Seth Pease  1764-1819  Astronomer Surveyor of the Public Lands, Part 2

$4.95 Displayed with permission • The American Surveyor • March/April • Copyright 2006 Cheves Media • www.TheAmericanSurveyor.com Seth Pease  1764-1819  Astronomer Surveyor of the Public Lands, Part 2

Seth Pease (1764-1819), a native of Connecticut, who trained not only as a surveyor but also as an astronomer, played a significant role in the division and settling of the lands that became public domain after the end of the American Revolution. He surveyed first in Massachusetts, then in Ohio for the Connecticut Land Com- pany for parts of the city of Cleveland, then in New York State for the Holland Purchase.

eanwhile, the land ownership dispute over the west Genesee lands had been resolved by an agree- ment on December 16, 1786 in Hartford, Connecticut, in which the Commonwealth of Massachusetts was given preemption right to its claimed land, and the State of New York was granted jurisdiction over it. It was not final until September 15, 1787, however, when Robert Morris, a prominent land speculator, obtained title to the land from the Seneca Indians, who received $100,000 in trust and kept approximately 200,000 acres for their reservations. Purchase negotiations between Morris and the Holland Land Company included surveys of the four tracts, but when Morris found himself in dire financial straits due to unwise land investments, most of the bills were paid by the Holland Company. (See map caption, next page) >> Silvio A. Bedini

Displayed with permission • The American Surveyor • March/April • Copyright 2006 Cheves Media • www.TheAmericanSurveyor.com Two years later, more than six million in company with Pease, whom he corner of the blocks by stones. acres of the preempted land were introduced as the surveyor on behalf of Also number the stone’s 1, 2, 3, purchased by Nathaniel Gorham and Major Hoops, and that he was to make Oliver Phelps, two businessmen from a traverse of the shore of Lake Erie as 4, 5… Progressively to the out New England. When in 1790, however, well as the small lakes and other surveys boundary of the town… lay out a these speculators found that they were necessary to ascertain the Eastern cemetery...” [The letter continued] unable to make regular payments, boundary line of the aforesaid one “When that business shall be two-thirds of the land reverted to the million five hundred thousand acres. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In Pease was engaged in surveying on finished, proceed to Tuscarora 1791, Robert Morris, purchased from the Holland Purchase lands for the most Village and there lay out two Massachusetts more than five million part from July 1798 to January 1800 square miles of ground including acres in five tracts of the reverted land. under instructions of Joseph Ellicott that Castle, and if it is possible During 1791-1792 he reserved Tract 1 (1760-1826), agent of the Holland Land for himself but sold Tracts 2 through 5 Company. During the active season get the Indians to agree… to the to six Dutch bankers; part of it is known of 1798, Pease worked with other boundary lines… repair at a as the Morris Tract. Oliver Phelps surveyors in township, meridian line convenient speed to Buffalo Creek was a land developer and a director as and reservation surveys, and in lake and well as the largest shareholder of the river traverses. where you probably will find Connecticut Land Company, having Noted among Joseph Ellicott’s other instructions.” invested $168,185. Pease already had accounts are disbursements advanced to done considerable surveying for him Hoops for payment of Pease, beginning Upon his return after completing this before working on the Connecticut on August 30 for $19.00, on October 1st work, Pease found more instructions Land Company. for $41.50, on November 4th for $37.00, awaiting him from Ellicott in a letter of on November 10th for $15.00, January November 6, 1798. He was to lay down Ellicott’s Expectations 3, 1799, $292.00. The entry on January the New York reservation along the In the winter of 1797 some of the 29, 1800 stated “To my assumption to Niagara River, as stipulated by Simeon Indians had begun to reconsider some pay Mr. Seth Pease’s Account for his Witt, Surveyor General of New York of their requests relating to the location assistance in making Surveys of large State, in accordance with the law passed and size of certain reservations. As an tracts, $431.69.” by the legislature on April 6, 1798. Pease example, the Buffalo Creek and the When Pease returned from the field was to make a map, and then he was Cattaraugus Indians now desired more on November 4, 1798, he found await- to “calculate the contents of the water compact sites by the lake, and by the ing him a letter from Ellicott dated the in Chatauqua Lake, as it would be neces- creek. The Alleghanies wanted to have next day containing further instructions. sary for Mr. Morris.” their reservation laid out in half-mile Pease was to: By means of a letter of December strips on both sides of the river, a 12, 1798, from James Rees, who plan that would hurt the Indians and “take twelve days of provision represented the several proprietors be detrimental to the proprietors of who had purchased land from Robert the adjoining lots. In January 1798 a and go to the Niagara River and Morris along the eastern border of the council of the Buffalo Creek was held proceed to survey down the shore Holland Purchase, Pease was informed to discuss these issues, but many more of the Lake and River to the great that he was to re-survey the traverse of consultations became necessary before Falls of Niagara… ascertain the the Genesee River, because it had been the surveys could be made. incorrectly done the first time, and since In 1797, after completing his work for width of the River from the west it affected the boundary lines of the the Connecticut Land Company, Pease side of the Fall to the east Fall, neighboring tracts. His instructions also had been surveying in the Schenectady and also the width of the island specified that Pease was to run each of area of New York, when he received a the boundary lines and fix up “durable summons from Major Adam Hoops, that separates the waters at the posts at each corner of every tract, Robert Morris’s surveyor. Hoops urged summit…. Then repair to the marked with the initials of the owner’s him to come as quickly as possible landing opposite Queenstown, name.” If he were to discover any because he had a surveying job for deviation, he was to fix the posts in their him for the entire season. On July 19, lay off the front street of the town correct location. Pease also was to “make 1798 Robert Morris arrived at Buffalo and other streets…. Mark the careful field notes and prepare a large

