John Jay Papers
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To John Jay from the Governor of Massachusetts ( John Hancock), 14 September 1789

From the Governor of Massachusetts (John Hancock)

Boston September 14th. 1789

Sir,

I have had the honor of receiving your Letter of the 4th. instant.1 The territory referred to has been quit-claimed to the Honorble Mr. Gorham and others by the Legislature of this Commonwealth for a valuable consideration so that we having no interest therein, it is judged unnecessary that the Commonwealth should attend by their Agent at the running of the Line— Mr. Gorham and others who are interested are procuring a person for that purpose.2 I am, Sir, with great esteem & respect your most obedient & very Humble Servant,

John Hancock

Honble. John Jay Esqr. Minister for Foreign Affairs

LS, DNA: PCC, item 78, 12: 523 (EJ: 05151). Endorsed. LbkC, Domestic Letters, 4: 94 (EJ: 02379).

1JJ to Governor George Clinton of New York and Governor John Hancock of Massachusetts, 4 Sept. 1789, enclosing the 6 June 1788 act of the Continental Congress and a concurrent resolution of the U.S. Senate, 10 Aug. 1789, and the U.S. House of Representatives, passed 19 Aug. 1789. LbkC, DLC: Washington, ser. 2 (EJ: 10067); DNA: Domestic Letters description begins Domestic Letters of the Department of State, 1784–1906, RG 59, item 120, National Archives (M40). Accessed on Fold3.com. description ends , 4: 85–88 (EJ: 02372); Report of the Regents of the University on the Boundaries of the State of New York (Albany, 1874), 312–13.

2Having successfully asserted its claim to a triangular tract on Lake Erie, the federal government ordered a survey, under Andrew Ellicott, to start on 10 Oct. 1789, of the boundary between that territory and New York State. Political jurisdiction over the disputed six-million-acre westernmost part of the state was retained by New York, but Massachusetts had in December 1786 been recognized as owning the soil, so both states were invited to have representatives present to witness the surveying. Massachusetts sold its interest in the land on 1 Apr. 1788 to a group headed by former President of Congress Nathaniel Gorham and Oliver Phelps (1749–1809), a merchant and land speculator. PGW: PS description begins Dorothy Twohig et al., eds., The Papers of George Washington, Presidential Series (19 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1987–) description ends , 3: 499–501. Orasmus Turner, History of the Pioneer Settlement of Phelps & Gorham’s Purchase, And Morris’ Reserve: Embracing the Counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Stueben, Most of Wayne And Allegany, And Parts of Orleans, Genesee, And Wyoming (Rochester, 1851), 135–36.

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