Clark's Grant facts for kids
Clark's Grant was a large area of land given in 1781 to George Rogers Clark and the brave soldiers who fought with him during the American Revolutionary War. The state of Virginia gave them this land as a special thank you for their important service. This land was about 150,000 acres (610 km2) in size. Today, you can find it in what is now Clark County, Indiana, and parts of the counties around it.
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A Special Reward for War Heroes
During the American Revolutionary War, a military leader named George Rogers Clark led soldiers from Virginia. They managed to capture a big part of the Illinois Country, which was a large area in the American Midwest. This effort was part of what was called the Illinois Campaign.
To get people to join the army and go on this tough expedition, Virginia promised them land as a reward. After the war ended, Virginia kept its promise. It gave land to the soldiers and officers who had served with Clark.
How the Land Was Given Out
The Virginia government officially made the grant on January 2, 1781. They offered land on the northwest side of the Ohio River. A group of officers from Clark's army was chosen to pick the exact location. They could choose any 150,000 acres (610 km2) within a certain area.
They chose a spot right across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. George Rogers Clark himself had helped start Louisville during the war. The land they picked included all of what is now Clark County, Indiana, plus parts of the nearby counties.
Some of the soldiers and officers later bought and sold parts of this land, which is called land speculation. This led them to own a large part of southern Indiana. Some of the first American towns in this area, like Clarksville and Jeffersonville, were started on this grant.
George Rogers Clark's Story
Even though the grant was named after him, George Rogers Clark faced many financial problems. He had used a lot of his own money to help pay for the war campaigns. Sadly, he was never fully paid back during his lifetime. Because of this, many of his own land holdings were taken by people he owed money to. Virginia did eventually pay back most of his debt, but only several years after he had passed away.
Sharing the Land
Clark's Grant was very important because it led to the first American settlements in what is now the state of Indiana. The land was divided up among the soldiers in 1784.
Who Got What?
- George Rogers Clark received the biggest share, more than 8,000 acres (32 km2).
- Officers also received large pieces of land.
- The 236 privates (the regular soldiers) each received a 108-acre (0.44 km2) piece of land.
- Sergeants (who were a bit higher in rank) each got 216 acres (0.87 km2).
- Higher-ranking officers received even larger amounts of land.
Each person usually received one or more large pieces of land in the countryside. They also got one smaller piece of land. These smaller pieces were grouped together around the edges of the grant. The idea was that soldiers would build their homes on these smaller, close-together plots. They could then farm or sell their larger pieces of land in the countryside.
There was some discussion about the grant because, at the start of the war, privates had been promised at least 300-acre (1.2 km2) as a reward. The 108 acres (0.44 km2) they received was less than that original promise.