Map, previous page: Photographic reproduction of the Holland H, Lands retained for Private Accounts; W, Lands held Land Co.’s Map as issued 1804. The heavy letters replace colors, independently by the Willinks. (From Holland Land Company and signify as follows: P & Q, Lands of the First or January Papers. Reports of Joseph Ellicott, edited by Robert Warwick Negotiation; M & O, Lands of the Second or June Negotiation; Bingham, Buffalo, NY., The Buffalo Historical Society, 1937.)

Displayed with permission • The American Surveyor • March/April • Copyright 2006 Cheves Media • www.TheAmericanSurveyor.com map of all tracts, and smaller maps of the at the end of every six miles they were when they arrived, the surveyors then individual tracts for the proprietors who to be compared with a standard chain had to wait for the remainder of the shared his expense.” that was kept reserved for that purpose. party, which sometimes arrived hours In addition, Pease was to survey The first chains by law were two-perch later. The horses often wandered off at the Canawagarus, Big Tree, Little chains – 16-1/2 feet to a perch – but by night, and the crew lost much precious Bears, Squacky Hill and Garedeau regulation of 1815 measurements were time in corralling them. The insects Reservations, each of which was to be at reckoned in four-perch chains of 66 feet, were extremely troublesome, and the least two square miles. All of these had or 80 to the mile. surveyors also complained of “earth gas” been previously surveyed by Augustus Ellicott introduced a more compre- to which they attributed ague and the Porter for Robert Morris. Nevertheless, hensive system of recording field notes fever that came later. Joseph Ellicott, having become aware of that required exact descriptions of all The journal that Pease maintained some discrepancy of the eastern bound- topographical observations, and he also contained numerous professional ary line, ordered it to be corrected. specified that notes were to be taken on observations. He noted observations he Early in January 1799 James Rees the ground. Features to be included were had made on the polar star to check the again contacted Pease, informing him bodies of water, the nature of streams accuracy of the compass needles, and that they were awaiting his services as and rivers, the types of trees and variety he also made observations of “several soon as he was free to join them. Despite of vegetation and the quality of the soil. stars” to determine the 41st degree of Ellicott’s careful planning and meticulous Ellicott was extremely particular about latitude to fix the southwest corner of the instructions, problems continued to arise, the specificity of surveying instruments. Reserve. He noted that the latitude at most of them beyond his control. The He did not trust the circumferentor that noon on Lake Erie was “42º 50' north,” surveying party experienced every type depended upon the magnetic needle and added that “on Examination of the of inclement weather, from rain, hail because, as he explained, “that with the Quadrant we found 180º measured 180º and snow to high winds, followed by a needle it would be impossible to run 4', by the Cetant,” at Presque Isle. summer drought that delayed the work. lines of their length to any tolerable Often the men of the surveying crew degree of certainty.” It was at this time, Additional Occupations were forced to wade waist deep in mud during the winter of 1797/98, that Joseph In 1801, between trips he made back and water through swamps, while at Ellicott arranged to have his brother and forth to the Western Reserve, Pease other camp locations water was exceed- Benjamin, who also was a surveyor on developed a sideline to supplement his ingly scarce. On August 1, 1799, Pease the project, construct a transit instrument income by conducting a fur trading complained in his diary that “we camped because the only one in the United business with Israel Spencer, handling with such water as we could procure by States that was transportable was the mink, otter, marten, muskrat and red scratching down a hole made by a tree one his brother Andrew had made and and grey fox skins. They bought and that had fallen down, which was muddy was then using it at Natchez on the sold furs, extending their trade as far as stuff at best.” Mississippi River. In order to accom- Portsmouth in New Hampshire and into At the next camp, the crew was modate Benjamin’s instrument when it New York State. unable to find any water at all. As a was completed, it became necessary to In 1806 Albert Gallatin, Secretary of consequence of the working conditions, cut a vista through the forest that was the Treasury, appointed Pease to run a number of the crew developed a wide enough to provide a clear and the remainder of the south line of the recurring fever. Other men were claimed uninterrupted view. Western Reserve, as well as the west line. by injuries that occurred on the job, The journals of both Pease and fellow This he performed beginning in June 24, some became otherwise unfit for duty or surveyor Holley contained copious 1806. He started at the terminus of the left for home. The packhorses presented descriptive notes on the progress of their first line of the Tuscarawas, and finished yet another problem, for some of them work. It was recorded, for example, that in June. became ill with distemper and others ran the first line they ran caused them much On April 27, 1807, Pease wrote a letter off or just wandered away. On several trouble and vexation because the land from Pittsburgh addressed to to his occasions Ellicott had to pay for retrieval was flat and uninteresting, covered with mother, brother and sister: of runaway horses. small trees and a considerable amount of undergrowth instead of huge trees, “I have only a moment to write Ensuring Accuracy so that it was impossible to sight at long you – you already know the Joseph Ellicott’s stringent expectations range. Furthermore, they had been were based upon the unusually extreme having a wet spring that had brought place of my destination and I care he took with his survey prepara- swollen streams, and often making the am thus far on my way tither tions. To ensure the accuracy of the swamps totally impassable. Sometimes, – When in Nashville and just measure of one foot, for example, which when on their way to their destination, as I was leaving the place I had not yet been standardized at that the crew divided up, with the surveyors time, and to ascertain that each of his wading the swamps while the cooks, sup- conversed with two persons that surveyors used an exactly matching plies and horses and laborers were sent were acquainted with brother unit, he attached to every field book a around. This resulted in more delay and Augustine and had I seen them 12-inch brass ruler, a number of which distress before they met because since he had arranged to have made for the the surveyors always took the shortest sooner I might have had an purpose. He specified that the chains route, they were the first to arrive at opportunity of conversing with were to be carried horizontally, and that their destination. Wet, hungry and tired some people with whom he lived

