For private landowners who sold real estate in the Louisiana territory, the sale carried a provision that if the land could not be confirmed by the United States, “the money shall be returned with interest from the date of the decision.”1
Meriwether Lewis, as governor of the Louisiana Territory, and residing in Saint Louis, was required under the Northwest Ordinance to have a freehold estate of one thousand acres.2 By May 1808, Lewis had purchased about 6,300 acres of land for $1.14 an acre.3 Then in the summer of 1808, he bought more land, with the plan of bringing his mother to the region because of his belief that the values of “lands are rising fast.”4
There have been few studies on Lewis's personal finances, and these always revolve around criticism that Lewis spent too much time purchasing land, which ultimately led to his downfall when his governmental drafts were rejected.
In February 2002, We Proceeded On published L. Ruth Colter-Frick's, “Meriwether Lewis's Personal Finances,” which was considered to include the most accurate information on the subject at that time. Ms. Frick relied upon several sources of information: the Grace Lewis Miller Collection, at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Library in Saint Louis; Meriwether Lewis's Account Book, 1807—1809, at the Missouri History Museum; and the Lewis/Marks Papers, located at the University of Virginia. However, the Grace Lewis Miller Collection is incomplete, while the other two are not comprehensive.5
Ms. Colter-Frick was one of several persons who prepared the “Finding Aid to the Grace Lewis Miller Papers, 1938–1971,” which enabled her to author a book Courageous Colter and Companions and write the We Proceeded On article. While she took advantage of these three primary resources, she did not consult any legal documentation, which portrays the other side of the debts and expenses.
My work is based on the documentation taken from the accountant's ledgers (see appendix E) and the following:
Missouri State Archives, Territorial Court Records
Civil Court Archives, Lower Court Records
Recorder of Deeds, Property Transactions
Collet's Index, an inadequate real estate property index
The following pages list multiple transactions and descriptions of Lewis's real estate purchases. Individuals who may want to research Lewis's financial health will have to consult these records and not depend solely upon Lewis's Account Book or the Grace Lewis Miller Collection. Lewis's Account Book, while detailed, is missing much information.
The real estate transactions are quite complex, which is an indication that Lewis was interested in remaining in the territory for a long time. The volume of information contained in the following documentation was staggering, and I had to abridge much of it. What is represented here is a condensed presentation of the facts—a direct and unedited transcription of the research notes I generated while consulting the relevant source materials—along with citations that are intended to direct scholars to where the complete source information may be found. My selection and presentation represents my initial interpretation of those primary sources.
Lastly, the court records for the Missouri Fur Company are also listed here. There has been much speculation that Meriwether Lewis was a silent partner in the fur company, but it is evident that he was not a member. Furthermore, the transactions of the fur company throw new light on the expedition too.
Edward Hempstead, a lawyer, had been hired to represent the Missouri Fur Company Hempstead was also Lewis's attorney He had first arrived in St. Louis in 1808, and in March 1809, Governor Lewis appointed him attorney general of the Louisiana Territory. In September 1809, when Lewis departed Saint Louis, he empowered Hempstead to represent his personal affairs. Since Lewis had not been paid by the War Department for some of his drafts, individuals who had been promised payments by Lewis but had not received them were forced to sue him in Saint Louis. After Lewis's death, Hempstead represented the Lewis estate beginning in 1810 and ending on October 9, 1812.
Note, as you read this appendix, that a French arpent, abbreviated arps., measures 192 feet in width by 1.5 miles long, which amounts to .85 of an acre.
MERIWETHER LEWIS'S COURT CASES, APRIL 3, 2003
Civil Court Archives, 710 Washington Ave., Saint Louis, Missouri
Jacob Philipson v Meriwether Lewis—heirs William Clark foreclosure on mortgage; March 1810, #8
3 tracts of land ($400) ($65) ($100) = $565
Amount of decree $890; paid $360.41
Charles Sanguinette v. Edward Hempstead, adm of Meriwether Lewis estate
Debt to recover money due on bonds; November 1810, #16, Court of Common Pleas
details all debts of ML upon his death $2842.06
Lewis's estate was worth $1811.65
August 24, 1809—a writing obligation—“sealed with the seal or Scrawl of the said Lewis & by him signed”—owed to Sanguinette payable Oct 1, 1809
—William C. Carr, atty.
