Reuben Slaughter Sr. (1733 - 1805) was an American soldier, and surveyor originally from Culpeper County, Virginia, who owned the disputed Burning Spring tract of land claimed by George Washington.
Washington asserted that under Royal Proclamation of 1763 he is the rightful owner of a 5000-acre tract after receiving it from the Lord Governor Robert Dinwiddie.
Washington implored Lewis, "I have now to beg the favor of you Sir, to give me such further information respecting the application of my warrants which have come into your office, as it may be in your power to do; & to inform me at the same time whether the Survey of 2950, acres made for my benefit, has ever been returned to the Secretarys office: Also, whether a patent for the Tract including the burning Spring has ever been obtained—for what quantity of acres—what improvements are on it, with such other particulars as may be interesting for me to know—particularly, in what County it lies—how far it is from the Kanhawa in the nearest part—& from the mouth of Cole river, where it forms its junction with the latter.
Washington concluded his letter with, "I therefore desire you will consider this letter as a solemn warning, not to make any Settlement, or exercise any other right of proprietorship on any part of the land within the lines of my patent: assuring you that if you should, after this warning persevere in your intention of settling or otherwise encroaching upon my land, you must expect to be prosecuted as far as right and justice will admit.3 I am Sir your very humble Servant, Go: Washington.
"[2] Shortly after Washington's death, Washington's heirs went Court attempting to retrieve the land in question but ultimately failed when Leonard Morris was produced as a witness for the plaintiff, after being first duly sworn, deposed and said, "That in the year 1775, this deponent was residing on Kanawha river about six miles from Burning Spring Tract.