Displayed with permission • The American Surveyor • March/April • Copyright 2006 Cheves Media • www.TheAmericanSurveyor.com as these gentlemen pointed them out to me and have learned the particulars respecting him. I shall descend the river tomorrow in a very comfortable Boat and I hope with agreeable company and good stores.”

He enclosed a bill for ten dollars to be divided equally half for his mother and half for his brother and sister but they were not to mention they had received it. Pease served as Surveyor General of the Mississippi & Orleans Territory and ran the government survey of the southern boundary of Western Reserve lands west of the Cuyahoga River. By the Act of April 10, 1810, during the tenure of Gideon Granger as Postmaster General, the position of 2nd Assistant Postmaster General was created, and the position was first filled by Seth Pease. It is believed that he remained in that office until 1818 when he was succeeded Philadelphia and to send for a doctor. Portrait of Seth Pease. Artist and date by Phineas Bradley. He finally had come in by stage looking not known. Courtesy Cleveland State While he was in Philadelphia in late for the house of his friend, Mr. Rising, University. August 1819, Pease suddenly was taken but Rising had moved since his last ill. A letter dated August 30th from visit. As Pease was walking by, he was a local resident, Eli Rising, to Pease’s spotted by a member of the family who conducted with that decency and brother Joseph informed him of Pease’s called to him. He was extremely ill and respectability that his situation condition: immediately was put to bed. Pease had in life merited. He was buried in been suffering from an extreme case of the Second Presbyterian church “Ere this I presume you have dysentery and was in constant consider- yard.” rec’d a letter informing of your able intolerable pain. Despite numerous visits from doctors that he received brother Seth’s sickness. I can now and medications they prescribed, Pease By the time of Pease’s death, the only say that he is yet alive, but found relief only from taking large Western Reserve had become home to thousands of settlers, many of them thought by his Physicians and quantities of laudanum. He was unable to remain lying in one position for more Connecticut natives who had joined friends that there is no prob- than a few minutes. and frequently cast the great exodus hundreds of miles to ability of his recovery. Indeed he about so violently that often he threw the west to make their homes on land is hardly expected to live from himself onto the floor. surveyed by Pease a quarter of a century A few hours before Pease died, earlier. His leadership and mathematical one hour to another. Alfred abilities were of critical importance in [Seth’s brother] is now with him, establishing the Connecticut Western “he asked for his trunk which he arrived Saturday evening last Reserve as one of the high points in was set on the bed & he took out as I did likewise myself after a Ohio history. Regrettably there has been his will and a Book containing no published biography of Seth Pease, few days absence when I found a figures & told us to preserve them. although no colonial American surveyor most distressed house.” deserves one more. He did not express a wish to live Seth’s last days were reported or to die. He told us to write his Silvio Bedini is a Historian Emeritus by his niece Charlotte Pease to his family how sick was…” of the Smithsonian Institution. He is brother Joseph in a letter of September the author of more than 300 articles 14th. Apparently, before coming into Pease died at Philadelphia on September and monographs published in Philadelphia, Pease had been staying in 1, 1819, at the age of fifty-five. His funeral scholarly periodicals, and has recently Germantown outside the city, boarding completed his 23rd book. with a Mrs. Baker. When Pease’s niece “was attended Thursday PM met Mrs. Baker, the latter informed Editor’s Note: References for this her that Pease had been very ill for 4 o’clock. We did according article are available on our website at two weeks and had intended to go into to Alfred’s direction & it was www.theamericansurveyor.com.

