Contract Between the French Inhabitants and Tardiveau

After the end of the American Revolution, the issue of land ownership for French and American settlers in Illinois became critical. Colonel Josiah Harmar visited Illinois in 1787, along with a French entrepreneur named Barthelemi Tardiveau. Colonel Harmar's remarks to the Illinois settlers indicated that their land ownership was tenuous. As a result, the French [click here for more information] and American [click here for more information] settlers contracted with Tardiveau to be their agent in resolving the land claims before the United States Congress. The list of names that form the "census" of 1787 were created for use by Tardiveau in his promotion of the land claims.