Dueling as a defense of or proof of Honor

[ieoeja]

5. Given that Hamilton tried to steal my family's land, I say good on Burr!

Most American farmers before The Revolutionary War had this silly idea that they owned their farms. In truth, the colonies were owned by people (Lord Baltimore in the case of Maryland) or corporations (the Massachussetts Bay Colony Company). When the British Government decided to leave soldiers in America following the French-and-Indian War, they also decided the colonies had to pay for their jailers.

New York decided to charge the farmers rent. The farmers were very much surprised to discover they did not own the farms where their families had been living for generations. After much unpleasantness New York finally decided to charge them a property tax instead. The farmers were as okay with that as much as anybody is ever okay with a tax.

Following the war ownership by these British entities was deemed void. For the most part the states recognized the ownership rights as understood by their citizens.

Hamilton was a banker. He was also a crook. But that was redundant. So he started filing claims on other people's properties including my family's. During the post-War of 1812 Depression, our family finally sold out and moved to Kentucky. Where my Great-Great-Great-Great Grandfather got elected Assessor. And promptly stole some land.

In his defense he stole the land from people who originally stole the land from the Boone party who stole the lands from the Indians (sort of). And the next Assessor ended up stealing the land from my family. Which is when we moved to Indiana where the Federal Government perfomed the initial Assessments and this whole land stealing crap didn't go on.