Thomas Jefferson Papers

Samuel Maverick to Thomas Jefferson, 4 March 1822

From Samuel Maverick

Montpelier Pendleton District 
So: Carolina: March 4th 1822 

Respected Sir

I wrote you the Inclosed Letter 11th Augt last, but having in a few days after to go to Alabama, it was neglected, untill my return, & now take the Liberty to forward it, making enquirey respecting the Grape Vine.

would not the Tea plant & Bread fruit Tree be Valuable to those people who will indure the Long tedious warm Summers of Alabama &c there cotton groes so Luxuriantly as to produce 6 to 1200 & in some instancies 1500 to 2000 Cotton in the Seed per Acre (Green Seed)

the Cultivation of the Vine has comenced on the Black warrior River by the Settlement of Frenchmen, but with what success I am unable to say, as I did not go so Low by 70 Miles, I saw several of the frenchmen they appear confident of sucess of the Vine,—in So. Ca. at Charleston the olive Tree Looks helthy & well & some years produces fruit.

any Idias respecting or on the Culture of the Vine, will be thankfully recd

by Yours Respectfully

sam: Maverick

RC (CSmH: JF-BA); at foot of text: “Thos Jefferson Esqr”; endorsed by TJ as received 9 (reworked from 10) May 1822 and so recorded in SJL; with Dft of TJ to Maverick, 12 May 1822, beneath signature. Enclosure: Maverick to TJ, 11 Aug. 1821.

The settlement of frenchmen was the Vine and Olive Colony in Alabama.

Index Entries

  • Alabama (state); cotton crop in search
  • Alabama (state); French settlement in search
  • Alabama (state); grapes grown in search
  • breadfruit tree search
  • Charleston, S.C.; olive trees in search
  • cotton; as crop search
  • cotton; green seed (Sea Island) search
  • grapes; grown in Ala. search
  • Maverick, Samuel; and grapes search
  • Maverick, Samuel; letters from search
  • olives; trees search
  • tea; grown in U.S. search
  • trees; breadfruit search
  • trees; olive search
  • weather; heat search