{"product_id":"1796-john-fowler-signed-kentucky-land-indenture-1-531-acres-fayette-county-revolutionary-war-veteran-u-s-congressman","title":"1796 John Fowler Signed Kentucky Land Indenture – 1,531 Acres – Fayette County – Revolutionary War Veteran \u0026 U.S. Congressman","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"1382\" data-end=\"1845\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eAn exceptional original \u003cstrong data-start=\"1406\" data-end=\"1452\"\u003emanuscript indenture dated August 31, 1796\u003c\/strong\u003e, documenting the sale of a substantial interest in one of early Kentucky's frontier landholdings. Executed just four years after Kentucky achieved statehood, the agreement is \u003cstrong data-start=\"1628\" data-end=\"1687\"\u003epersonally signed and sealed by John Fowler (1756–1840)\u003c\/strong\u003e, Revolutionary War veteran, prominent Lexington pioneer, Kentucky legislator, and later \u003cstrong data-start=\"1776\" data-end=\"1845\"\u003eMember of the United States House of Representatives (1797–1807).\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1847\" data-end=\"2292\"\u003eThe indenture records the conveyance by Fowler to \u003cstrong data-start=\"1897\" data-end=\"1917\"\u003eNathaniel Mapsie\u003c\/strong\u003e of a \u003cstrong data-start=\"1923\" data-end=\"1978\"\u003ethree-fourths interest in approximately 1,531 acres\u003c\/strong\u003e from a larger \u003cstrong data-start=\"1993\" data-end=\"2013\"\u003e1,900-acre tract\u003c\/strong\u003e originally located for \u003cstrong data-start=\"2037\" data-end=\"2056\"\u003eRobert Caldwell\u003c\/strong\u003e. The property includes the site known as \u003cstrong data-start=\"2098\" data-end=\"2115\"\u003eFresh Station\u003c\/strong\u003e, situated along the historic road between \u003cstrong data-start=\"2158\" data-end=\"2195\"\u003eLimestone (present-day Maysville)\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong data-start=\"2200\" data-end=\"2213\"\u003eLexington\u003c\/strong\u003e, near \u003cstrong data-start=\"2220\" data-end=\"2238\"\u003eMiller's Mills\u003c\/strong\u003e, one of Kentucky's earliest transportation corridors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2294\" data-end=\"2748\"\u003eThe purchase price is \u003cstrong data-start=\"2316\" data-end=\"2342\"\u003e£700 Kentucky currency\u003c\/strong\u003e, with an unusual contractual provision granting the purchaser the option to rescind the sale within three months, while obligating Fowler to repay \u003cstrong data-start=\"2490\" data-end=\"2498\"\u003e£800\u003c\/strong\u003e. Fowler further covenants to defend the title against prior claims and personally binds himself, his heirs, executors, and administrators under a \u003cstrong data-start=\"2645\" data-end=\"2667\"\u003e£10,000 penal bond\u003c\/strong\u003e, illustrating the legal complexity and high value of frontier land transactions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2750\" data-end=\"3246\"\u003eThe concluding page bears \u003cstrong data-start=\"2776\" data-end=\"2831\"\u003eJohn Fowler's bold autograph signature and wax seal\u003c\/strong\u003e, witnessed by \u003cstrong data-start=\"2846\" data-end=\"2860\"\u003eAdam Davis\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong data-start=\"2862\" data-end=\"2881\"\u003eGeorge Muirhead\u003c\/strong\u003e (reading to be verified), and \u003cstrong data-start=\"2912\" data-end=\"2932\"\u003eNicholas Laffoon\u003c\/strong\u003e (reading to be verified). An additional handwritten memorandum, also signed by Fowler, specifies the intended apportionment of the remaining acreage should any portion of the tract be lost to superior claims, providing an unusual insight into the practical realities of Kentucky land speculation during the 1790s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-section-id=\"1r8703y\" data-start=\"3248\" data-end=\"3273\"\u003eHistorical Importance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3275\" data-end=\"3691\"\u003eJohn Fowler ranks among the most important figures in early Kentucky history. A Revolutionary War officer and influential statesman, he helped shape the Commonwealth during its formative years and served five terms in Congress. Manuscripts signed by Fowler are considerably scarcer than those of many better-known early American politicians, particularly documents directly related to Kentucky's frontier settlement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3693\" data-end=\"3760\"\u003eThis indenture combines several highly desirable collecting themes:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"3762\" data-end=\"4184\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1elhy1u\" data-start=\"3762\" data-end=\"3838\"\u003eSigned by \u003cstrong data-start=\"3774\" data-end=\"3789\"\u003eJohn Fowler\u003c\/strong\u003e, Revolutionary War veteran and U.S. Congressman.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"17kkwit\" data-start=\"3839\" data-end=\"3896\"\u003eExecuted during Kentucky's earliest years of statehood.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"7r1gmt\" data-start=\"3897\" data-end=\"3952\"\u003eDocuments a \u003cstrong data-start=\"3911\" data-end=\"3951\"\u003e1,531-acre frontier land transaction\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"kfy410\" data-start=\"3953\" data-end=\"4033\"\u003eReferences the historic \u003cstrong data-start=\"3979\" data-end=\"4010\"\u003eLimestone-to-Lexington Road\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong data-start=\"4015\" data-end=\"4032\"\u003eFresh Station\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"znlult\" data-start=\"4034\" data-end=\"4100\"\u003eContains extensive legal covenants and a rare rescission clause.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"w42trn\" data-start=\"4101\" data-end=\"4184\"\u003eIncludes an additional signed memorandum concerning title and acreage allocation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-section-id=\"1uef3h1\" data-start=\"4186\" data-end=\"4199\"\u003eCondition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4201\" data-end=\"4488\"\u003eOriginal laid paper manuscript with attractive, legible script throughout. Multiple original folds as expected. Light age toning, minor edge wear, and a few small marginal imperfections consistent with handling over more than two centuries. Signatures remain bold and highly displayable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4490\" data-end=\"4700\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eA museum-worthy manuscript documenting Kentucky's earliest period of settlement and one of the finest surviving forms of frontier real estate documentation associated with an important early American statesman.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Signature Documents LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52594808750362,"sku":null,"price":3495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2221\/0931\/files\/IMG_1828.jpg?v=1785164522","url":"https:\/\/princetonaudubonprints.com\/products\/1796-john-fowler-signed-kentucky-land-indenture-1-531-acres-fayette-county-revolutionary-war-veteran-u-s-congressman","provider":"Signature Documents LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}