Vandalia was never approved by the British Crown and had no colonial government, although some Virginians and Pennsylvanians had already settled there. After the American Revolutionary War, the Vandalia settlers sought unsuccessfully to be admitted as a state called Westsylvania. However, they had no legal title to the land and were opposed by the governments of Virginia and Pennsylvania, which both claimed the area as their own under colonial charters. Ultimately the federal government split the area between Pennsylvania and Virginia according to the Mason–Dixon line.[1] Kentucky was later settled by Virginians and admitted as a state; West Virginia was admitted as a state during the American Civil War.
After Pontiac's Rebellion, merchants who had lost their trade items during the conflict formed a group known as the "suffering traders", later to become the Indiana Company. In the Treaty of Fort Stanwix (1768), the British required the Iroquois to give the "suffering traders" a grant of land. Those who benefited the most were Samuel Wharton and William Trent. Known as the "Indiana Grant", this land was located along the Ohio River and included part of the Iroquois' hunting ground, which they had controlled since the 17th century.[4] When Wharton and Trent sailed to England in 1769 seeking to have their grant confirmed, they joined forces with the Ohio Company to form the Grand Ohio Company, also called the Walpole Company.
The Grand Ohio Company eventually received a larger area of land than the Indiana Grant.[5] The development companies planned a new colony, initially called "Pittsylvania" (Wright 1988:212) but later known as Vandalia, in honor of the British queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744–1818), who was thought to be descended from Vandalic tribesmen.[6][7][8]
Opposition from rival interest groups[9] and the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War (1775–83) prevented the development of Vandalia as a full colony.[10] During the Revolutionary War, some settlers in the region petitioned the American Continental Congress to recognize a new province to be known as Westsylvania, which had approximately the same borders as the earlier Vandalia proposal. As both the states of Virginia and Pennsylvania claimed the region, they blocked recognition of a new state.[11] The Indiana Company presented a bill in equity against the State of Virginia concerning their claims, but the ruling in Chisholm v. Georgia led to the Eleventh Amendment forbidding suits by citizens of another State, and the Supreme Court dismissed the Indiana Company's suit, holding the constitutional amendment applied retroactively.
^Anderson, James Donald, "Vandalia: The First West Virginia?" West Virginia History, Volume 40, No. 4 (Summer 1979), pp. 375-92 online
^Cecil B. Currey, Road to Revolution: Benjamin Franklin in England, 1765-1775 (1968) pp 248-54
^Marshall, "Lord Hillsborough, Samuel Wharton, and the Ohio Grant, 1769- 1775" English Historical Review (1965), 80:717-18
^Croghan to T. Wharton, December 9, 1773, "Letters of George Croghan," PMHB, XV (1891), 436-37. Any migration westward could help Croghan sell some of his own lands at Fort Pitt. James Donald Anderson, 1978
^Otis K. Rice and Stephen W. Brown. West Virginia: A History. 2nd Ed. University Press of Kentucky, 1994. p. 30. ISBN978-0-8131-1854-3
^David W. Miller. The Taking of American Indian Lands in the Southeast: A History of Territorial Cessions and Forced Relocations, 1607-1840. McFarland, 2011. p. 41. ISBN978-0-7864-6277-3
^Thomas J. Schaeper. Edward Bancroft: Scientist, Author, Spy. Yale University Press, 2011. p. 34. ISBN978-0-300-11842-1
^Gipson, Lawrence Henry, The British Empire Before the American Revolution, 15 vols. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1946-1970, IX 457-88
^Carter, Clarence Edwin, Great Britain and the Illinois Country, 1763-1773, Port Washington, N.Y: Kennikat Press, 1970
^Abernethy, Thomas Perkins. Western Lands and the American Revolution. 1937/New York: Russell & Russell, 1959
Sources
Alvord, Clarence W. The Mississippi Valley in British Politics, vol. 1. Cleveland, Ohio: Arthur Clark, 1917.
