1767 Colonial Virginia Land Office Application – 5,000 Acre Frontier Survey – Indian Path & Wigwam – Pre-Revolutionary Manuscript
This is an original manuscript Virginia frontier land office application requesting a survey of 5,000 acres in the western lands of colonial Virginia.
The document is dated:
May 15, 1767
and is signed by the applicants:
- John McNutt
- Roger McNeill (surname spelling varies slightly in period handwriting)
Text (essentially)
"An application given by John McNutt and Roger McNeill for five thousand acres of land in the Great Valley within three or four of the Head of Beaver Creek where an Indian path crosses Willing Hill, beginning at a large limestone spring to the left hand... over the hill above mentioned where there was an Indian wigwam and down the north side of the mountain till the survey be completed, complying with the terms of the office."
The reverse bears a contemporary docket:
"Survey for 5000 [acres], May 15th 1767."
Historical Context
This document belongs to the great period of Virginia's western expansion before the American Revolution.
Several important features increase its historical interest:
- Dated nine years before the Declaration of Independence
- Requests a very substantial 5,000-acre tract
- Describes the land by natural landmarks rather than surveyed coordinates
- References:
- Beaver Creek
- The Great Valley
- Indian path
- Indian wigwam
- Limestone spring
- Mountain
- Represents the first step toward obtaining a western Virginia land survey.
These applications were submitted before official surveys and patents were issued and are considerably scarcer than the later engraved land grants.
The reference to an Indian path and an Indian wigwam is especially desirable because it documents how frontier settlers identified land using Native American travel routes and habitation sites immediately prior to large-scale settlement.
Condition
- One page manuscript on laid paper
- Complete
- Original folds
- Minor edge wear
- Very legible dark ink
- Reverse docket present
- Very good condition overall
This is an original manuscript Virginia frontier land office application requesting a survey of 5,000 acres in the western lands of colonial Virginia.
The document is dated:
May 15, 1767
and is signed by the applicants:
- John McNutt
- Roger McNeill (surname spelling varies slightly in period handwriting)
Text (essentially)
"An application given by John McNutt and Roger McNeill for five thousand acres of land in the Great Valley within three or four of the Head of Beaver Creek where an Indian path crosses Willing Hill, beginning at a large limestone spring to the left hand... over the hill above mentioned where there was an Indian wigwam and down the north side of the mountain till the survey be completed, complying with the terms of the office."
The reverse bears a contemporary docket:
"Survey for 5000 [acres], May 15th 1767."
Historical Context
This document belongs to the great period of Virginia's western expansion before the American Revolution.
Several important features increase its historical interest:
- Dated nine years before the Declaration of Independence
- Requests a very substantial 5,000-acre tract
- Describes the land by natural landmarks rather than surveyed coordinates
- References:
- Beaver Creek
- The Great Valley
- Indian path
- Indian wigwam
- Limestone spring
- Mountain
- Represents the first step toward obtaining a western Virginia land survey.
These applications were submitted before official surveys and patents were issued and are considerably scarcer than the later engraved land grants.
The reference to an Indian path and an Indian wigwam is especially desirable because it documents how frontier settlers identified land using Native American travel routes and habitation sites immediately prior to large-scale settlement.
Condition
- One page manuscript on laid paper
- Complete
- Original folds
- Minor edge wear
- Very legible dark ink
- Reverse docket present
- Very good condition overall
