To Alexander Hamilton from Tench Coxe, 16 November 1793
From Tench Coxe1
Philada. Novemr. 16. 1793
Sir
Mr. William Steedman of Northumberland County from whom I made the purchase of eight thousand Acs. mentioned in my letter to you of the 10th of April last,2 has informed me verbally that he has completed the Surveys of about five sixth parts of the whole quantity out of which the part purchased for John B. Church Esqr and myself is to be drawn by lot: he added that he was going on to complete the remainder. As this was some weeks ago I have not the least doubt that the whole quantity out of which our purchase of 8000 acres is to be taken, are surveyed.
My brother John D. Coxe who lately returned from Northampton County informed me, that he saw (at a Tavern near to the lands bought of Pattersons & Stroud) Mr. Joseph Burr3 whom I employed to inspect the 23000 As. which I bought of those Gentlemen agreeably to my said letter of 10th. April for Mr. Church & myself. Mr. Burr told my brother that all the surveys were completed, & wished to know where I was that he might make his report.
I have written to the sellers under the two contracts above mentioned to attend in Philada. for the division of the parts of the lands bought of them respectively.
Of the Execution of Ball & Smith’s Contract, which after deducting the reserved 4000 Acres remains for Mr. Church & myself to the Amount of twelve thousand Acres, I have no advice: but have written urgently to them.4
I am sir with great respect yr. most obedient Servant
T. C.
Alexr. Hamilton, Esqr
Atty. of John Barker Church, Esqr.
ADfS, Papers of Tench Coxe in the Coxe Family Papers at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
1. For an explanation of the contents of this letter, see the introductory note to Coxe to H, February 13, 1795 (, XVIII, 262–69). See also the references cited in Coxe to H, April 13, 1793, note 3 (printed in this volume).
2. For this letter, see , XIV, 304–05.
3. Burr had been recommended to Coxe by Isaac Jones on June 20, 1793 (ALS, Papers of Tench Coxe in the Coxe Family Papers at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia). On August 10, 1793, Burr wrote to John Phillips that “the Surveying of Mr. Coxe’s Lands had not yet Commenc’d.” In the same letter, which was sent from Lower Smithfield, [Pennsylvania,] Burr stated that at present he was “obliged to attend the surveying Of Lands for Gentlemen in Philadelphia” (ALS, Papers of Tench Coxe in the Coxe Family Papers at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia). In a document entitled “Part of Materials of accot. rendd. June 18. 1797 to J. B. Church,” Coxe made the following entry on the debit side under the date of June 25, 1795: “To ½ charge of Inspecting lands of Patterson by Jos. Burr 43 96/100 Drs (16.6.1½)” (AD, Papers of Tench Coxe in the Coxe Family Papers at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia).
4. Coxe to Blackall William Ball and Francis Joseph Smith, November 7, 1793 (copy, Papers of Tench Coxe in the Coxe Family Papers at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia). On November 16, 1793, Ball replied to this letter and stated: “… there are between twenty three and twenty four thousand acres already surveyed, & that the remainder will be compleated in this & the next month” (ALS, Papers of Tench Coxe in the Coxe Family Papers at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia).