Thomas Jefferson Papers

From Thomas Jefferson to Allen Jones, 22 May 1797

To Allen Jones

Philada. May 22. 97.

I have lately recieved from a Mr. Giroud of St. Domingue [a] few seeds of the Bread tree, from plants growing there. [Our inform?]ation that Capt. Cook found that tree bearing fully in [New Zealand] in a colder temperature than that of London, [leaves?] little doubt it may be raised in our Southern states. Having only seven seeds, and desirous of [t]aking all the […] possible for success, I send two to each of the states of Georgia, S. Carolina, and N. Carolina, reserving one for Virginia [and knowing?] your great attention to things of this nature, I cannot better dispose of those destined for N. Carolina than by putting them into the hands of […]1 [with the?] sentiment of public interest to […]2 plant to the productions of [this country?] […] accordingly take the liberty of […]3 by the first safe conveyance which offers from this place.

I avail myself with great pleasure of this occasion of [recall?]ing myself to your [recollection?] and of assuring you of the constant sentiments of esteem & respect with which I have the honor to be Sir Your most obedient and most humble [servt]

Th: Jefferson

PrC (DLC); badly faded, with dateline enhanced in ink by TJ; at foot of text, also enhanced in ink by TJ: “General Allen Jones Halifax. N. Carolina.” Recorded under this date in SJL, but acknowledged as a letter of 23 May 1797 in Jones to TJ, 20 Aug. 1797.

Allen Jones (1739–1807) of Mount Gallant plantation, Northampton County, sat in the North Carolina House of Commons, 1773–75, and in all five of the provincial congresses that met from 1774 to 1776. He was elected to a number of terms in the state senate between 1777 and 1787, including stints as speaker in 1778 and 1779, served in the Continental Congress, 1779–80, and saw active service during the war as a brigadier general of militia. During North Carolina’s contentious ratification process he firmly supported the Federal Constitution (DAB description begins Allen Johnson and Dumas Malone, eds., Dictionary of American Biography, New York, 1928–36, 20 vols. description ends ).

TJ sent the seeds intended for Georgia and S. Carolina in a missing letter of this date to Thomas Bee (see Bee to TJ, 1 Aug. 1797).

1Estimated seven words illegible.

2Estimated six words illegible.

3Estimated four words illegible.

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