Thomas Posey collection
Collection — Folder: S1072
Identifier: S1072
Scope and Contents
This collection includes a letter to Thomas Posey from John Taliaferro on March 3, 1813 announcing Posey's nomination of Governor of Indiana Territory; a short biography on "General Thomas Posey as Civilian and Politician" by Starling L. Marshall, January 16, 1934; a relinquish of dower as recorded in the Rockbridge, Virginia Property Conveyance of Mary Posey, May 23, 1801; and notes taken by Colorado Montrose from the Congressional Library, Washington, D.C. on April 13, 1933, regarding the controversy between Generals Anthony Wane and Thomas Posey, pages 3-5 with half page introduction.
Dates
- 1776-1839
Creator
- Taliaferro, John, 1768-1852 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Biographical Note/Historical Note
Thomas Posey (1750-1818) was born in Fairfax County, Virginia, and received little formal education. At the age of 19 he went to the Virginia frontier where he enlisted in that state's militia and fought the Indians beyond the western frontier in 1774. During the American Revolution he enlisted as a captain and was later promoted to major in the 7th Virginia Regiment, seeing action at the Battle of Saratoga and against the Indians on the Pennsylvania. In 1782 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. Posey remained in the military after the war and in 1793 he became a brigadier general serving with Anthony Wayne in the campaign against the Indians of the Northwest.
In 1794 Posey resigned his commission and moved to Kentucky where he was elected to the state Senate and became lieutenant governor in 1806. When British and French involvement in the west became a threat in 1809 he returned to military service with the rank of major general in command of the Kentucky volunteers.
Posey moved to Louisiana where he served as a U. S. Senator from 1812-1813, and in February, 1813, he was appointed governor of the Indiana Territory succeeding William Henry Harrison. Posey remained territorial governor until Indiana became a state in December 1816. (During his term as governor he resided in Jeffersonville rather than in Corydon because of poor health which resulted in some criticism from the legislature for his inaccessibility.) Posey was defeated by Jonathan Jennings in Indiana's first gubernatorial election and was also defeated by Thomas Hendricks in his bid for a U.S. Congressional seat from Indiana in 1817. From 1816 until his death Posey served as agent for Indian Affairs in the Illinois Territory. Posey was married to Mary Matthews from 1772 until her death in 1778, and they had one son who lived to adulthood. In 1784 he married Mary (Alexander) Thornton and had nine children.
Sources:
Dictionary of American Biography, vol. 8, pp. 111-112.
http://www.indianahistory.org
In 1794 Posey resigned his commission and moved to Kentucky where he was elected to the state Senate and became lieutenant governor in 1806. When British and French involvement in the west became a threat in 1809 he returned to military service with the rank of major general in command of the Kentucky volunteers.
Posey moved to Louisiana where he served as a U. S. Senator from 1812-1813, and in February, 1813, he was appointed governor of the Indiana Territory succeeding William Henry Harrison. Posey remained territorial governor until Indiana became a state in December 1816. (During his term as governor he resided in Jeffersonville rather than in Corydon because of poor health which resulted in some criticism from the legislature for his inaccessibility.) Posey was defeated by Jonathan Jennings in Indiana's first gubernatorial election and was also defeated by Thomas Hendricks in his bid for a U.S. Congressional seat from Indiana in 1817. From 1816 until his death Posey served as agent for Indian Affairs in the Illinois Territory. Posey was married to Mary Matthews from 1772 until her death in 1778, and they had one son who lived to adulthood. In 1784 he married Mary (Alexander) Thornton and had nine children.
Sources:
Dictionary of American Biography, vol. 8, pp. 111-112.
http://www.indianahistory.org
Extent
0.01 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged chronologically.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as donation from F. H. Posey on 1934/05/16.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2015/06/18 by Linda Gellert. EAD finding aid created 2015/06/18 by Linda Gellert.
Creator
- Taliaferro, John, 1768-1852 (Person)
- Montrose, Colorado (Person)
- Marshall, Starling L. (Person)
- Title
- Thomas Posey collection
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
