Lot of 21. William Ward (1752-1822) was born in Augusta County, VA. Ward's father lived on the edge of the frontier, occasionally moving closer to civilization, his entire life. When William was about six years of age, his three-year-old brother was kidnapped by the Shawnee and raised as one of their own. When Lord Dunmore called for volunteers for a retaliatory war against the Indians of the Ohio Valley, Ward volunteered. He continued in service through the Revolutionary War, serving primarily in the Greenbrier area at Fort Randolph. After the war, he and his father and uncle made many trips into what is now Kentucky, buying military land grants and claiming other plots of land. William settled in Washington, near Limestone (now Maysville) in Mason County, Kentucky. There he met and went into business with Simon Kenton. Simon Kenton (1755-1836) was also born in Virginia. When he was 16, he got into a fight over a girl with William Leachman. When it was over, he thought he killed Leachman, so he fled to the frontier, using the name "Simon Butler." When he later learned that Leachman lived, he took back his natal name. Kenton also fought in Lord Dunmore's War, at one point saving the life of his friend, Daniel Boone It was said that no one knew the Kentucky frontier better than Boone, and no one knew the Ohio frontier better than Kenton. Kenton also served as a scout during the Revolution, then fought with "Mad" Anthony Wayne in the Northwest Indian Wars of 1793-94. By about the late 1780s he began exploring the Mad River Valley and making land claims in the region. Ward also was contracting with John Cleves Symmes for tracts of land in this area, although later it was determined Symmes did not have the right to sell these. In 1799 he and William War led a group of families from Mason County, Kentucky to an area between present-day Springfield and Urbana, Ohio. Ward petitioned the state to create a new county out of parts of existing ones in 1805, and as a result, Champaign County was born. Ward and Kenton continued to work "land deals" together for about 3 decades, although apparently many ended up in court. William Ward was still very much a Virginia gentleman, in spite of living in frontier conditions. Kenton was an illiterate frontiersman. Kenton kept losing his lands and fortunes, Ward's fortunes grew. Some tried to accuse Ward of taking advantage of Kenton's lack of sophistication. But it seems that Kenton was simply incapable of running any kind of business, and lost most of his wealth to non-payment of taxes. It is likely that most of these documents are part of this story. They are dated between 1814 (1 December) and 1817. Several appear to be continuances for earlier documents. There is likely some history yet to be learned about the relationship of these two men. A number of these are signed by Ward. Apparently, Kenton did not learn to read or write at all until 1815 or so. These include everything from address leaves to depositions on the case and continuances. If you like reading 19th century manuscript legalese, this lot is for you!
Lot of 21. William Ward (1752-1822) was born in Augusta County, VA. Ward's father lived on the edge of the frontier, occasionally moving closer to civilization, his entire life. When William was about six years of age, his three-year-old brother was kidnapped by the Shawnee and raised as one of their own. When Lord Dunmore called for volunteers for a retaliatory war against the Indians of the Ohio Valley, Ward volunteered. He continued in service through the Revolutionary War, serving primarily in the Greenbrier area at Fort Randolph. After the war, he and his father and uncle made many trips into what is now Kentucky, buying military land grants and claiming other plots of land. William settled in Washington, near Limestone (now Maysville) in Mason County, Kentucky. There he met and went into business with Simon Kenton. Simon Kenton (1755-1836) was also born in Virginia. When he was 16, he got into a fight over a girl with William Leachman. When it was over, he thought he killed Leachman, so he fled to the frontier, using the name "Simon Butler." When he later learned that Leachman lived, he took back his natal name. Kenton also fought in Lord Dunmore's War, at one point saving the life of his friend, Daniel Boone It was said that no one knew the Kentucky frontier better than Boone, and no one knew the Ohio frontier better than Kenton. Kenton also served as a scout during the Revolution, then fought with "Mad" Anthony Wayne in the Northwest Indian Wars of 1793-94. By about the late 1780s he began exploring the Mad River Valley and making land claims in the region. Ward also was contracting with John Cleves Symmes for tracts of land in this area, although later it was determined Symmes did not have the right to sell these. In 1799 he and William War led a group of families from Mason County, Kentucky to an area between present-day Springfield and Urbana, Ohio. Ward petitioned the state to create a new county out of parts of existing ones in 1805, and as a result, Champaign County was born. Ward and Kenton continued to work "land deals" together for about 3 decades, although apparently many ended up in court. William Ward was still very much a Virginia gentleman, in spite of living in frontier conditions. Kenton was an illiterate frontiersman. Kenton kept losing his lands and fortunes, Ward's fortunes grew. Some tried to accuse Ward of taking advantage of Kenton's lack of sophistication. But it seems that Kenton was simply incapable of running any kind of business, and lost most of his wealth to non-payment of taxes. It is likely that most of these documents are part of this story. They are dated between 1814 (1 December) and 1817. Several appear to be continuances for earlier documents. There is likely some history yet to be learned about the relationship of these two men. A number of these are signed by Ward. Apparently, Kenton did not learn to read or write at all until 1815 or so. These include everything from address leaves to depositions on the case and continuances. If you like reading 19th century manuscript legalese, this lot is for you!
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
