Augt 12th 1786 Buisness [sic] to be Don [sic]. Manuscript document in unknown hand related to the New Hampshire-New York Land Dispute in frontier Vermont. N.p. [New Haven, Vermont?], 1786. 2pp, approx. 7 x 9 1/4 in. Additional period ink notation in separate hand "Hezekiah Camp Rights in the Town of N Haven." Seemingly an informal "to-do" list or meeting note tracing massive amounts of frontier land in Vermont that was being bought, sold, and cleared by a variety of stakeholders.

The Vermont land controversy, often referred to as the New Hampshire Grants dispute or New Hampshire-New York Land Dispute, was a territorial battle between settlers in Vermont, and the states of New York and New Hampshire. Prior to the American Revolution both New Hampshire and New York issued land grants for the same lands in present-day Vermont, resulting in overlapping and contested land claims in the region as well as the rise of Ethan Allen's Green Mountain Boys. By 1786, Vermont was functioning as an independent Republic and sought to mediate the ongoing land controversy. This involved, in part, the passing of the "Betterment Acts" which ensured settlers with invalid titles received financial compensation from the legal landowners for the work ("improvements") they put into the land. This document appears to have been drafted in response to the "Betterment Acts" as it addresses settlers' land claims and documents improvements made to the land.

Beneath the header, Augt 12th 1786 Buisness [sic] to be Don [sic], the document is in two columns, with a rough dashed or waved line separating notations associated with different individuals. The top left column begins "Sertificates to gitt" followed by a list "Gerl Reed / [General] Sumner / Capt. Taylor / Mr. Goannis / Mrs. Wait." The next notation appears to reference land grants to famed Green Mountain Boy and Revolutionary War General Ethan Allen: "Richt Wentworth Esqr / Confirming Genr Allins Deed in / N Haven Lands in other places / in Waybridg [Weybridge] Licestor [Liecester] / Cavendish and a number of other / Towns."  This column continues with a list of multiple individuals, sometimes with references to specific locations, such as "Mr. Thomas Wentworth Esqr" and "Thos. Marchs Lands in Cornish." 

The second column on the page provides a detailed notation for the aforementioned Captain Taylor: "For Capt. Taylor purches Hundred / acre Lott No 9 in the Third Rang / in the Town of Cornish but / North on said Taylor the original / proprietor Thos. March att / £45 - or Les." Additional notes follow: "Sell my public security for £30 / John Fowls Deed to Wm Chapman / Danll Fowls Lands in Cavendish / Inquire for John Nobhein Portsmouth / whoo has a Rite of Lan in / Cavendish Sold at Vendue."

The reverse of the document deals more specifically with land improvements made by "Aaron Jackson" and "John Rickey." Once again prepared in two columns, the first column states, in part: "Aaron Jackson has Improved on the [?] in Sudbury about one acre and one half acre near the North Line of the Latt Near to Whitney; and one other Improvement made to the East ward where his House stands ... he has Lately Cleared and Sawed about fourte acres to South west of his House he has about four acres cut Down ...." This notation bears a later date of 15 December 1786. John Rickey's improvements include "...Has built a House of Logs and he Has mad wast of about 15 acres of Timber by girdling...." The bottom of this page contains the notation in different hand relating to Hezekiah Camp: "Hezekiah Camp Rights in the Town of N Haven." This may refer to Hezekiah Camp (1700-1791), of Salisbury, Connecticut, who may have been among the original 61 residents of Connecticut who secured a town charter for New Haven, Vermont, from Governor Wentworth of New Hampshire.

This document may provide a glimpse into Ethan Allen's massive land speculation activities which shaped the creation of Vermont, as names listed seem to include several wealthy New England merchants and investors who held titles in Vermont. Additional research could yield fascinating connections to the Allen family and this tumultuous time in Vermont's history.

[Manuscripts, Documents, Letters, Ephemera, Signature, Autographs] 

Dampstain at center. Creasing at folds with one quadrant completely separated along fold lines. Some creasing and small tears along edge lines, toning.