Robert Hayden Alcorn, The Biography of a Town , Suffield, A.S. Pease, The Early History of the Pease Families in America Connecticut 1670-1970), (Town of Suffield, 1970) pp. 88-94. (Springfield, Mass,: 1869).

Russell H. Anderson, AThe Pease Map of the Connecticut David Pease and Austin S. Pease, A Genealogical and Historical Western reserve,@ Ohio History, vol. 63, 1954, pp. 270-78. Record of the Descendants of John Pease, Sen., (Springfield, Mass.: Samuel Bowles & Company, 1869), pp. 57-58. Samuel J. Baker, AThe Original Surveys of Cleveland,@ Association of Engineering Societies, vol. III No. 16, August John James Piatt, Idyls and Lyrics of the Ohio Valley (Cincinnati, 1884, N.P., 1881; London and New York: Longmans Green and Co., 1883), p. 80. C. C. Baldwin, AEarly Maps of Ohio and the West,@ (Cleveland, O.: Western Reserve and Northern Ohio [Augustus Porter] “Narrative of Early Years in the Life of Judge Historical Society, April 1875), pp. 24-25. Augustus Porter,” in Publications of the Buffalo Historical Society, Frank H. Severance, ed., vol. VII, pp. 217-332 Robert Warwick Bingham, ed., Holland Land Company (Buffalo, Hist Soc. 1904). Papers. Reports of Joseph Ellicott (Buffalo, N.Y. The Buffalo Historical Society, 1937), vol. 1, pp. 64-65, 113-123. Philip J. Price, Pease Family History (Monticello, Ky.: Manor Publishing Company, 1982). R. Carlyle Buley, The Old Northwest, Pioneer Period 1815-1840, (Bloomington, Ind.: Indiana University Press, 1950), vol. I, Hawley E. Rising,The Pease Ancestry From Robert Pease ro the pp. 108-23. Present 1607-1982 With the Other Ancestral Lines Found to Date . Ms. (Suffield, Conn. 1982), p. 14. Margaret Manor Butler, A Pictorial History of the Western Reserve 1796 to 1850 (Cleveland: The Western Reserve O. Turner, Pioneer History of the Holland Purchase of Western Historical Society and the World Publishing Company, New York, Embracing Some Account of the Ancient Remains, 1963); pp. 2-3. etc. ( Buffalo, N.Y., Jewett, Thomas & Co.,1849), pp. 406-7, 419, 415, 466. Delphina L. H. Clark, ATwo Speculators and Two Surveyors of Suffield,@The Antiquarian, vol. lii No. 1, June 1951, pp. David D. Van Tassel and John J. Grabowski, eds., The 17-24. Encyclopedia of Cleveland History (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1987), pp. xvii-xviii, 171-72, 799, 929, Brian Harte, ALand in the Old Northwest: A Study of 1040. Speculation, Sales and Settlement on the Connecticut Western Reserve,@ Ohio History, vol. 101, Summer- Charles W. Evans, Martha Ellicott Tyson, G. Hunter Bartlett, Autumn 1992, pp. 114-139. Fox Ellicott Evans Family History (Cockeysville, Md., Fox Ellicott Evans Fund, 1976) pp. 166-77. Harlan Hatcher, The Western Reserve. The Story of New Connecticut in Ohio (Indianapolis: The Bobbs Merrill Charles W. Evans, compiler, Biographical and Historical and Company, 1949); Historical Accounts of the Fox, Ellicott and Evans Families, and the Different Families Connected With Them (Buffalo, N.Y.: Diana Ross McCain, “Suffield Man Charted Way to Press of Baker, Jones & Co., 1882), pp. 166-177. Wilderness,”Hartford Courant, May 26, 1986.

The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, and Antiquarian Journal (Boston: Samuel G. Drake, 1849), vol. III, No. 1, January 1849), pp. 169-75; vol. III, No. 3, pp. 233-38.

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