Marshall, Peter. "Lord Hillsborough, Samuel Wharton, and the Ohio Grant, 1769- 1775", English Historical Review (1965) Vol. 80, No. 317 pp. 717–739 in JSTOR
Steeley, James V., "Old Hanna's Town and the Westward Movement, 1768 - 1787: Vandalia the Proposed 14th American Colony", Westmoreland History, Spring 2009, pp. 20–26, published by Westmoreland County Historical Society
Wright, Esmond, 'Franklin of Philadelphia' , Harvard University Press, 1988
vandalia, colony, other, uses, vandalia, disambiguation, vandalia, name, late, 1700s, proposed, british, colony, north, america, colony, would, have, been, located, south, ohio, river, primarily, what, west, virginia, northeastern, kentucky, vandalia, never, a. For other uses see Vandalia disambiguation Vandalia was the name in the late 1700s of a proposed British colony in North America The colony would have been located south of the Ohio River primarily in what are now West Virginia and northeastern Kentucky Map Vandalia was never approved by the British Crown and had no colonial government although some Virginians and Pennsylvanians had already settled there After the American Revolutionary War the Vandalia settlers sought unsuccessfully to be admitted as a state called Westsylvania However they had no legal title to the land and were opposed by the governments of Virginia and Pennsylvania which both claimed the area as their own under colonial charters Ultimately the federal government split the area between Pennsylvania and Virginia according to the Mason Dixon line 1 Kentucky was later settled by Virginians and admitted as a state West Virginia was admitted as a state during the American Civil War Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 Sources 5 External linksHistory Edit 1755 Fry Jefferson map showing earlier established colonial borders before the French And Indian War In the 18th century British land speculators several times attempted to colonize the Ohio Valley most notably in 1748 when the British Crown granted a petition of the Ohio Company for 200 000 acres 800 km near the Forks of the Ohio present day Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 2 The French and Indian War 1754 63 and Pontiac s Rebellion 1763 66 delayed settlement of the region 3 After Pontiac s Rebellion merchants who had lost their trade items during the conflict formed a group known as the suffering traders later to become the Indiana Company In the Treaty of Fort Stanwix 1768 the British required the Iroquois to give the suffering traders a grant of land Those who benefited the most were Samuel Wharton and William Trent Known as the Indiana Grant this land was located along the Ohio River and included part of the Iroquois hunting ground which they had controlled since the 17th century 4 When Wharton and Trent sailed to England in 1769 seeking to have their grant confirmed they joined forces with the Ohio Company to form the Grand Ohio Company also called the Walpole Company The Grand Ohio Company eventually received a larger area of land than the Indiana Grant 5 The development companies planned a new colony initially called Pittsylvania Wright 1988 212 but later known as Vandalia in honor of the British queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg Strelitz 1744 1818 who was thought to be descended from Vandalic tribesmen 6 7 8 Opposition from rival interest groups 9 and the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War 1775 83 prevented the development of Vandalia as a full colony 10 During the Revolutionary War some settlers in the region petitioned the American Continental Congress to recognize a new province to be known as Westsylvania which had approximately the same borders as the earlier Vandalia proposal As both the states of Virginia and Pennsylvania claimed the region they blocked recognition of a new state 11 The Indiana Company presented a bill in equity against the State of Virginia concerning their claims but the ruling in Chisholm v Georgia led to the Eleventh Amendment forbidding suits by citizens of another State and the Supreme Court dismissed the Indiana Company s suit holding the constitutional amendment applied retroactively The formation of the state of Kentucky in 1792 and the separation of West Virginia from Virginia in 1863 established the present political borders in the region See also EditCharlotina Vandalian TowerReferences Edit Cranmer History of the Upper Ohio 1 59 63 Anderson James Donald Vandalia The First West Virginia West Virginia History Volume 40 No 4 Summer 1979 pp 375 92 online Cecil B Currey Road to Revolution Benjamin Franklin in England 1765 1775 1968 pp 248 54 Marshall Lord Hillsborough Samuel Wharton and the Ohio Grant 1769 1775 English Historical Review 1965 80 717 18 Croghan to T Wharton December 9 1773 Letters of George Croghan PMHB XV 1891 436 37 Any migration westward could help Croghan sell some of his own lands at Fort Pitt James Donald Anderson 1978 Otis K Rice and Stephen W Brown West Virginia A History 2nd Ed University Press of Kentucky 1994 p 30 ISBN 978 0 8131 1854 3 David W Miller The Taking of American Indian Lands in the Southeast A History of Territorial Cessions and Forced Relocations 1607 1840 McFarland 2011 p 41 ISBN 978 0 7864 6277 3 Thomas J Schaeper Edward Bancroft Scientist Author Spy Yale University Press 2011 p 34 ISBN 978 0 300 11842 1 Gipson Lawrence Henry The British Empire Before the American Revolution 15 vols New York Alfred A Knopf 1946 1970 IX 457 88 Carter Clarence Edwin Great Britain and the Illinois Country 1763 1773 Port Washington N Y Kennikat Press 1970 Abernethy Thomas Perkins Western Lands and the American Revolution 1937 New York Russell amp Russell 1959Sources EditAlvord Clarence W The Mississippi Valley in British Politics vol 1 Cleveland Ohio Arthur Clark 1917 Marshall Peter Lord Hillsborough Samuel Wharton and the Ohio Grant 1769 1775 English Historical Review 1965 Vol 80 No 317 pp 717 739 in JSTOR Steeley James V Old Hanna s Town and the Westward Movement 1768 1787 Vandalia the Proposed 14th American Colony Westmoreland History Spring 2009 pp 20 26 published by Westmoreland County Historical Society Wright Esmond Franklin of Philadelphia Harvard University Press 1988External links Edit How did West Virginia get its name radio piece Vandalia The First West Virginia Coordinates 38 20 N 81 40 W 38 333 N 81 667 W 38 333 81 667 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vandalia colony amp oldid 1111558690, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
