Program

Great American Rail-Trail

Subject

People, Site

Location

4 Kler St, Southview, PA 15361, USA

Lat/Long

40.328299, -80.25591

Grant Recipient

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Not only was George Washington a general and commander in chief in the American Revolution and the first president of the United States, but he was also an avid land speculator. Washington sought out, bought, patented, and sold numerous properties to promote westward expansion and greater land development in America.

In 1763, Captain John Posey, became entitled to a 3,000-acre land grant under a Royal Proclamation given to veterans of the French and Indian War. Since Posey owed his neighbor, George Washington, a significant debt of 2,000 pounds, he granted 2,831 acres of his entitlement to Washington. The land was formally granted to Washington by Lord Dunmore on July 5, 1774. It was situated in the western frontier, specifically in Augusta County, Virginia—an area that later became Washington County, Pennsylvania. The tract was located on the north side of Miller’s Run, a branch of Chartier’s Creek, and included part of the Racoon River. The original boundaries were established by a survey conducted by Colonel Crawford in 1773.

After the Revolutionary War, Washington finally visited the remote property in September 1784. He was immediately confronted by settlers already living on the land who came to “set forth their pretensions to it; & enquire into my right” (September 1784). During his visit, Washington lodged at Colonel Cannan’s on Chartier’s Creek and observed the land, describing it as mostly “hilly,” with some parts “very rich” and others “thin” (September 1784)

Facing an ownership dispute, Washington sued the squatters in court to confirm his title. He ultimately prevailed, and the settlers were removed from the land in 1786.

Having successfully defended his title, Washington held the valuable western property for another decade. In 1796, he sold the tract to Matthew Ritchie for $12,000, with the payment structured in several installments.

Sources:

“September 1784,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/01-04-02-0001-0001. [Original           source: The Diaries of George Washington, vol. 4, 1 September 1784 – 30 June 1786, ed. Donald       Jackson and Dorothy Twohig. Charlottesville: University Press   of Virginia, 1978, pp. 1–54.]