1794 Map of the Middle States of America Comprehending New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the Territory N.W. of Ohio
DESCRIPTION
By: John Russell
Date: 1794 (Dated) London
Dimensions: 14.5 x 18.5 inches
This late 18th century map, of the Middle States of America Comprehending New-York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the Territory N.W. of Ohio, was engraved by J. Russell and originally published in William Winterbotham’s "An Historical, Geographical, Commercial, and Philosophical View of the United States of America (London, 1795)." The map captures a transitional moment in the development of the American interior, showing both the established eastern states and the expanding frontier west of the Alleghenies.
Geographic Scope and Early Settlement West of the Alleghenies
The map extends from the Chesapeake Bay in the south to Lake Huron in the north, and westward into the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys. New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware are shown with dense settlement, while farther west the map introduces the vast Northwest Territory, which would later give rise to Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. An unusual feature is the placement of the label “Indiana” over what is now West Virginia—this reflects the short-lived Indiana land company claim from the colonial period, which appeared on some early maps before the formal creation of the Indiana Territory in 1800.
In the Ohio Country, only a handful of towns are identified, including Marietta, Chillicothe, and Cincinnati, alongside strategic military forts such as Fort Washington, Miami Fort, and others that anchored early settlement. Farther north, the map also depicts Fort Detroit and Fort Niagara, vital outposts on the Great Lakes that symbolized both trade and military control. Surrounding these settlements are large tracts labeled Army Lands and Donation Lands from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, reflecting Revolutionary War land grants. Native American presence is still strongly marked, with tribes such as the Delaware, Shawnee, Wyandot, Miami, and Seneca prominently noted.
Strategic Importance of the Great Lakes
The map underscores the significance of the Great Lakes system in the early republic. Lakes Erie, Ontario, and Huron are drawn prominently, with river connections and portages suggesting their role as conduits of trade, migration, and conflict. Control of forts such as Detroit and Niagara was essential for regulating movement across these waters, balancing U.S. expansion with established Native homelands and lingering British influence in Canada. The careful attention given to these waterways highlights how the Great Lakes served as both a frontier boundary and a gateway linking the interior to the wider Atlantic world.
John Russell was a British engraver and mapmaker based in London, best known for his finely detailed cartographic work published during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He produced maps for travel guides, atlases, and geographical works issued by London publishers such as Hogg and Laurie & Whittle, often focusing on North America at a time of great interest following the American Revolution and the War of 1812. Russell’s engravings are marked by clarity and precision, balancing decorative elements with practical geographic detail, and his maps of the United States and its territories are valued today as important records of the young nation’s growth and the shifting boundaries of the early republic.
Condition: Map is in fine condition with areas of paper toning and faint offsetting throughout. Original issued in smaller book, the map has numerous fold lines, several of which have separated but are reinforced on the verso with archival materials.
Inventory #13145
CONDITION
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