To George Washington from James Ross, 15 April 1796
From James Ross
Philadelphia 15. april 1796
Sir
By this days post I learn that Charles Morgan is dead. The report says that he died on his way home from Kentuckey. Colo. Ritchie who purchased your lands upon Millers Run in Washington County is desirous that the lines should be run & the quantity Ascertained as soon as possible.1 I suggest to you the propriety of writing to Colo. Presly Neville on this subject, he is now at Pittsburgh, & by enclosing to him the courses and distances, mentioned in your patent, he can go upon the ground & execute the Survey without delay.2 Colo. Ritchie States that he will at all events pay a Sum equal to what may be supposed due upon the first of June & make the necessary arrangements afterwards, Should it be inconvenient to you, or impracticable to accomplish the Settlement sooner.
Enclosed is a check for the money paid by Colo. Shreve & I will wait upon you to morrow morning before the Post goes out to know what Answer I shall send to Colo. Ritchie.3 With perfect respect I have the Honour to be Sir your most obedient humble Servant
James Ross
LS, DLC:GW.
1. Ross had negotiated an agreement to sell GW’s Millers Run tract in Washington County, Pa., to Matthew Ritchie (see Ross to GW, 20 Aug. 1795). For further developments in this transaction, see Indenture with Matthew Ritchie, 1 June 1796; Alexander Addison to GW, 4 July; GW to Addison, 8 July; and Ross to GW, 18 August.
2. GW wrote Presley Nevill on 16 April: “I have, as you probably may have heard, sold my land on Millers run to Colo. ⟨Ritchie⟩. This land was to be re-surveyed, and to be paid for by the acre, agreeably to what it shall actually measure. This re-survey was to have been made by Mr Charles Morgan, of whose death I have just heard, from Mr Ross (one of your Senators) who has advised me to commit this business to you.
“May I then request the favor of you to make, or cause to be made by some accurate artist, this Survey, at as convenient a moment as it can be ex⟨e⟩cuted. The cost of the Survey, and incidenta⟨l⟩ expences I will pay, or cause to be paid, upon demand.
“The courses & distances of the tract (copied from the Patent) are enclosed; as also the quantit⟨y⟩ therein mentioned: but having good reasons to believe that the real, will exceed the nominal amount I preferred selling by the former” (ALS [letterpress copy], DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW; the letter-book copy is incorrectly dated 10 April).
Nevill replied to GW from Pittsburgh on 22 April: “I have this moment been honored with your Excellency’s letter of the 16th Inst. and will with the greatest pleasure attend to the business therein mentioned; I am but just arrived at Home, having taken Virginia in my route, but I believe the Information relative to the death of Mr Chas Morgan is not true, at all events the Survey shall be made with accuracy as soon as I can give Colo. Ritchie Notice, (supposing it will be agreable to him to be present,) and the Plot or Draft transmitted to your Excellency, as soon as conveniently may be” (LS, DLC:GW).
3. Israel Shreve paid money due on his purchase of GW’s Washington’s Bottom tract in Fayette County, Pa. (see GW to Shreve, 14 Jan. and 21 Feb. 1795, and Shreve to GW, 7 Feb. 1795). An entry in GW’s cash accounts for 15 April 1796 records the receipt from Ross of $1,160, “part of the second payment for the Land sold the sd Shreve … deposited the said sum in the hands of Mr Washington Craik the 22d of April to pay the Contingent expences of the family” (; see also GW to Ross, 11 June 1796).