News
Events
Blogs
Pennsylvania Population Company papers
The Pennsylvania Population Company was established in 1792 by several prominent east coast entrepreneurs, who believed they could profit from land speculation in the western area of Pennsylvania. Due to arguments over title rights between settlers and land speculation companies in various courts, t...
Saved in:
| Corporate Author: | |
|---|---|
| Collection: | Pennsylvania Population Company Papers |
| Collection Number: | 0489 |
| Format: | Manuscript |
| Language: | English |
| Subjects and Genres: | |
| Online Access: | Link to finding aid |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Item Description: |
Processing Information: The papers in each box were thought to be arranged in chronological order before processing, so the folders were labeled and numbered in that order. However, during processing, some further dates were found on materials and have been added to their folder labels. This has resulted in the arrangement not being in strict chronological order, but more of a rough chronological order. |
|---|---|
| Physical Description: |
2.4 Linear feet ; 6 boxes |
| Access: |
This collection is open for research. |
| Summary: |
The Pennsylvania Population Company was established in 1792 by several prominent east coast entrepreneurs, who believed they could profit from land speculation in the western area of Pennsylvania. Due to arguments over title rights between settlers and land speculation companies in various courts, the company's sales slowed and profits declined, leading to its liquidation in 1812.
The Pennsylvania Population Company papers (1785-1838) contain stock certificates and transfers, deeds, and applications for land. There are also some patents signed by Governor Thomas Mifflin, administrative and financial records, lists of land tracts, a catalog of the company’s sales from 1812, miscellaneous accounts, agreements, and contracts. The Pennsylvania Population Company papers (1785-1838) are mostly made up of stock certificates and transfers, deeds, and applications for land. There are also some patents signed by Governor Thomas Mifflin, administrative and financial records, lists of land tracts, a catalog of the company’s sales from 1812, miscellaneous accounts, agreements, and contracts. Several documents relate to Thomas Astley, a large shareholder in the company, including a colored map of land owned by him, and correspondence between Astley and Enoch Marvin. The collection documents several of the names involved with the company through its stock certificates and deeds. Documentation of the company’s administration and finances is sporadic and does not make up a large part of the collection. These documents may be of interest to researchers studying eighteenth and nineteenth century land speculation companies, or the history of the Pennsylvania Population Company. The lists of land tracts may be of interest to people researching land ownership. Additionally, the collection could be relevant to people studying the history of settlement in western Pennsylvania. |