War of 1812
War of 1812 Order to Seize Mississippi Territory Property
June 20, 1814-Dated War of 1812 Period, Partially-Printed Document, Mississippi Territory, an Order to Seize Property, Fine.


This original Partially-Printed Document measuring 12.75” x 8”, 1 page, Amite County, Mississippi Territory, is a seizure order issued to the County Sheriff. It orders him to seize property from Sylvester Dunn, John Lowery and John Watson to settle a debt of “three hundred and thirty seven dollars & two cents”. Folds have seperated, toning.

Signed by Thomas Batchelor, a delegate to Mississippi’s first State Constitution three years after the document date. Batchelor was also the first Clerk of the Court for Amite County. The document is signed on the reverse three times by David Lea, who was the first sheriff of Amite County. Looe Baker was originally from New Jersey, but went to Natchez, Mississippi Territory in 1805 to pursue a commercial venture, thus becoming one of the earliest commercial pioneers there. Sylvester Dunn (1775-1852) hailed from South Carolina and arrived in Amite County in 1811. Like Batchelor, he too owned many slaves (28 on the 1830 census). During the War of 1812, John Lowry, another of the defendants listed in this document, was an officer in the Regiment of Mississippi Militia under the command of Colonel George H. Nixon (Nixon was highly regarded by Andrew Jackson and became a Brigadier General). Lowry also had served as a Delegate to the Mississippi Territorial House of Representatives in 1811.