—Benjamin O'Fallon testified
—[not signed by Meriwether Lewis]—(copy of bond)
[page ripped here]
| Debts: | |
| Jacob Philipson | 361.61 |
| Alexander Stuart | 750.00 |
| James McFarlane | 718.45 |
| Pierre Provenchere | 18.75 |
| Antoine Saugrain | 30.75 |
| Auguste Chouteau | 10.00 |
| Sherrid Swaine | 48.00 |
| William H. Thomas | 220.50 |
| John Colter | 559.00—plaintiff demand on this |
| Sanguinette | 125.00 |
| Total $ 2842.06 |
Sherred G. Swaine v. Edward Hempstead, adm. of Meriwether Lewis debt, account for services
Nov 1810, #31; Swaine kept mare and 20 head of cattle from Nov 1, 1809 to April 30, 1810
—court document Sherred G. Swain
—Samuel Hammond—presiding judge
John Colter v. Edward Hempstead, adm. of Meriwether Lewis estate
Nov 1810, #31 debt; services rendered (Corps of Discovery)
May 4, 1809 indebted $559; “Nevertheless the said Meriwether Lewis his promise and assumption in form aforesaid made not regarding, but contriving and fraudulently intending him the said John in this behalf craftily and subtilly to deceive and defraud, the aforesaid sum of $559.—J. A. Graham, atty
Money received by Meriwether Lewis from the War Department on acct of John Colter for wages due Colter $380 with extra pay allowed by Congress $179 = $559
Falconer and Comegys, merchants (Peregrine Falconer & John G. Comegys) v. Edward Hempstead, adm. of Meriwether Lewis
March 1811, #27; William Carr—atty
Aug 22, 1809, $331.45 1/2, also $23
Gilbert C. Russell, note against Lewis $379.58
Total debt $3452.59, 1/2 only
$2419.89, 1/2 came from sales
Pierre Chouteau v. Edward Hempstead, adm. of ML
Nov 1811, #67; William C. Allen—atty
$1061.65; demanded on Aug 10, 1809, $81
Bill of exchange June 16, 1809 denied by Eustis
case continued—Allen, atty.
March 1812, #30; July 19, 1809 $81, John Davidson presented to William Eustis—original bill
March 1812, #31; May 15, 1809 $440—Eustis (Simmons) refused to pay presented bill on Oct 16, 1809 and refused again
DEED BOOK TRANSACTIONS
(COLLET'S INDEX—MISSOURI HISTORY MUSEUM)
Meriwether Lewis as Grantor
| Name | Date | Book/Page |
| John Mullanphy | ? | A: 30 |
| Cavalier & Fils, tr. | ? | A: 30 |
| Louis Lemonde | ? | A: 37 |
| Charles Simoneau, mgee | May 1806 | ? 86 |
| John Mullanphy | May 1806 | ? 88, 92 |
| Antoine Reynal | 1805 | ? 198 |
| Baptiste Molaire | May 1806 | ? 276 |
| Antoine Bouis | Sept 28, 1807 | ? 504 |
| David Delaunay | ? | B: 10 |
| Jacob Philipson, mgee | ? | C: 17 |
| Pre Chouteau, mgee | ? | ? 26 |
| Wm C. Carr | ? | ? 39 |
| Fredk Bates | ? | ? 186 |
| Joseph Philipson | ? | ? 243 and 478 |
| Bazil Bissonnet | ? | ? 580 |
| Risdon H. Price | ? | E: 18 |
| Pierre Chouteau | ? | ? 24 |
Meriwether Lewis as Grantee
Deed Books, St. Louis Recorders Office
| Land Warrants, | 15 Nov 1808 | B: 152–7 |
Warrants for 7 members of the expedition: Patrick Gass, John Collins, Hugh McNeal, John B. Thompson, Alexander Millard, Joseph Whitehouse, George Drouillard (320 acres each). John Collins assigned warrant to Drouillard on 29 June 1806 and then assigned it to Riddick and McNair on 28 June 1808. Hugh McNeal to George Gibson on 9 March 1807 who assigned it to Bates on 4 October 1808.
| B: 153 | Bates paid Gass $300 for the warrant on 2 April 1808 |
| B: 155 | John B. Thompson to Gibson on 12 August 1808 |
On Sept 3, 1809, Meriwether Lewis gave McFarlane a bond in the amount of $800.08 since he was indebted to McFarlane previously for $718.45.
