Thomas Jefferson Papers
Note: this document has content that may require expanded/print view for best results (icons above right)

To Thomas Jefferson from Alexander Sinclair, with a List of Funds Collected for the State, 21 May 1780

From Alexander Sinclair, with a List of Funds Collected for the State

Staunton May the 21st. 1780

Sir

Colo. Sampson Mathews not having imediate use for the money that he detained, (which was taken in in consiquence of your adress to the people) have desired me to send it down to you I have therefore embraced this oppertunity by Mr. Smyth Tandy for that Purpose. Please Sir, to give Mr. Tandy recepts for it and when Colo. Mathews gos down he will receve the loan Office Certificates. The list of the money is inclosed, with the dates it was received, and the time it was put in for. I am Your Excellencys Mo. Humle. Servt,

Alexr. Sinclair

Enclosure

An Acct. of cash received of sundry persons in Consiquence of the Governors adress to the people Viz
1780. £ s d
March 15th John Vance   100 for 12 months
 ” Charles Donaley  1864  4 to the 1d of August
18 Robt Dunlap   550
21 Charles Donaley   135 16
22 Capt Robt Brattan   633 14 for 3 years
 ” Adam Brattan   480 for do.
Capt Robt Brattan   600 16 for do.
April 4 William Matear   560 for one year
March 30 Andrew Ramsey   300 for 3 years
Hugh McClure   225 for one year
A.S. April 1d. James Crawford   200 for 3 years  200
A.S. — 3 Elijah McClenachan   120 for one year  120
A.S. 8 James McNut   400 for 3 years  400
11 William Finley   800 14 for one year
A.S. — Jno. Ramsey  1220 for 3 years 1220
A.S. 18 Jacob Lerew    90 for 1 Year   90
A.S. 18 Ruben Lerew 150   140 00 for do  150
A.S. 18 Abram Lerew   150 for do  150
18 Thomas Scott   400 02 for 2 Years
18 Walter Davis   417  9 1 Year
A.S. May 16 James Campbell  1336 16 for 6 months 1336:16
5 Andrew Hamilton  1123  8 0 1st January 1781
11848  3 0
16
A.S. 27th William Lewis  1017  2 for three years. 1017:2
Joshua Perry  1000 one year

RC (Vi); addressed “His Excellancy Thos. Jefferson Governor of Virginia.” Docketed in an unidentified hand: “Letter from Alexr. Sinclair to his Excellency. wt. Public Money.” The following memoranda, in another hand, also appear on verso of letter: “1. delivery. 2. Accident excuse. Tan[dy] answerable for not counting money. Who wd. serve public. Took same care of his own. Delivered to bar-keeper.” Also, interlined in the docketing, is the figure “[£]4376.-13,” which is the amount of money missing. Enclosure: “An Acct. of cash received,” printed herewith.

your adress to the people has not been located, but this address was probably issued in pursuance of the Act passed at the Oct. 1778 session authorizing the treasurer to borrow from individuals any sum of money in specie, paper money issued by Congress, or bills of credit issued by the state in amounts not less than $300 for periods not less than one year nor more than three years, since, as stated in the preamble of the Act, “it has been proved by experience that it is more beneficial to this commonwealth to borrow money on interest than to make large emissions of paper money” (Hening, description begins William W. Hening, The Statutes at Large; Being a Collection of All the Laws of Virginia description ends ix, 481). The Act does not authorize the governor to issue an appeal to the public, but it is possible that one was issued and that Sinclair is referring to an address issued by Gov. Henry before TJ took office. It is much more likely, however, that the address was one issued by TJ, for not only is Sinclair’s letter addressed to him by name, but also the receipts of money as listed in the enclosure are all dated after 15 Mch. 1780. On Mathews (or Matthews), Tandy, and the case of the missing money, see George Brooke to TJ, 14 June 1780, and Advice of Council concerning Money Collected, same date; the note on the latter document explains the docketed memoranda quoted above.

Index Entries