No4 Prisqu’ Isle March 1796
Respectable, Worthy Friends & Partners.
Ever solicitous to promote & advance the Interest of our Compy & wishing to imbrace every Opportunity that affords the least prospect of accomplishing this most desired purpose & where there is not danger of Loss, intirly [crossed out] of my own ease, peace & comfort, considering my own domestick happiness as very trifling, when in competition with the general [damaged] naturally concerned and at all times considering my self bound by the strongest ties, not only of honor & justice; but also of real Friendship for you, who are to Share in the consequencies resulting from my mode & manner of transacting business at this place whether for our advantage or Otherwise. _ With these views, & under these impressions I ever have have, & ever will endeavor to do everything relating to the business of the Compy. while I have the agency of it in such a manner as I Shall suppose will eventually [damaged] [crossed out] prove to be, of the greatest utility to us – I hope ther-fore that your well known candor will induce you to believe, that the information which I have, may at This time or shall hereafter impart to you relative to all business of importance is not founded on The flighty immagination of a fantastical brain; but on candid & mature deliberation & the best of advice & counsil, that of the judicious, conside-rate & worthy Capt. [Daniel] Bissell, who is my Patern & whom I consult on all matters of importance _ In my last I wrote you concerning the purchasing of a township of land at Conneat, The Information which I then gave you of that place was founded on hearsay & common fame. I have now the satisfaction to add, that on the 9th day of Feby.I sat of from this place in Compy with an Ensn of this Gar-rison & four others for Conneat, The Object of This tour was held up to View, that of hunting & purchasing Venison of Indians of whom we heard were in that quarter a hunting But Capt. Bissell [ink blot] myself had designs of a different Nature in view (Viz) for me to view & reconnoiter the country; we safely Arrived at the place of our destination, where we tarried one day, I spent my time very busily in traviling from place, to place, & I do assure you that was exceedingly well pleased with the place, I saw nothing there discouraging but on the contrary- All former descriptions of the place fell short of what I really conceived to be the beauty & excellency of it. The River or Creek is about eight Rods, in width & of a sufficient depth for the Navigation of boats and small Craft – It runs very crooked & on each side of it are large Bottoms very level & smooth, fit for agriculture – I sincerely believe that they are not equaled by the land on Connecticut River for Richness of soil & easy cultivation – It has been the residence of an Indian Tribe who deserted it about two years ago. I observed cornstalks or their improvements of such
a large size of land as fully demonstrated to me that the Soil was uncommonly rich & fertile, & from the Appearance of the old Grass, weeds, herbs, &c, of which the ground was covered. I believe that hundreds of Cattle might be fatned upon it without making any further improvements. __ The rising ground or upland is timbered with all kinds of Oak, Walnut, Maple, Ash, Butternut Whitewood, etc, etc. The soil appears in general to be of a loomy blackish cast very deep & fertile, in generally level & free from stones, altho, interspersed with small [word crossed out] hills & valleys, & excellent streams of water in great abundance. __ There is a Stream of water between Pensylvena Line & Conneat which in my Oppinion will afford excellent Maps [line obscured by tape] & Brooks is a plenty of good clay set for brick & other uses The land will be easy to clear, There being but little of small brush, the trees very tall and slim, with but a few limbs except near the top; so that they may be girdled & Stand without any material injury to the crop. __ The weather here is much warmer & more temperate than in the N. England States; the ground has not been frozen more than 3 or 4 Inches deep as yet. There are cows at & in the vicinity of this place that have not had any hay, grain or any thing else, but the natural productions of the earth in this uncultivated state, & They appear in good health & flesh. From every confederation I am fully of Oppinion that the Western Country is the best in America. & I fully believe that Conneat & the other place I mentioned to you in my last letter known by the name of Cuiahaugah are all things considered, the best of any others in the Connecticut purchace. It is generally said by those who have been at both places that the latter is superior to the former; if this is true it must be a paridise indeed. __ It is also said (& I do not doubt the truth of the assersion) That there is a salt Spring equal to any in America lying between those two creeks about 20 or 30 miles back, front and left this will no doubt be of great importance to the Settlers & the Trade of those places. __ If Therefore you have any confidence in my information & upon my judgment; If you have any regard for the advancement of our Compy Interest, I think you will not fail to make the most vigorous exertions in your power to obtain a good title to Two Townships at the places I have dis-cribed, it is shall be practicable to be done on reasonable Terms. __ Be as speedy in your operations in the business as circumstances will permit, for these lands are so famous in the Western Country that I have no doubt but that a number of applications will be made early this Spring for the perchasing of them __ Pray adopt the wisest & most elligable method, you are masters of to get a good bargain. __ Be ye Wise as serpents & cunning as Owls. If you can make The purchace for two thirds of a dollar pr. Acre I shall consider the bargain as handsome Fortune for each of us & Bissell; As much less than that seem so much the better there is not the least doubt but the Land will sell to great Advantage & very rapidly— Br. Bissell & myself have already Concerted out lets of the Creeks into small lots in City form, &c. But this & other considerations must remain till the Purchace shall be made. Be careful to Obtain as long a Cr. as may be that we may not be obliged to sell to disadvantage to make payment. There is no fear of Indians in this quarter. All is peace & quietness between them and the Amricans. __ I agin urge the Necessity of Br. Bucklands coming forward with Goods as early as possible. I have no doubt but that there will be real chances for Speculation this Spring & Summer. __ In my last Letter in which was in closed [illegible] mode of making payment for them but if you gentleman have Money to spare you will do well to advance it for the Goods & receive it out of the Compy stock at this place__ Br. Buckland can lay it out in the purchase of Land Abstractly from the Compy concerns which I think will be much better than you can do with it in Connecticut. But I only suggest the Idea you can do as you think best. I think it will be well to add to the bill one peice Red Broad Cloth Value at about 2 ¼ dolr pr yd 1 ps Red__ 1 do[zen] Green Sersenettes 2 peices handsom Coper plate one of which for Capt. Bissells bed. I expect you will be willing to let him have it at first cost. The benefits which we have, & may expect will be derived from him in our line of business merits our most gratfull Acknowledgements. A few tiney Cords, & laces, Bosom Medals. ½ dozn Calfskins- 2 sides Seal Leather. An dozn pr. Boot legs & trimmings. 2 dozn hair seive bottoms will not come amiss. Bring one Bbl Good dried Apples perhaps it will be best to pack them into the Bbl under a screw. I wish you to fill a Keg of 2 or 3 Gallns with Good sound Limes & Lemons see that the Keg is Air tight & when filled paint or pitch it all over so that the Seams in it shall be full. I am of Oppinion that by this method fruit may be brot to this country in the same perfection as when put up; If so it may be of some consequence to us in some future Period I am in perfect health, the climate sutes my constitution so well that I never have received the least injury by Lying out in the open air with no covering except my clothes a Blanket. The cloudy Canapy & Starry heavens this I have experienced on many Occations. My Ideas of doing business in this Country are not at all diminished. Our Goods are principally sold & I believe well sold. I am in hopes to be able to give a Good Account of my Stewardship
in due time. I expect to make a tour to Niagara in a few days, where I hope to purchase such Articles as will be necessary till Br. Buckland comes on. I expect Goods there will be very dear, they were last fall. I am much surprised that you have not wrote to me before this time. I have not had one Letter from Connecticut since I left home. I have however heard that Br. Buckland Has had a son born in his old Age. This gave me a most lively sensation of joy. I hope that you both will except [illegible] of our endeavor to fulfill that [illegible] Commandment [illegible] You beget an hundred sons you may settle them all to Advantage if you will make the purchases which I have recommended to you nto do. Pray write to me as soon as possible & inform me of every Circumstance that you whall suppose may be of any consequence to us. Particularly what you can do in purchasing those Lands & of carrying on business in this Country. It will be necessary for me to be made seasonably Acquainted with those matters in order to make the proper Arangements for carrying on our business to Advantage. If you can inform me when Br. Buckland will set of for this place I can make something of a Guess at the time he will be at Niagara & perhaps may meet him there if my business will permit. Call on Mrs. Ellsworth for my Gun & acoutriments & bring one yourself. Also Rowlands Ancient History in 8 volumes, Newtons dissertations in two ditto. I have a strong Iton bound trunk with two double spring locks which nyou may bring if you think best you may want it for your Cloths & Valiables & it will be necessary for us here, bring a pair of money scales. A Good hatter, Shoe Maker, Tin maker Joiners & Carpenters Mill-Wrights will meet with great encouragement in this Country But above all Good Farmers.
Gentlement with every sentiment of Esteem Your Obliged Friend & Very Humble Servant: Dan. Ellsworth, N.B.
Present your Ladies & all friends with my most Affectionate respects: D.E.
Bring Iron sufficient & proper fir a Dutch horse Waggon & for [unclear] Good Steel: Messrs. Wyles & Buckland
Daniel Ellsworth to Johns Wyles, Sr. and Aaron Buckland, 1797-1798, Box: 1, Folder: 43. Wyles Family Western Reserve Collection, MS-079. Linda Lear Center for Special Collections and Archives.