William Clark Papers, June-Sept 1809, Missouri History Museum Lewis bought a medicine chest from Dr. Saugrain on August 24, 1809 for $30.75
Clark's notebook, lists Lewis's private debts, top of p. 6:
| John G. Commegys | $331.45 ½ |
| Benjamin Wilkinson | 151.60 |
| [bottom half of p. 6]: | |
| Col. Aug. Chouteau | $10.00 |
| James McFarlane | 657.95 |
| d——d by Dubville | 66.50 |
| Issac Miller in favor of 202.87 ½ | |
| whom a note Capt. with Genl C. | |
| Judge Stewart | $500.00 |
| Wm. Basern a note | $150.00 |
| for the dention detention of my bill |
Grace Lewis Papers, JNEM, Box 3, Folder 1
Conditional deed to Alexander Stuart, August 19, 1809
Lands in Portage des Sioux, $750
St. Charles County Deed Records, Book B: 137
Lewis Marks Papers, #4730, Alderman Library, University of Virginia,
Charlottesville, VA
June 20, 1810, John Marks to William Clark, Albermarle
Dear Sir: In compliance with your request to [William] Meriwether I send you the following list of recepts, Where several recpts. have been given by the same persons. I have only noticed the latest
| E. S. Piere | August 22, 1809 | |
| Peter Prim | July 18, 1809 | |
| Nathaniel Green | August 28, 1808 | |
| Rodolphe Tillier | March 23, 1809 | Rifle also for Acct. settled |
| Augt. Choteau | August 23, 1809 | Merchandize |
| Prim & Davis | July 26, 1809 | |
| B. Prat | Merchandize bought of Mr. Ranier | |
| A. Woolfort | July 9, 1809 | |
| A. Woolfort | money paid on R. L. (Reuben Lewis) order | |
| Charles Bosseron | June 28, 1808 | payment for rifle |
| Joseph Block & Co. | September 4, 1808 | Account not receipted |
| J. Philipson | Dec 31, 1808 | per [?] |
| Nov 15,1806 | ML paid taxes on land on Miller's Creek in Clark County |
| Dec 1806 | Lewis in Albermarle County |
| Oct 1807 | Albermarle (Woodson) |
| Nov 15,1807 | William Gertner paid ML $40 (on demand) |
| July 12, 1808 | ML lent Ishmael Lewis $30. James McFarlane testified to the indenture. |
| Oct 14,1808 | ML sent Nathan Hart money on land |
TERRITORIAL SUPREME COURT RECORDS, COURT CASES (ABRIDGED)
General Court, May 1811, Case No. 35: March 25, 1811
Alexander Stuart v. E. Hempstead adm of M. Lewis: an action of debt to recover the amount of a bond from M. Lewis to the Plaintiff for $1500.
—Carr representing the Plaintiff
On August 19, 1809: Lewis borrowed $750 from Stuart and promised to repay on or before October 1, 1810 with interest. The court paid Stuart $1234.50
Owed Jacob Philipson, paid him through sale of land for $809.00
Box 29: Jacob Philipson, July Term, Court of Common Pleas, St. Louis, 1809
Money owed:
James McFarlane $718.00: gave this amount on….
a judgment rendered in the Court of Common Pleas on August 25, 1810.
| Charles Sanguinet | 135.50 |
| John Colter | 375.60 |
| August Chartran | 10.00 |
| Peter Provenchere | 18.75 |
| Fergus Morehead | 48.00 |
| Gilbert C. Russell | 379.58 |
| Falconer & Comegys | 331.45 |
| Wilkinson & Price | 153.60 |
| James McFarlane | 718.00 |
William Thomas v Lewis: Box 29, Folder 7, 1810
| Jacob Philipson | 890.00 |
| Antoine Saugrain | 30.75 |
| August Chouteau | 10.00 |
| John Colter saying | 559.00 awarded $375.60 |
Edward Hempstead—Admn. of Lewis Estate, October 9, 1812: Box 48, Folders 2&3 War Dept on Oct 20, 1809—Mr. Walter Smith—bill would not be paid “Mr. Lewis not being authorized to draw.” (Box 29—Folder 7, Oct Term 1810) Judgment in General Court for $263.49—original bill was $220.50
Andrew McFarland v. Edward Hempstead: Box 34, Folder 32
Walter Smith, Notary Public in War Dept.
John Smith—Chief Clerk in War Dept.
$500 to Pierre Chouteau: Box 34, Folder 34
Doctor William Thomas: Box 35, Folder 17
Missouri Fur Company: Box 45, Folder 4, Superior Court: New Series—T 11/4 March, 1818: William Clark & others v. Price Arnold
William Clark, Pierre Chouteau, August P. Chouteau, Manuel Lisa, Silvestre Labbadie, William Morrison, Pierre Menard, Samuel Bridge, Andrew Henry, and Reuben Lewis—heretofore trading and doing business together under the name, firm, and style of “The Missouri Fur Company.”
On April 10, 1813, Price Arnold at Fort Manuel now County of Howard—then County of St. Charles owed $196—did not pay suing now for $500. filed Sept 8, 1817 & Dec 10, 1817.
See Territorial Supreme Court Records: Box 23, Folder 14; Box 29, Folder 7; Box 30, Folder 22; Box 31, Folder 15; Box 34, Folder 23; Box 34, Folder 32; Box 35, Folder 17; Box 48, Folder 2 and 3. Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City, Missouri.
Record Books in the City of Saint Louis, Recorder of Deeds, under M. Lewis:
| M.Lewis claims under Antoine Baccane | A: 1273 |
| M.Lewis claims under Chalifour | B: |
| M.Lewis claims under Alex Clark | B: 1 |
| M.Lewis claims under David Eshborough | B: 5 |
| M.Lewis claims under Jacques Godfroy | B: 3 |
| M.Lewis claims under Capt. McDonald | B: 2 |
MISSOURI FUR COMPANY LAWSUITS
Clark Court Cases, Civil Court Archives, 710 Washington Ave., Saint Louis, Missouri
William Clark v. Joseph Richard #1108
November 1809, #8: to recover money due on note of hand
William Clark, agent for the Missouri Fur Company July 13, 1809 promised to pay Clark $84.75
Silas Bent—judge; Thomas Riddick—clerk; Jerimiah Connor—sheriff
We, Joseph Richard, Pelagie, Peletier, Vive, Morin, Wm. Morin—Francois Labeau—signed in presence of Benjamin Wilkinson, James Anderson, Charles Bourguion, Francois Labeleau, plaintiffs—Missouri Fur Company
Henly Donnolson v. William Clark (St. Louis Missouri Fur Company), William Morrison, Peter Menard, Pierre Chouteau, August P. Chouteau, Manuel Lisa, Benjamin Wilkinson, Andrew Henry, Reuben Lewis, Silvestre Labbadie
Nov 1810, #48—Russell E. Hicok (Hicock) his atty., April 19, 1809
A. P. Chouteau, agent for $500 for hunting and trapping for a term of one year
William Clark (use of the united States) v. Horrace Austin
July 1812, #18; Clark sued Austin for $148
George Casner (Carmer) v. William Clark, Manuel Lisa and Sylvestre Labbadie—directors of the Missouri Fur Company, money owed—hereby commanded John Gill & Antoine Roncourte
B. Wash—atty
William Clark v. James Beatty
March 1813, #9
Dardenne Township, St. Charles, June 18, 1812; $75.30 pay Clark
John W. Honey—clerk; Marie P. Leduc—clerk
William Clark v. Jeduthan Kendall
foreclosure; March 1813, #13
Maj. Jaduthan Kendall given by Christian Wilt to Gen. William Clark for $90,
Dec 1, 1812, St. Louis
$138.57 on November 5, 1811
William Clark v. Samuel Hammond
March 1813, #12; $1300 Hammond did not pay
Easton was Hammond's atty; Carr was Clark's atty
March 1813, #14; $200
William Clark v. Charles Latour
October 1817, #63
William Clark, William Morrison, Peter Menard, Pierre Chouteau, August P. Chouteau, Manuel Lisa, Andrew Henry, Reuben Lewis, Silvestre Labbadie, Samuel Bridge
“Fort Recovery on the Missouri River,” Sept. 18, 1811 at a place called Fort Ricaras on the Missouri River in the County of St. Charles now County of Howard. Manuel Lisa, Factor and Agent: $431.92 beaver fur at a rate of $1.50 per lb “in an equipment for the chase.”
Thomas James v. St. Louis Missouri Fur Company
Nov 1810, Book B : cited from Bk A: 71
William Clark v. Thomas James—March 9, 1811
Bk A: 103: John G. Heath, merchant; Salt Manufacturer under the name William Christy & Co.
Bk A: 144–5: Thomas James dropped suit (Nov 6, 1811)
Missouri Fur Company v. Thomas James
Oct 1814, #29 (On Oct 7, 1809 for $400)