Thomas Jefferson Papers

To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Newton, 22 August 1801

From Thomas Newton

Norfolk 22 Augt 1801

Dr Sir

Your favor of the 14th I recd. yesterday afternoon, being unacquainted with a proper person to fill the place of Mr Kirby, I applyd to Capt. Robt. Baron, who informd me that mr David Brodie living there, Hampton1 was a man fitting for the place, mr Brodie I have often noticed as a serious steady man, & from Mr. Barons assurance believe him to be a good man for the purpose. Mr Chisman I know not. I pray you command me whenever you think proper, it will give me pleasure to serve you & the public & be assured, that I shall be faithful in any trust reposed in me, I have my Countrys good at heart & am the same now as in 1776 I am respectfully Yr.

T Newton

RC (DLC); endorsed by TJ as received 27 Aug. and so recorded in SJL with notation “David Brodie to office.” Probably enclosed in letter below.

Robert Barron (Baron), an officer in the Virginia navy during the American Revolution, was a member of the Norfolk common council for several years. In 1792, he expressed interest in becoming the lighthouse keeper at Cape Henry, Virginia. After the death of Mount E. Chisman in 1804, Newton again recommended David Brodie for the collectorship at Hampton, and he received the appointment (Washington, Papers, Pres. Ser. description begins W. W. Abbot, Dorothy Twohig, Philander D. Chase, Theodore J. Crackel, and others, eds., The Papers of George Washington, Charlottesville, 1983–, 48 vols.: Presidential Series, 1987–, 12 vols. description ends , 11:164–5; Gallatin, Papers description begins Carl E. Prince and Helene E. Fineman, eds., The Papers of Albert Gallatin, microfilm edition in 46 reels, Philadelphia, 1969, and Supplement, Barbara B. Oberg, ed., reels 47–51, Wilmington, Del., 1985 description ends , 9:942; JEP description begins Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States … to the Termination of the Nineteenth Congress, Washington, D.C., 1828, 3 vols. description ends , 1:471).

1Word interlined.

Index Entries