Manasseh Cutler Speaks on the Associates' Behalf
Manasseh Cutler was a Massachusetts Patriot Minister who played an important part in establishing the Northwest Territory.
Manasseh Cutler
Manasseh Cutler was a man of many trades.
He avoided joining the family business of the ministry and instead studied law.
Along the way Cutler also served as a schoolteacher, surveyor and grocer but eventually gave in and became a pastor like his father.
Army Chaplain
When the Revolutionary War broke out, Cutler was a firm Patriot.
He served as a Chaplain to several military units, notably witnessing John Sullivan’s attempt to fight the British at the Battle of Rhode Island.
Manasseh returned home to help organize the Massachusetts government and, as expected, learned more trades.
Since ministers did not make a lot of money Cutler learned the basics of medicine to help supplement his income. Furthermore, he opened a schoolhouse.
The Ohio Company
By 1787, a group of New Englanders organized the Ohio Company of Associates.
This group’s goal was to lobby the Continental Congress for the ability to settle land in the Northwest Territory.
They chose Manasseh Cutler as their spokesperson.
Cutler went to the Continental Congress and was able to win the Ohio Company a large loan and a gigantic grant of land.
Furthermore, he played a large role in the passing of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 (the most important legislation created under the Articles of Confederation) with the help of his friend James Duane. Cutler has even been credited with writing the section which prohibited slavery, but this is difficult to prove.
Congressman
When the Associates went to Ohio they founded Marietta, the first settlement established by Americans in the Northwest Territory.
Most of the early settlers in the area were Continental Army Veterans who accepted property as payment for their service.
Cutler only visited this land briefly the following year.
He returned home to tend to Massachusetts business and eventually received election to the United States House of Representatives where he spent four years during the Jefferson Administration.
Want to read about other Founders who were ORIGINAL OHIO COMPANY SETTLERS?
Try one of these articles:
Return Jonathan Meigs’ Raid - The Battle of Sag Harbor
Planning Fortifications with Rufus Putnam
This is only a small look at Manasseh Cutler’s story.
Pulitzer Prize winner David McCullough wrote ‘The Pioneers’ which has Cutler as one of the main characters.
If you’d like a copy you can pick one up through the link below (you’ll support this site, but don’t worry, Amazon pays me while your price stays the same).
If you like this article, you might enjoy hearing me tell stories as well.
Check out this video on Alexander Hamilton’s college roommate.
