To James Madison from Mary Randolph, 31 March 1806 (Abstract)
From Mary Randolph, 31 March 1806 (Abstract)
§ From Mary Randolph.1 31 March 1806, Richmond. “It is with extreme diffidence I address you on a subject of great importance to a very particular Friend; but I rely for forgiveness, on your goodness of Heart, with which I have long been acquainted. Mr Jones the Loan Officer has been declining for some time and now lies at the point of death.2 I earnestly entreat your interest for Mr George Tucker as his successor—he is a Man of talents, has received a liberal education and is perfectly qualified to fill the Office—he made the law his study, but coming here at the time when our Bar was thronged with Lawyers he has not been successful in the practice of his profession—this Office will enable him to provide for a Charming Wife and young family—and it will be a gratification to your Benevolence to confer happiness on such estimable persons. My Brother can give you any information you may wish respecting Mr Tuckers Character. Please to offer my Cordial Affections to Mrs Madison.”
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR, 1801–9, filed under “Tucker”). 2 pp.
1. Mary (Molly) Randolph Randolph (1762–1828) was the sister of Thomas Mann Randolph, Jefferson’s son-in-law, and was married to her cousin, David Meade Randolph. She opened a boardinghouse in Richmond after her husband’s 1808 bankruptcy and later published The Virginia House-Wife (Washington, D.C., 1824), one of the first American cookbooks ( 2:38 n. 1; , 27:777 n.; Mattern and Shulman, Selected Letters of Dolley Payne Madison, 411).
2. Virginia commissioner of loans Meriwether Jones died on 9 Aug. 1806; Jefferson named John Page to succeed him (National Intelligencer, 27 Aug. 1806; , 2:44).