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Summary Information

Repository
Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
Lilly Library
Indiana University
1200 E. Seventh St.
Bloomington, IN 47405-5500
Phone: 812-855-2452
Fax: 812-855-3143
Email: liblilly@indiana.edu

Creator
Harrison, William Henry, 1773-1841

Collection No.
LMC 1532

Extent
797 items

Language
Materials are in English.

Abstract
The Harrison, W.H. mss., 1779-1922, but principally 1800-1815, consists of photostats and transcripts of manuscript and printed material collected by Logan Esarey, professor of history at Indiana University, for his Messages and Letters of William Henry Harrison, Indianapolis, 1922, 2 vols., Indiana Historical Collections, vols. 7-8.

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Biographical Note

William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States and territorial governor of Indiana.

Arrangement

The collection is organized into the following series: I. Materials used by Logan Esarey; and II. Materials not used by Esarey.

Scope and Content Note

The Harrison, W.H. mss., 1779-1922, but principally 1800-1815, consists of photostats and transcripts of manuscript and printed material collected by Logan Esarey, professor of history at Indiana University, for his Messages and Letters of William Henry Harrison, Indianapolis, 1922, 2 vols., Indiana Historical Collections, vols. 7-8. It includes correspondence, petitions to Congress concerning land questions, suffrage and elections, divisions of the Indiana territory, post roads and post offices, slavery, and miscellaneous subjects; bills and amendments to bills; and reports of congressional committees. The Indian treaties (printed) are with: the Delaware, Shawnee, Potowatomi, Miami, Eel River, Wea, Kickapoo, Piankashaw, Kaskaskia, Ojibwa, Ottawa, and Wyandot Indians.

The correspondents include John Badollet, Edward Banvick, Lewis Cass, James Cox, William Harris Crawford, James Alexander Dallas, Henry Davidge, Henry Dearborn, Mathew Ernest, Nathanial Ewing, Albert Gallatin, John Gibson, George Graham, Adam Guthrie, Cornelius Harnett, William James, Thomas Jefferson, Jonathan Jennings, John Johnston, James Madison, Jared Mansfield, Josiah Meigs, Return Jonathan Meigs, Thomas Posey, Arthur St. Clair, Jesse Burgess Thomas, Henry Vanderburgh, and John Whistler.

The petitions to Congress relate to land questions, suffrage and elections, divisions of the Indiana Territory, post roads and post offices, slavery, and miscellaneous subjects.

1) The petitions relating to land questions are from: George Ash for confirmation of a grant of land from the Indians, 1802, Jan. 29; citizens of the Indiana Territory in support of George Ash's claim, 1802, Jan. 29; the Illinois and Ouabache Land Company for confirmation of their land title, 1803, Oct. 17; citizens of Randolph and St. Clair counties for favorable terms for securing lands, 1804, Dec. 12; George Ash for confirmation of a land title, 1804, Dec. 13; Sally Lusk for the right to operate a ferry and for a grant of land, 1804, Dec. 14; citizens of Livingston County, Kentucky, in support of Sally Lusk's petition, 1804, Dec. 14; citizens of Indiana Territory and the state of Kentucky in support of George Ash's petition, 1804, Dec. 20; citizens living near Fort Massac for confirmation of the land claims, 1805, Jan. 10; land purchasers of Ohio and the Indiana Territory for an extension of time in making payments, 1805, Oct. 1 and Nov. 19; citizens of Randolph and St. Clair counties for land grants, 1805, Dec. 2; French inhabitants of Vincennes requesting an extension of time in filing land claims, 1806, Feb. 27; William Wells for right of pre-emption on a tract of land near Ft. Wayne, 1807, Oct. 7 and a deposition of William Henry Harrison in support of his petition, 1806, Nov. 28; the Legislature of the Indiana Territory for the establishment of a land office in the territory, 1811, Jan. 21; the Legislative council and the House of representatives of the Indiana Territory for an extension of time in making land payments, 1811, Jan. 21; the Legislature of Ohio for the fixing of the northern and western boundaries of the state, 1811, Dec. 21; citizens of the Indiana Territory for a change in the law allowing an extension of time for making land payments, 1812, June 15; the Legislature of the Indiana Territory for an extension of time in making land payments, 1813, May 3; the Legislature of the Indiana Territory for confirmation of the claims to land sold by the Trustees of the university, 1813, May 25; John Small for confirmation of his title to a tract of land, 1817, Oct. 9 and depositions in support of his claim, 1818, Jan. 2 and 5; citizens of Vincennes for removal of land claims which were on worthless land, 1817, Dec.; Jane Dubois and Will Jones for location of the land claims of Toussaint Dubois, 1818, Jan. 27; citizens of Vincennes requesting a survey of the town, n.d.

