herein specially named. And we hereby revoke and recall all former powers which are or may have been granted or implied that exceed or are inconsistent with these now given preserving to ourselves the liberty to recall or vary these letter of Attorney at pleasure. And in general we do hereby authorize our said attorneys to do perform and execute all and every such farther and other lawful act and deed matter and thing whatsoever for completing the said purchase executing the said mortgage affecting the said Burden clearing and cultivating the said land establishing the said Town and for all the just true and necessary purposes of the Association contract of agreement and of these presents as fully as to all intent and purposes as we could do ourselves.
Ratifying and hereby promising to ratify all our said attornies shall lawfully do in the presence in virtue of these presents. In witness whereof the said parties first above named have set their hands and seals to these presents which are written by Peter MILLER writer in the city of Glasgow aforesaid the thirteenth day of February eighteen hundred twenty four years.
Signed
Alex JOHNSON
George BALBIRNIE
John FISHER
James MILLAR
Harvey STRONG
Consulate of the United States of America, Glasgow
Harvey STRONG, Counsel of the United States of America for Scotland, do hereby make known and certify to all whom shall come that Alexander JOHNSON, George BALBIRNIE, John FISHER, James MILLAR, [illegible word] entered their names to the annexed document.
Seal
Given under my hand and Official seal in Glasgow aforesaid this 13th day of February in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty four and of the Independence of the United States the forty eight.
Nahum WARD
to
James MILLAR et al
Meigs County, Ohio
Vol. 1 pp. 513-515
October 23, 1823
Know all men by these presents that I Nahum WARD of Marietta in the
State of Ohio in the United States of America of the first part and Harvey STRONG (Council
of the United States of America in Scotland) James MILLAR, George
RICHARDSON, William McKay, John FISHER, George BALBURNIE, Daniel
NICHOL, Alexander JOHNSON, George DUNCAN and their
Associates all of Scotland of the second part witnesseth that the party
ofthe first part for and in consideration of the sum of eighteen hundred
pounds Sterling to him in hand paid at the ensealing and delivery
of these presents by the party of the second part the receipt whereof
is hereby acknowledged and the said party of the second part their heirs and assigns
are forever released and discharged from the same by these presents.
And the part of the first part has bargained, sold,[illegible word], bargained, released, conveyed and confirmed and by these presents does grant, bargain, sell,[illegible word] release, convey and confirm unto the said party of the second part and to their heirs and assigns forever-All those several tracts or parcels of land known and numbered as follows, that is to say
Section No. thirty six (36) drawn to the name of Enos HITCHCOCK and by his heirs conveyed to the party of the first part as will appear of record in Gallia County in vol. 5 pages 273-276
Also Section No. thirty (30) drawn to Nicholas POWERS and by his heirs conveyed to James TURNER and by said TURNER conveyed to the party of the first part as will appear of record in Gallia County in Vol. 6 page 167.
Also Section No. twenty four (24) drawn to the Marquis de CHAPPEDELAIN and by his sole heir conveyed to the party of the first part as will appear of record in Gallia County in Vol. 6 page 53
Also seventy acres being part of the one hundred acre Lot drawn to Alexsander HAMILTON of Rhode Island no. one hundred sixty three (163) located on the east side of the last named section and is in section no. eighteen and was conveyed by the proprietor to the party of the first part as will appear of record in Gallia County
All the several tracts aforesaid are in Town no. two of the eleventh range
Also one hundred acre lots no. one hundred forty seven (147) one hundred forty eight (148), one hundred forty nine (149) and one hundred fifty (150) all drawn to the name of Robert WILLIAMS Jr. and conveyed by deed from him to the party of the first part as will appear of record in Gallia County in Vol. 6 page 523 and is located on the bank of the Ohio River.
Also, two hundred and fifty four (254) acres known and distinquished as the Commons Lot in the west part of section no. thirteen (13) and the same was conveyed to the party of the first part as will appear in Meigs County by Charles WILKES and Janet his wife said WILKES has a deed from the Directors of the Ohio Company as will appear of record in the Recorders Office in the Town of Marietta in Washington County,
the said four one hundred acre lots and the tracts of two hundred and fifty four acres are all located in no. three of the eleventh range and the whole of the above described lands are in the Ohio company purchase in the State of Ohio containing in all the several tracts two thousand and seven hundred and sixty one acres be the same more or less
And for a more particular description of said lots or parcels of land reference is hereby had to the books, plans and records of the Ohio company at the Recorders Office for Meigs County aforesaid.
