John Kelly Autograph Letter Signed. One page of a bifolium, 7.5" x 12.75", New York; October 21, 1787. Addressed to a James Parker who wrote to Kelly inquiring about a land purchase he wished to make. The letter recounts how land purchased from Native American tribes in the New York area was eventually made available for purchase to the public. It reads in part: "...I was favored with your letter...signifying a desire to purchase from the Indians a tract of Ten miles square in the Genesce and Seneca Country within the State of New York for the purpose of forming a settlement thereon...I can only at present observe, that by a law of this state, no private person can purchase of this kind must be made for the benefit of the state by Commisionerd [sic] appointed for that purpose. The Lands so purchased are laid out into Townships by the Surveyor General and then sold at public venue [sic] to the highest Bidder...Until these lands are settled, which will not be in many years, it is not probably, that the Commissioners of the Land office would make any further sales, consequently no purchase from the Indians could at present by effected..." The letter contains a key at the bottom left, which Kelly uses to provide more information to Parker about the various plots of land he references throughout the letter. Written transcription accompanying the lot. John Kelly (1744-1832) was a veteran of the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. He was responsible for destroying the bridge at Worth's Mill over Stony Brook during the Battle of Princeton. This action delayed Cornwallis and prevented him from reinforcing Mawhood, which would have almost certainly changed the outcome of the battle. Condition: Letter has 7", 3" and 2" open and closed tears along old folds, however it is isolated to the address leaf and does not affect the legibility of the letter. There is 2" hole due to paper loss from removal of wax seal. Remnants of red wax seal remain. Several smaller holes to main body of letter do not affect legibility. Moderately soiled and toned with some minor foxing throughout. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved