[Louisiana Territory] Frederick Bates Document Signed as secretary of the Louisiana Territory. Three pages, 7.75" x 12.75", ...

Description

This deposition, taken "at the house of Mr. John Sappington in the District of Saint Louis, Territory of Louisian [sic] on twenty Eighth day of July 1809", was to be "read in Evidence in the Case of James Hendricks Complainant and Green Clay Defendant". Frederick Bates was the brother of Edward Bates, President Lincoln's attorney general. In addition to serving as the secretary of the Louisiana Territory, he also served as one of three land commissioners. In this capacity he made decisions about conflicting land claims between American, Spanish, and French settlers in the Louisiana Territory. Also signed by Richard Caulk and Andrew Kinkead, both justices of the peace in the Louisiana Territory.