[page 514 is mostly illegible, pick up the transcription at the bottom of 514]
...And Sarah Katharine WARD wife of the said Nahum WARD in token of her relinquishment of all dower in the previous aforesaid has hereunto set her hand and seal. In witness whereof the party of the first part and Sarah Catherine WARD his wife have hereunto set their hands and seals this twenty third day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty three.
signed
Nahum WARD
Sarah C. WARD
in the presence of
Danl Buell
State of Ohio Washington County, at Marietta in the 19th day of April 1824 before me one of the justices of the peace for the town of Marietta personally came Nahum WARD and Sarah Catherine his wife the signers and sealers of the foregoing instruments being examined seperate and [illegible word] acknowleged the same to be their free voluntary act and deed for the wife and purpose therein expressed and none other. In witness hereof Ihave hereunto set my hand and seal this day and year last above writtten.
signed
Danl H. BUELL
George RICHARDSON et al Glasgow Ohio Company
to
Nahum WARD
Meigs County, Ohio
Vol. 1 p. 517-518
July 14, 1824
Know all members there present that we the Agents and Counsel of the Glasgow Ohio Company for America and in behalf of said Company by virtue of a power of attorney from the members of said company in Scotland, dated February 15 AD 1824 for this purpose now to be recorded in Meigs County and also for ourselves individually so far as our names are his own, as stock or share holders or in any shape interested in said Company in consideration of this sum of seven hundred pounds sterling money of Great Britain to and for the use of said Company to us in hand paid by Nahum WARD of Marietta in the County of Washington and State of Ohio the receipt whereof we as the Agents and Counsel aforesaid and for oursevles individually, so far as our names appear uuon the books as shareholders in the Company aforesaid-
Do hereby grant sell and convey unto the said Nahum WARD his heirs and assigns the following described tracts of land in the County of Meigs viz Section No. thirty (30) twenty four(24) thirty six (36) and part of one hundred acre lot no. 163 all in Town no. two of range no. eleven and "Common Lot" of two hundred and fifty four acres and one hundred acre lots one hundred forty seven (147) one hundred forty eight (148) one hundred forty nine (149) and one hundred fifty (150) all the five last lots located in Town no. three (3) of the eleventh range.
And the lands aforesaid are the same as conveyed by deed from Nahum WARD aforesaid to Harvey STRONG, James MILLAR, George RICHARDSON, Wm McKay, John FISHER, George Balbirnie, Daniel NICOL, Arch JOHNSON, George DUNCAN and their associates recorded in Meigs County.
To have and to hold the above granted, bargained premises with the appurtenances unto the said Nahum WARD his heirs and assigns to his and to their use and behoof forever. And we do covenant with the said WARD his heirs and assigns that we in our several capacities aforesaid and by virtue of the power invested as aforesaid are lawfully and rightfully authorized to sell and convey as aforesaid that the premises are free and clear of all incumbrances whatsoever and that by the power and authority invested and for ourselves we will warrant and defend the premises aforesaid to the said WARD his heirs and assigns forever against the lawful claims and demands of all persons. Provided nevertheless that of the Glasgow Ohio Company, or their Agents, President or Treasurer shall pay to the said Nahum WARD, or unto his heirs, executors,administrators and assigns a certain bill of exchange on London drawn by the Agents and Counsel of the Company aforesaid for the sum of seven hundred pounds sterling dated Marietta Ohio United States Nov [illegible] AD 1823 directed to Messr. Alexander JOHNSON and George BALBIRNIENichol at Glasgow Scotland payable in four years and two months from the date then this deed shall be void otherwise to remain in full force and virtue. In witness whereof, and by virtue of the power to us have hereunto set our hands and seal this seventh of July in the year of our Lord AD 1824.
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of
John [illegible]
Arch FISHER
George RICHARDSON for Company and myself
William McKAY for Company and myself
George DUNCAN for Company and myself
Archd FISHER for Company and myself
Meigs County and State of Ohio
Lebanon Township, July seventh AD 1824
On the day above written before me John BROWN a justice of the peace within and for the town aforesaid personally appeared George RICHARDSON, Wm McKAY, Archibald FISHER, and George DUNCAN and orally aknowledged the foregoing instrument to be their voluntary act and deed by them subscribed and for the purpose therein contained and none other.
Given under my hand and seal this day and year above written
State of Ohio
Meigs County July 14 AD 1824 John BROWN