French Grant facts for kids

The French Grant was a special area of land in what was then called the Northwest Territory. Today, this land is part of Scioto County, Ohio. The U.S. Congress gave this land on March 31, 1795. This happened because a group of French settlers had been tricked. They had bought land from a company called the Scioto Company, but that land actually belonged to another group, the Ohio Company of Associates.

Not all the French settlers decided to take this new land. Some chose to stay on the East Coast. Others preferred to remain in Gallipolis, Ohio, which is in Gallia County, Ohio. Both Gallia and Gallipolis were named after Gaul, which was the old Latin name for France.

The shape and parts of the French Grant

This map shows land purchases. The Scioto Company's proposed purchase is red. The Ohio Company's proposed purchase is blue, and their final purchase is green. The French Grant is orange.

What Was the French Grant?

The French Grant was a way for the U.S. government to help French settlers who had been cheated. It gave them new land in the Northwest Territory. This territory was a large area of land in the early days of the United States. It included what are now the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota.

Why Was the Grant Needed?

The French settlers had come to America hoping to buy land. They bought land from the Scioto Company. However, the Scioto Company did not actually own the land they sold. The land was truly controlled by the Ohio Company of Associates. When the settlers found out they had been tricked, the U.S. Congress stepped in to help. They decided to give these settlers a new piece of land, which became known as the French Grant.

The First Grant: A New Start

The first part of the French Grant was given in 1795. This land started about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) up the Ohio River from the mouth of the Little Sandy River (Kentucky) in Kentucky. It stretched 8 miles (13 km) down the river. From these points, the land went back from the river at right angles. This area was large enough to include 24,000 acres (97 km²).

• Out of this land, 4,000 acres (16 km²) were given to John Gabriel Gervais. He received this for his efforts in getting the grant approved.
• The remaining 20,000 acres (81 km²) were divided into 92 smaller sections. Each of these sections was about 217.4 acres (0.88 km²).

The Second Grant: More Land for Settlers

A second part of the grant, called the Second Grant, was given on June 25, 1798. This added another 1,200 acres (4.9 km²). These new lots were 150 acres (0.61 km²) each. They were located next to the lower end of the First Grant. This Second Grant was specifically for eight residents of Gallipolis who had not received any land from the First Grant.