Washington, George, as first president

Engraved broadside document signed ("Go: Washington"), on vellum (14 3/4 x 12 3/8 in.; 377 x 316 mm), accomplished in a clerical hand, Philadelphia, 17 September 1796, being a Virginia Line land grant to General Horatio Gates, countersigned by the Secretary of State ("Timothy Pickering"), embossed paper seal of the United States, several dockets on verso, including an autograph endorsement signed by the Secretary of War ("James McHenry Secy. of War"); slightest wrinkling, but in immaculate, completely unfaded condition.

Sale, Sotheby's New York, 10 December 2003, lot 40 (undesignated consignor)

President Washington issues a land grant to a controversial former comrade-in-arms. "[I]n consideration of military service performed by the Honorable Major General Horatio Gates to the United States, in the Virginia Line on the Continental Establishment, and in pursuance of an Act of the Congress of the United States … entitled, 'An Act to enable the Officers and Soldiers of the Virginia Line on Continental Establishment to obtain titles to certain land lying north-west of the River Ohio, between the little Miami and Sciota;' … there is granted by the said United States unto James Murray assignee of the said Horatio Gates a certain tract of land containing two thousand acres. …" 

James Murray was Gates's son-in-law, to whom he sold his military tract grants. This arrangement is noted by Secretary of War James McHenry in his endorsement, 15 September 1796, on the verso of the document: "Horatio Gates was originally intitled to the Bounty land within described as granted to the within named James Murray who claims under the said Horatio Gates."

Horatio Gates, a former British officer settled in Virginia, was commissioned a Brigadier General and Adjutant General of the Continental Army in 1775. An outstanding administrator, Gates sought a field command and was instrumental in the American victory at Saratoga in 1777. Although he was never officially implicated for his role, Gates subsequently got entangled in the Conway Cabal, which sought to replace George Washington as the  commander of Continental forces. Despite losing Washington's confidence, by 1780 Gates was put in command of the Southern Department. His inexperienced militiamen were so thoroughly routed by Lord Cornwallis at Camden, South Carolina, that Congress demanded an investigation, but no court of inquiry ever convened.  After brief service on Washington's staff at Newburgh, New York, Gates retired to his Virginia plantation in 1784.