2) Petitions relating to suffrage and elections are from: the Legislative council of the Indiana Territory for popular election of the council and of the delegate to Congress, 1808, Oct. 26; the Legislative council and House of Representatives of the Indiana Territory questioning the constitutionality of the meeting of the general assembly and inquiring about methods for organizing a new legislature and apportioning delegates, 1809, Oct. 21; citizens of Clark County and the Indiana Territory for popular election of militia officers, magistrates, sheriffs and coroners, 1809, Dec. 12; citizens of the Indiana Territory for the extension of the right of suffrage, 1809, Dec. 12; citizens of Harrison County for the extension of the right of suffrage, 1809, Dec. 12; the Legislative council and the House of Representatives of the Indiana Territory for the extension of the right of suffrage, 1811, Jan. 2 and 24; the Republican Corresponding Society of Brookville for the popular election of sheriffs and magistrates, 1811, Oct. 26; the Legislative council protesting against the governor's division of the territory into new council districts, 1814, Jan. 6; Daniel C. Lane and Patrick Shields for a correction in the census report and the apportionment of another delegate to the convention from Harrison County, 1816, Jan. 3.

3) Petitions relating to the division of the Indiana Territory are from: citizens of [Michigan] for a separate government, 1803, Mar. 20 and Sept. 1, 1804, Oct. 24; landowners near Ohio asking to be joined to that state, 1805, Dec. 18; the Democratic Republicans of Wayne for a separate government, [1804, Dec. 6]; a committee of the citizens of Illinois for separation from the Indiana Territory, 1807, Feb. 20; citizens of Knox County against the separation of Illinois from the Indiana Territory, 1808, Dec. 16; citizens of Randolph County against the separation of Illinois from the Indiana Territory, n.d.

4) Petitions relating to post roads and post offices are from: citizens of Dearborn County requesting a post road, 1806, Feb. 13; citizens of Dearborn, Franklin and Wayne counties requesting post roads and post offices, 1811, Jan. 22; the Legislature of the Indiana Territory requesting a post road through Eaton, 1813, Dec. 27.

5) Petitions requesting that slavery be allowed in the Indiana Territory are from: The Legislative council and the House of Representatives of the Indiana Territory, 1807, Sept. 19 and 1806, Dec. 20.

6) Petitions on several subjects are from: citizens of Randolph and St. Clair counties for slavery, the extinguishment of the Indian title to a tract of land in Illinois, grants to men who will open a road to Vincennes and keep inns along it, and the establishment of garrisons in the Illinois region, 1800, Oct. 11; the Legislative council and House of Representatives of the Indiana Territory for slavery, extension of the right of suffrage, cession of the salt springs to the territory, confirmation of certain land titles and statehood, and against the division of the Indiana Territory, 1805, Aug. 19; a committee of citizens of St. Clair and Randolph counties for separation from the Indiana Territory, grants of land, slavery, 1806, Jan. 17 and the proceedings of the committee, 1805, Nov. 25; citizens of Randolph and St. Clair counties for separation from the Indiana Territory and for slavery, 1805, Dec. 18; citizens of Harrison County for popular election of a delegate to Congress and of the Legislative council and for an extension of time in making land payments, 1809, Feb. 3; the Legislature of Indiana Territory for the relief of the widows and orphans of the soldiers killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe and for a grant of land to the troops who fought there, 1811, Dec. 9.

7) Miscellaneous petitions are from: the judges of the Indiana Territory requesting an increase in their salaries, 1803, Nov. 1; the board of Trustees of the University of Vincennes for a tax on salt and Indian trade for the use of the university, 1807, Nov. 20; the House of Representatives of the Indiana Territory asking for the repeal of the governor's power of veto and requesting the right of appeal from the general court to the circuit court of Kentucky in 1808, Oct. 11; John Gibson and Henry Vanderburgh asking for back pay as officers in the Revolutionary army, 1808, Oct. 22; citizens of Harrison County against the reappointment of Governor Harrison, 1809; citizens of Clark County against the reappointment of Governor Harrison, 1809, Isaac Wayne asking for the settlement of his father's accounts with the government, 1811, Jan. 7; the Legislative council and House of Representatives of the Indiana Territory for the removal of the capitol to a more centrally located place, 1811, Jan. 7; Peter Jones and James Dill protesting against the petition of the Legislature requesting statehood, 1811, Dec. 13; the House of Representatives of the Indiana Territory for the reappointment of Governor Harrison, 1811, Dec. 18; citizens of Knox County for relief from damages done by the Kentucky militia, 1812, Dec. 15 (and claims, Oct. 4, 1812-Aug. 1, 1817); members of the Indiana legislature who were militia officers against Harrison's retirement from the command of the northwest army and for his promotion to Major general, 1813, Feb. 17; the Legislature of the Indiana Territory requesting that the militia be paid, 1813, Dec. 15; the Legislature of the Indiana Territory asking for changes in the judicial system, 1814, Jan. 5; the Legislative council and House of Representatives requesting an extension of time for the payment of the excise tax, 1816, Jan. 2; the Legislative council and House of Representatives of Indiana Territory for statehood, 1816, Jan. 2; the Legislative council and House of Representatives of Indiana Territory for permission to work the salt springs, 1816, Jan. 11; Martin Rose asking compensation for horses lost to the Indians at Tippecanoe (and depositions in support of the claim), 1817, Dec. 17; William Purcell asking compensation for horses lost to the Indians at Tippecanoe (and depositions in support of the claim), 1817, Dec. 17; citizens of Vincennes requesting the draining of a swamp, n.d.

