Manuscript DS, one page, 8 x 5.5, March 7, 1797. A request by two persons (Hamilton and Lauter) to pay Lindsay Bagges all the moneys owed them "on the pay rolls of the Potomac Co." Besides Hamilton and Lauter, who sign with their marks, the front and back of the request is signed by several luminaries associated with the company, including: Thomas Kennedy (1776-1832) (who also pens the text of the document) a Maryland legislator whose ‘Jew Bill’ allowed Jewish citizens the right to hold political office in Maryland; Tobias Lear (1762-1816), who was George Washington’s personal secretary and a diplomat who negotiated the peace treaty ending the Barbary War; Phillip R. Fendall I (1734-1805), a co-founder of the Potomac Co., and uncle of Robert E. Lee, who built the Fendall-Lee House, which was Lee’s boyhood home; and James Keith (1734-1824) an Indian captive during Pontiac’s War, who later served as mayor of Alexandria, Virginia, and as director and president of the Potomac Co. In fine condition.
One of George Washington's greatest interests in the period between the end of the Revolutionary War and the start of his presidency was the development of the picturesque Potomac River as a navigable inland transportation route. The Potowmack Company, formed to accomplish this task using a series of locks and canals, was formed in 1785 and Washington was named the company's president.
With an eye toward the greater good of the nation, Washington's ambitions surpassed those of the ordinary businessman—he believed that improved infrastructure would strengthen the fledgling United States, with the Potomac Canal forming a literal link from east to west and binding together territories in a 'chain which could never be broken.' However, the project was beset by constant difficulty. Tobias Lear's engineering work failed to enable navigation around two waterfalls on the Potomac River. Insufficient funding and constant legal trouble contributed to the company's ineffectiveness and eventual failure. A significant document associated with a major early American infrastructure project.
We use cookies on this site to improve your experience. By using this site, you accept our use of cookies. To learn more, please see our Privacy Policy.
