WAYNE'S SCOUTS.

941

a proposed colony on lands purchased by them on the Muskingum River. Early in the spring of the year 1788, the settlers left New England, and on April 7th the first settlement of whites in Ohio was begun, under the auspices of this company, at the mouth of the said river, where, on that day, the foundation was laid of the city of Marietta. The town was so named in honor of the French queen, Marie Antoinette. The leaders of the enterprise were Rufus Putnam, James H. Varnum, Ma-nasseh Cutler, and Benjamin Tupper, and the purchase made by them comprised 1,500,000 acres. The most remarkable building which the settlers erected was a large fort, to be used as a place of safety in case of attack by the savages. The streets were surveyed, lots laid out, and a public square, named Campus Martins, surrounding the fort, was reserved.

On July 9,1788, the new governor arrived, and "the colony began to assume form." Along with the governor, Samuel Holden Parsons, John Armstrong, and James II. Varnum were appointed judges, and Winthrop Sargent, secretary. A meeting of these territorial officers was held on the 25th of the same month, when the first law was enacted   "for regulating and establishing the militia," and the next day the official inauguration of the territorial government was promulgated by the reading of the governor's proclamation, erecting all the country ceded by the Indians east of the Scioto Biver into the county of Washington, and formally declaring the operations of the laws of the United States, provided for the territory by the ordinance of 1787, in force. On the 2d of September the first court was held, and opened with becoming ceremonies, which are described in the "American Pioneer," as follows :

"The procession was formed at the Point (where most of the settlers resided), in the following order: 1st, the high sheriff with his drawn sword ; 2d, the citizens; 3d, the officers of the garrison at Fort Harmar; 4th, the members of the bar; 5th, the supreme judges; 6th, the governor and clergymen; 7th, the newly appointed judges of the Common Pleas, Generals Rufus