The papers include the claims of the Shakers at Busseron, Knox County for property destroyed by Potawatomi Indians and the Kentucky militia, 1817, July 29; and the claim of Antoine Marchall, with depositions in support of it, for compensation for property destroyed by the 4th U.S. Regiment, 1812, May 6 and 11.

The statistics consist of: statements of land sales in [Ohio and Indiana], 1808, Oct. 1 to 1809, Oct. 1, 1809, Oct. 1 to 1810, Oct. 1, 1812, Oct. 1 to 1813, Oct. 1; a statement of land sales in [Ohio, Indiana and Illinois], 1815, Oct. 1 to 1816, Oct. 1; a statement of the amount of lands sold at each land office to 1811, Sept. 30; a statement of the land offices northwest of the Ohio to 1811, Sept. 30, dated 1812, Jan. 22; an estimate of the public lands still unsold in the state of Ohio and the territories of Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Mississippi, 1811, Sept. 30; and a report of the land commissioners at Vincennes, Indiana, 1806, Mar. 25 and 1812, May 27. Also included are: an abstract of Indiana annuities, 1795, Aug. 3 to 1809, Dec. 9; a statement of Indian treaties, land cessions, and annuities from 1789, Mar. 4 to 1812, Dec. 30; a statement of Indian department expenditures from 1811, Mar. 3 to 1815, Mar. 3, dated 1816, Feb. 22; a memo of Indian annuities for 1812 and 1813; a statement of losses at Indian factories during the war, 1814, Apr. 1; census returns for Indiana Territory for 1801, July 4; census returns for the Northwest Territory, 1801, Dec. 23; census returns for St. Clair and Randolph counties, 1806, Mar. 26, and for Randolph County (1807) 1808, Nov. 2; a return of votes in Randolph and St. Clair counties, 1808, Nov. 2; a return of the killed and wounded in the action near Prophet's Town, 1811, Nov. 7; a statement of postal receipts for 1800, Oct. 1 to 1803, Oct. 1; and a docket of causes in the general court, 1803, Nov. 5.

Miscellaneous papers consist of: a typescript of George Ash's story from the Indianapolis Journal, 1830, Mar. 10; a typescript of Harrison's speech at Fort Meigs from the Logansport Telegraph, 1840, Aug. 8; a typescript of the proceedings of the Republican convention at Indianapolis, 1858, Mar. 4; a typescript of Adam Walker's journal, n.d.; Capt. Peter Funk's narrative of the Tippecanoe campaign [as told to D.R. Poignand, 1862]; a deed from certain Indian chiefs to George Ash, 1802, Apr. 13; the laws of the Indiana Territory, 1803, Feb. 14 and Dec. 7; a plat of the reserved tract around Vincennes, 1818, Feb. 12; a map of southern Indiana, n.d.; depositions of John Kidd and others stating that they did not sign a petition asking for the separation of Illinois from the Indiana Territory and charging Governor Harrison with improper conduct, 1808, Sept. 1, Oct. 7 and Oct. 12; and a list of papers pertaining to Indiana which are in the Library of Congress, 1922, Aug. 24.

The Indian treaties (printed) are: with the Delaware, Shawnee, Potowatomi, Miami, Eel River, Wea, Kickapoo, Piankashaw and Kaskaskia Indians at Ft. Wayne, 1803, June 7; with the Eel River, Wyandot, Piankashaw, Kaskaskia, and Kickapoo Indians at Vincennes, 1803, Aug. 7; with the Delaware Indians at Vincennes, 1804, Aug. 18; with the Piankashaw Indians at Vincennes, 1804, Aug. 27; with the Delaware, Potowatomi, Miami, Eel River and Wea Indians at Grouseland, 1805, Aug. 21; with the Piankashaw Indians at Vincennes, 1805, Dec. 30; with the Delaware, Potowatomi, Miami, Eel River Indians at Ft. Wayne, 1809, Sept. 30. There are two manuscript journals (photostats) of proceedings at conferences with the Indians: with the Wyandot, Seneca, Delaware, Miami, Eel River and Wea Indians at Greenville, 1814, July; and with the Wyandot, Ottawa, Chippewa, and Potawatomi Indians at Detroit, 1815, Aug. 8; and a manuscript proclamation (photostat) concerning the ratification of the treaty of Vincennes, Oct. 26, 1809, with the Weas, dated 1810, Jan. 25.

The acts of Congress, which are printed unless otherwise stated, are dated: 1800, Mar. 31, May 6; 1801, Feb 25; 1803, Feb. 25; 1804, Dec. 26, Dec. 28 (mss.); 1809, Jan. 19, Feb. 14; 1810, Mar. 26, Apr. 14; 1811, Feb. 6, Feb. 11, May 5; 1812, Mar. 13, June 30, Feb. 24; 1813, Jan. 19; 1814, Mar. 14; 1815, Feb. 1, Feb. 3, Feb. 23; 1816, Jan. 8, Feb. 27, Apr. 1 (2), Apr. 1 (with a census report on Indiana, 1816, Apr. 4), Apr. 13; 1817, Feb. 28 (2).

Bills (printed unless otherwise stated) are dated: 1803, Nov. 4 (mss.); 1804, Mar. 20 (printed & mss.), Dec. 14 (mss.); 1806, Jan. 16, Jan. 27 (printed & mss.), Feb. 10, Mar. 5 (mss.), Mar. 28, Apr. 5, Apr. 11,; 1807, Jan. 21, Nov. 17; 1808, Jan. 15, Feb. 14, Feb. 25 (printed & mss.); 1809, Dec. 5; 1811, Jan. 10 (mss.), Feb. 8; 1812, Jan. 4, Mar. 4 (mss.); 1813, Feb. 26 (printed & mss.); 1814, Feb. 11; 1817, Jan. 2 (printed & mss.), Feb. 24 (mss.).

Amendments to acts of Congress are dated: 1800, Apr. 16 (printed & mss.); 1801, Feb. 25 (mss.); 1803, Feb. 25 (printed & mss.); 1810, Apr. 21; 1811, Feb. 19 (printed & mss.), May 14; 1812, Mar. 24 (printed & mss.), Apr. 7, May 14 (mss.); 1815, Feb.; 1816, Apr. 4 (printed & mss.).

Amendments to bills are dated: 1803, Nov. 16 (printed & mss.); 1805, Jan. 7 (mss.); 1806, Jan. 21, Feb. 25 (printed & mss.); 1815, Feb. 17.

Reports of congressional committees are dated: 1802, Feb. 5 (mss.); 1804, Mar. 21 (mss.); 1811, Jan. 10 (mss.), Jan. 17 (mss.), Jan. 30 (mss.), and Feb. 7 (mss.).

Bibliography

Some of the materials not used have been published in Clarence Edwin Carter's The Territorial Papers of the U.S., Washington, 1934, volumes 2 & 3; The Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, 1787-1803 ; volumes 7 & 8, The Territory of Indiana, 1800-1816; Logan Esarey's Messages and Papers of Jonathan Jennings, Ratliff Boon & William Hendricks. Indianapolis, 1924, Indiana Historical Collections, vol. 3; Louis B. Ewbank & Dorothy L. Riker, The Laws of Indiana Territory, 1809-1816. Indianapolis, 1934, Indiana Historical Collections, vol. 20; Treaties Between the U.S.A. and the Several Indian Tribes, From 1778 to 1837 (Washington, 1837); and Indian Treaties and Laws and Regulations Relating to Indian Affairs (Washington, 1826). Indication of such publication is given on folders which contain such material. This second group consists of letters, petitions and claims addressed to Congress, statistics, miscellaneous material, Indian treaties and acts, bills, amendments and reports of committees of the United States Congress.

• Indexing Terms

• The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in IUCAT, the IU Libraries' online catalog. Materials about related topics, persons or places can be found by searching the catalog using these terms.

• • Names
  • Harrison, William Henry, 1773-1841 --Correspondence.
  • Gibson, John, 1740-1822.
  • Posey, John, 1750-1818.
  • Esarey, Logan, 1874-1942.
  • Harrison, William Henrey, 1773-1841 --Messages and letters of William Henry Harrison, 1800-1816.
  • Dallas, Alexander James, 1759-1817.
  • Gallatin, Albert, 1761-1849.
  • Graham, John, 1774-1820.
  • Jennings, Jonathan, 1784-1834.
  • Vanderburgh, Henry, 1760-1812.
  • United States --War Dept.
• • Topics
  • Elections --Indiana.
  • Indians of North America --Treaties.
  • Land titles --Indiana.
  • Post roads.
  • Postal service --United States.
  • Slavery --United States.
  • Suffrage --Indiana.
  • Tippecanoe, Battle of, 1811.
  • Indiana--Politics and government
• • Places
  • Indiana --Politics and government --Sources.
  • Ohio --Politics and government --Sources.

Administrative Information