Thomas Jefferson Papers

John Koontz to Thomas Jefferson, 2 October 1809

From John Koontz

Harrisonsburgh Rockingham County Octr 2nd 1809

Sir,

I was Informed yeasterday that you had some of the morino sheep a Stock I have for some time wished to be possesd off—but did not until then know they where so near me

Should my information be correct and you Should think proper to sell any of them please to Drop me a line Pr mail—and Insert your price for two Ewes and a ram

I have been a long time keeping Store and continue the Business but of late—owing to the Illiberal treatment the american nation has received from the british government I Can not be Satisfyed to ware british manufactured goods myself, and all the clothing I wore since last spring (Except Shirts) Where manufactured in my family—and have them Ingaged at pressent in making cloth of common wool for my next winter Clothing—but it is Imposible to make fine Cloath out of course wool—and is in my opinion proper for Every Citizen possesing Lands to Incourage the raising the morino sheep as we theirby in a little time mite1 superceed the british superfine Cloaths and Exonerate ourselves in a grate measure from the necessity of Importing this Costley article

with High considerations of Respect I am sir your Humble servent

John Koontz

RC (MHi); endorsed by TJ as a letter from John Roontz received 31 Oct. 1809 and so recorded in SJL.

John Koontz (d. 1830) kept a store in Harrisonburg, owned a number of properties in Rockingham County, and operated mills, a tanyard, and a tavern. He represented Rockingham County in the General Assembly, 1797–98 and 1821–24 (J. Houston Harrison, Settlers by the Long Grey Trail [1935, repr. 1975], 363–6; Leonard, General Assembly description begins Cynthia Miller Leonard, comp., The General Assembly of Virginia, July 30, 1619–January 11, 1978: A Bicentennial Register of Members, 1978 description ends , 209, 310, 315, 320).

1Word interlined.

Index Entries

  • clothing; wool search
  • Koontz, John; and merino sheep search
  • Koontz, John; identified search
  • Koontz, John; letters from search
  • manufacturing, household; cloth search
  • merino sheep; J. Koontz requests search
  • textiles; home manufacture of search
  • wool; production of search