Thomas Jefferson Papers
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Thomas Jefferson to George Hay, 16 July 1812

To George Hay

Monticello July 16. 12.

Dear Sir

This Postscript to my letter of the 13th is occasioned by my discovering, on turning to Pleasant’s Collection of acts, vol. 2. for another purpose, that an act of assembly of Dec. 13. 1796. made void all entries unless surveyed before Nov. 1. 1798. see page (29) chap. 41. there are subsequent acts in favor of locations under land-warrants, but I do not find in that collection, any subsequent law protecting entries of the old form. if this be the case, Scott’s entry of 1789. is made void. you will decide whether it be so? and if it be, whether it must be pleaded, or will be noticed by the court without pleading. there is a great deal of matter, good & bad, on this subject1 in Hall’s Amer. Law Journal Series 2d No 1. in the case of Vincent v Conrad, first case in the book, from Tenessee. I renew my friendly salutations & assurances

Th: Jefferson

PoC (ViU: TJP); at foot of text: “Mr Hay”; endorsed by TJ.

The collection of acts printed by Samuel Pleasants excerpted an act of assembly of dec. 13. 1796, including the proviso that “all entries made either on the eastern or western waters, shall become absolutely null and void, unless the same be surveyed within two years, to be computed from the first day of November last” (A Collection of all such Acts of the General Assembly of Virginia, of a public and permanent nature, as are now in force [Richmond, 1803–12], 2:129; Sowerby, description begins E. Millicent Sowerby, comp., Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson, 1952–59, 5 vols. description ends nos. 1868–9; Poor, Jefferson’s Library description begins Nathaniel P. Poor, Catalogue. President Jefferson’s Library [1829] description ends , 10 [no. 571]; see also Acts of Assembly description begins Acts of the General Assembly of Virginia (cited by session; title varies over time) description ends [1796 sess.], 29, in which this law is chapter 47, not 41).

1Preceding three words interlined.

Index Entries

  • A Collection of all such Acts of the General Assembly of Virginia, of a public and permanent nature, as are now in force (S. Pleasants) search
  • American Law Journal (J. E. Hall) search
  • books; on law search
  • Hall, John Elihu; American Law Journal search
  • Hay, George; and TJ’s land dispute with S. Scott search
  • Hay, George; letters to search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Business & Financial Affairs; dispute with S. Scott search
  • law; books on search
  • Pleasants, Samuel; A Collection of all such Acts of the General Assembly of Virginia, of a public and permanent nature, as are now in force search
  • Scott, Samuel; TJ’s land dispute with search
  • Vincent v. Conrad search