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Colonial and 18th Century Land Surveys on the Delaware River

Interesting set of 4 colonial land grant maps of lands on the Delaware Riverin and around Lacawaxen, Pennsylvania.

Two of the map are likely related to the efforts of Andrew Allen, a member of the Second Continental Congress, to receive compensation for his losses after the American Revolution, when he was stripped of his rights as a Loyalist, which were restored to him following his pardon by the Pennsylvania legislature in 1792.

May 8, 1770 Survey

Land surveyed for Andrew Allen, Esq., by J. Biddle.

This survey shows land on the Delaware River near Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania, which according to the note on the verso includes the mouth of the Westcolang Creek. The land today appears to be part of Camp Chayolei Hamelech.

May 9, 1771 Survey

Land surveyed for Andrew Allen, Esq., by J. Biddle.

This survey shows land on the Delaware River below Rocky Rift, in Lackawaxen Township, Pennsylvania.

July 5, 1775 Survey

Land surveyed for Cornelis Seaman., by George Palmer.

This survey shows land on the Delaware River above Rocky Rift, in Lackawaxen Township, Pennsylvania.

November 12, 1793 Survey

Land surveyed for William Skinner, by ??.

This survey shows land near the Delaware River in Northampton County, very near the other 3 surveys. Adam Swergart, Daniel Skinner, Rowland Parry and William Darrah are neighboring landowners.

Andrew Allen

Andrew Allen (1740 – 1825) was a lawyer and official from the Province of Pennsylvania. Born into an influential family, Allen initially favored the colonial cause in the American Revolution, and represented Pennsylvania in the Second Continental Congress from 1775 to 1776. Like many other wealthy elites in Pennsylvania, however, he resisted radical change, and became a Loyalist after the Declaration of Independence and the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776.

In December 1776, Allen finally switched sides. The situation in Philadelphia had become tense as a British army under General Howe drove George Washington's forces out of New York and towards Pennsylvania.  Allen fled, but returned to Philadelphia in 1777 with General Howe's army.  His stay lasted only as long as their occupation, and he returned with them to New York when the British evacuated Philadelphia in 1778. From there he made his way to England. Thereafter he practiced law in London.

The Pennsylvania Assembly charged Allen with treason in 1781 and confiscated his properties, along with those of others in his family. After the war, the British government reviewed his losses, and the "Commission for Claims and Losses" awarded him a lifetime pension of £400. In 1792, Allen was pardoned by Pennsylvania. He returned to Philadelphia in 1794 to attempt to recover some of the old payments due to him under the provisions of the Jay Treaty, but this was unsuccessful.

He went to London and renewed allegiance and his property was confiscated.[2] He remained there the remainder of his life; he died on March 7, 1825.