1From Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 31 March 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
The proceedings on my lottery are too far advanced to admit the practicability of any change whatever to be made on it. I have put the whole business in to the hands of my grandson who is now on his way to Baltimore and the Northern cities, and has already disposed of tickets probably in Richmond and on the road. I have meddled so little with it that I have not even asked from him any...
2From Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 9 December 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you, Dear Sir, a thousand thanks for your kind present of Cabbages—they are the more acceptable as I had despaired of getting any in this part of the neighborhood. but it was the farthest of all things from my thoughts to have broken in upon your private stock at all. the negroes being the only cabbage dealers here I thought they might be so also in your neighborhood where the low...
3From Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 2 December 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
We have failed entirely in our cabbages this year. and I understand this has been universally the case in the red lands, insomuch that there is not a single one to be bought above this. your kindness in sending us some heretofore induces me to expect that the low grounds in your neighborhood may be able to furnish us our winter’s stock. the favor then I am about to ask of you is to become our...
4From Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 11 March 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
Letter from Thomas Jefferson. The following letter from the distinguished patriot and statesman Thomas Jefferson to Mr. Peyton of Washington City, was handed us a few days since for publication by Lewis Hamersly, Esq., of Lancaster City, who has the original in his possession. It is interesting from the fact that it shows that notwithstanding the pressing and important duties of the lofty...
5Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 10 September 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
I have not seen mr T. E. Randolph but the moment I can see him, I will endeavor to get him to furnish me at least what will pay your balance. within a few days therefore I shall be able to write more definitely. I shall be glad to send for my sister Marks as soon as I know her readiness to return. affectionately yours RC ( Don Wartella, Woodstock, N.Y., 2018 ); addressed: “ Craven Peyton esq....
6Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 12 August 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
Instead of answering your letter yesterday, I desired the bearer to tell you I should see you at Monteagle to-day, being anxious also to see my sister , before I set out to Bedford , whom you mention to be still unwell. I accordingly mounted my horse just now to visit you, but found him so lame I was obliged to turn back. with respect to the fodder I had, on mr Bacon ’s suggestion, searched...
7Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 5 March 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
I am now enabled to give you an order on Cap t Peyton for 700.D. and to assure you of the balance of my debt in July. which will be 547.16 D with interest from Mar. 10. as you will see by the subjoined statement. I pray you to be assured that it has never been in my power to do more than I have done, and than what I still engage to do; and I have no doubt that your own experience proves to you...
8Enclosure: Account with Craven Peyton, [ca. 5 March 1821] (Jefferson Papers)
D 1817. Feb. 7. loan 1500 Int. to Oct. 26. 1820. 3 Y.–261 D 334. 36 1834. 36 D 1818. Dec. 1283. ℔ pork @ 8.50 D 109. 05 1820.
9Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 13 February 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
I am at this moment engaged in making arrangements which may supply the deficit of crops and prices; but it will be two or three weeks before their result will be known. the moment it is, you shall be informed what can be done either from myself, or by Jefferson to whom I am turning over all my concerns. I informed my sister Marks that I would send for her any day she would name, and I still...
10Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 19 October 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
I avail myself of the first moment it has been in my power to commence the repaiment of the sum with which you were so kind as to accomodate me by sending you an order on Cap t Peyton for 500.D. as much as I am indebted to you for your friendly forbearance, I am afraid to name dates for further payments. the spring will be the earliest, at which I shall be able to pay the half or the whole of...
11Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 8 March 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
I have never in my life been more chagrined or mortified that than I am in being obliged to inform you that my hope of pa repaying this spring one half of my debt to you becomes impossible. altho’ my crop in Bedford failed, the flour rents I recieve here authorized me to be confident in that hope. but on sending it to market it does not yield the third of the price of 3. or 4. years ago, nor...
12Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 13 December 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Your lre of to-day is hand d to me just as I am getting on horseback . I h d expect d to repay to you in the spring one half of what I owe you, & still hope it if our prod ce will bring any price reasonably, my regret is infinite that I cannot discharge the whole and I w d gladly do it & have b n try g to do it by a sale of either l ds
13Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 14 November 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
The last year was the only one of my life that I ever had pork to spare. this year as usual we have hardly enough for our enormously large family, being equally deficient in the carcases as well as the means of fattening. I should have been very happy to have supplied you had it been otherwise. RC ( DLC ); addressed: “Craven Peyton esq. Monteagle.” SJL entry reads “no pork to spare.”
14Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 8 October 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I do not remember that a word was said the other day on the subject of cruelty to slaves. if I said any thing it must have been of small consideration but I can assure you I never heard nor had a suspicion as to yourself on that subject. the key I touched on with Gen l Taylor was federalism, not recollecting he was a federalist. I was too hasty in offering you the horse, whom I could not part...
15Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 27 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I am very sensible of the kind indulgence expressed in your letter of yesterday which lays me under an obligation the more to prevent your suffering by it if in my power, & will still if possible raise the money by a sale of property. my grandson had mentioned to me that a woman of mine who has 5. children and no husband had expressed a wish to be sold . I had a meeting with him yesterday, and...
16Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 15 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
The injury which the grinding of plaister does to the mill, and the offence it gives to our bread customers hav e obliged me to make it a rule to grind plaister for nobody but myself. it shall be done for you however on this occasion. but my water wheel has given out, and we are now engaged in renewing it. this will not be compleated till about a week before which time I wish your plaister to...
17Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 17 July 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
you are quite free, my dear Sir, to make the use you propose of the opinion I gave you, and under the cautions you express. my object is to avoid giving useless offence. I salute you with friendship P.S. your serv t has been detained by the interruption of a visit from a foreigner RC (Mrs. Charles W. Biggs, Lewisburg, W.Va., 1950; photocopy in MsSM ); dateline between note and postscript;...
18Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 16 July 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I returned from Poplar Forest yesterday, and now send you your papers with my opinion on them. the issue of the cause will depend mainly on the question whether you knew of the estate in remr conveyed to the daughters? Col o Lewis ’s d deposition is the only testimony that you he informed you of it; is the only testimony against you but your answer, his deed to the contrary and other...
19Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 8 July 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
It is now five and forty years since I have withdrawn from the practice of the law: I have but occasionally, within that period, read any thing on it’s subjects, have rarely reflected on them with any attention, or permitted myself to form opinions with any degree of confidence, still less to oppose these opinions to those of gentlemen now of that faculty, and in dayly familiarity with the...
20Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 28 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I have your papers under consideration, and altho’ I think myself tolerably satisfied on the subject, yet, as I am about setting out to Bedford and too much pressed with preparations for that journey, I would rather keep them till my return (a fortnight hence) as both there as well as on the road I can consider it more uninterruptedly. if the letters of Col o Lewis N o 1. to 26. referred to in...
21Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 23 May 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of mr Peyton to come and take a pea-dinner with him the day after tomorrow (Sunday) RC (Mrs. Charles W. Biggs, Lewisburg, W.Va., 1950; photocopy in MsSM ); dateline at foot of text; addressed: “ M r Peyton Monteagle .” Not recorded in SJL .
22Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 15 April 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I have secured the return of the 1500.D. you were so kind as to lend me, by a sale of part of the land to mr Dawson , the price payable July 1. this will enable your negociator in Kentucky to ask a shorter day of payment. should you fail in that negociation, I can still find use for the money according to your own convenience. I set out for Bedford tomorrow morning to be back on the 29 th . I...
23Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 23 March 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
You sometime ago had corn for sale which you were so kind as to offer me. if you have still any to spare, I will be glad to take it at the price at which you are selling. be so good as to inform me by the bearer , and as to the quantity and price. PoC ( MHi ); on verso of reused address cover to TJ; at foot of text: “Craven Peyton esq.”; endorsed by TJ.
24Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 6 February 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I am infinitely obliged by the kind offer of the sum mentioned in your letter, and any further one you will be able to spare: an award is given against me for between 7. & 800.D. for rent to the Hendersons , to be paid instantly. I have also to pay 1600.D. more for the 3. shares of the daughters. this, with purchase of corn, and two years failure of crops embarrasses me beyond my expectations....
25Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 30 December 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I lent you some time ago the deed & receipt of John Henderson as to the property of the younger children of Bennet Henderson , which I must ask the favor of you now to send me as it is essential to fix the time when I begin to be accountable for rents, which matter is now immediately to be settled with Cap t Meriwether and mr Wood . have you been able to collect any testimony of the age of...
26Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 6 September 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I gave notice some time ago that to mr Michie that I would take your deposition and that of mr Price at mr Watson’s in Milton the day after tomorrow at ten aclock. I must ask the favor of your attendance there, and if you will be punctual to the hour you shall not be detained. Accept my friendly respects. Thursday the 8 th of Sep. at 10. aclock in the morning was the hour appointed. P.S. after...
27Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 13 August 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
The deed of Sep. 10. 1805. from Charles L. Lewis to yourself is sufficient in it’s form to convey to you all the estate he then held in the lands. the circumstance of it’s not having been recorded within the 8. months prescribed by law, subjects it to a question which I understand from the gentlemen of the law, has not been settled by our courts. but this can arise only in the case of a...
28Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 10 May 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Rosson is finishing a carriage for me and has not a pair of handles left. but he has the fellow to one which he lately put to your carriage. if you can accept of the one now sent and which he says is much superior to the one you have, and can let me have that, I shall then be able to get my carriage finished for which I am waiting to set out to Bedford . I shall be thankful to you for the...
29Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 7 May 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 4 th came to hand yesterday. I do assure you that I never have entertained a moment’s doubt of the truth of the transaction between Ja s Henderson , mrs Henderson & yourself as to the sale of the lands of the 3 youngest daughters, and of her full knolege & consent to it as you have ever stated it. I believe her denial of it to be a sheer falsehood. it was impossible such a...
30Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 10 August 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
The sum I owe you is between five hundred and forty or fifty Dollars. I have this day written to mr Gibson that I shall draw on him for it the next month, and I will take care that it be paid there by the day you name, the 17 th of December . Accept my respects RC ( ViHi ); addressed: “Craven Peyton esq. Monteagle .” Not recorded in SJL . TJ’s
31Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 8 August 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a letter I have just recieved from mr Hornsby in answer to one I had written his father , for I did not know of his death. it puts his claim on the land on an entire new footing, denying that the mother , or daughters ever knew of the sale, or recieved a farthing of the money. if I were stronger I would ride down to see you. as it is I can only request if your business should...
32Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 3 April 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
As I presume you will go to court tomorrow, and I shall not, I must ask the favor of you to call on me. the perseverance and hostility of Cap t Meriwether renders Hornsby’s claim a very serious thing, and he will probably endeavor to engage the other two infant claimants to refuse their confirmation also. I wish to consult you on the best means of treating with those claimants & obtaining...
33Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 28 October 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved in due time your letter covering Sheckle’s certificate of his having never paid the 2. years rent of the house he had rented. this was quite unnecessary, as your own assurance of that to me was quite sufficient. perhaps, at the time you mentioned it, I might have betrayed some little surprise, because that the whole rents from the 3. tenants Sheckle , Hope & Bowles for a year or two...
34Enclosure: Thomas Jefferson’s Account with Craven Peyton for Rents and Profits from Henderson Lands, 1801–7 January 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Craven Peyton in account D r £
35Thomas Jefferson To Craven Peyton, 18 September 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
The original letter from mr Morgan with the account inclosed, came to hand since I wrote to you. they have been much injured by wet on the road so as to be almost illegible. I send you the letter & account for your own keeping. it is indeed a most scandalous specimen of Orleans justice. of an inheritance of 1500.D. the lawyers get 500.D. by the approbation of the court. accept my friendly...
36Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 16 September 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday the inclosed letter , and have this day forwarded on the bill it covered, to mr Hollins of Baltimore . by the Northern mail which leaves Milton tomorrow it will reach him on Saturday, whereas had I waited to send it thro’ mess rs Gibson & Jefferson at Richmond it could only have got to Richmond on that day, and would have added near a week to the term at which it is...
37Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, [12 May 1811] (Jefferson Papers)
The demand of Frances Hornsby for her portion of the lands of her father conveyed to you by James L. Henderson is now become so serious as to require us to proceed immediately against James L . and in the mean time to aim at some compromise with mr Hornsby . I yesterday conversed with Cap t Meriwether , attorney for Hornsby
38Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 6 December 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved a letter from Col o Charles Lewis now of Kentucky expressing apprehensions that 3– or 4. old domestics which he holds from you on hire, and who have been with his children from their infancy may be called for by you, in which case the family would be in infinite distress and without any aid or means of subsistence, and requesting me to speak with you on the subject. being an...
39Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 10 January [1810] (Jefferson Papers)
You proposed to me at court the hiring one of the shoemakers of your late brother , which at that time I declined. I will now however be willing to take him and should prefer having the one which can sew the neatest. I really think the house, garden E t c at Bunker’s hill rents too low. it cannot be worth less than 50.D and I suppose that this is the time for fixing it’s rent at a proper...
40Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 25 August 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Will you be so good as to send me the account of mr T. E. Randolph , & the list of balances due from all persons for rent, firewood E t c of Henderson ’s lands, which were left with you the other day. they shall be returned immediately as I only wish their aid a little while in enabling me to state the whole accounts clearly. I see in your account but one charge for the taxes of the land. but...
41Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration to Craven Peyton, 22 August 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas Craven Peyton has this day executed a deed of conveyance to me for the lands of the late Bennet Henderson surrounding & adjacent to the town of Milton , which deed bears on it’s face a warranty for the parts thereof which were the property of Frances , Lucy & Nancy C. three of the daughters of the sd Bennet , whose shares have been purchased & paid for, but the sd Frances , Lucy & Nancy C.
42Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 20 August 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
The title purchased from Henderson’s representatives is so extremely complicated as to render it indispensable to state in the deed all the several conveyances of all the parties; otherwise in case of question at any future time it might be lost for want of knowing it. I have endeavored to do this in the inclosed deed, and in order that you may have time, I send it to you To-day, & pray you to...
43Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 16 August 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
The titled title to the lands of Bennet Henderson having passed to yourself thro many hands & by many deeds, I wish in the preamble to the deed to state, for each part, the conveyances by which it came to you, as a matter of information in case any of his descendants should hereafter raise a question on it. I have begun it in the following way, which I know to be imperfect. ‘they (that is, the...
44From Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 24 January 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your favor of the 18th. if you can sell the lands of Henderson South of the road, I shall be very much relieved indeed by it. as to price, if I can get as much by the acre for what I sell as I gave by the acre for the whole, I shall have made a good bargain, inasmuch as I shall get the most valuable part at the average price of the whole. but any price from that down to 4....
45From Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 9 January 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been obliged to change a little the arrangement I had made with you as to the paiment of the 375. D. by inclosing you an order on Gibson & Jefferson for 100. D. in Richmond, as I was not able to remit to mr Benade from this place more than 275. D. this I did yesterday in an order of the bank of the US. at this place on that at Philadelphia to that amount; and I informed him that you had...
46From Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 12 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your favor of Dec. 1. and I think you must have misinterpreted the expressions of my letter of Nov. 28. as on a revisal of that I find nothing which could convey an idea of dissatisfaction with yourself. I am sure nothing of that kind was intended because it was not felt. I barely referred to the opinion given in mine of Sep. 8. that 375. D. was double the worth of the...
47From Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 28 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night your letter of the 19th. and altho’ I do really consider the sum of 375. D. as double the worth of the property as stated in my letter of Sep. 8. yet for the sake of peace & to consolidate the whole title I should be willing to give that sum for it. but it is totally out of my power to do it on the short notice you give. you know I settle all my pecuniary affairs in the...
48From Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 5 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
On the reciept of your letter I wrote to mr Bacon to send me the account which I had left with him to convince you of the errors of addition in it. it is now before me. your addition makes the debits £53-10-1 the Credits 42-10-6 Balance 11-1-7 the true addition makes the debits £51-8-7 Credits 42.17-6 Balance 8-11-1 = 28.5
49From Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 2 February 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Jan. 21. came too late to be answered by the same post. I approve of the purchase of the property of the three youngest children of mr Henderson: but it is really not in my power to give such a sum as you mention for James Lewis’s property even were it worth it. that is to say I could not spare such a sum of money from more pressing calls. if I recollect rightly he has nothing...
50From Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 25 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 16th. was recieved by the last post. it is quite out of my power to be a purchaser of land. nobody is more puzzled to make both ends meet, and I fear at the close of my office I shall find I have not done so. it will be as convenient for me that mr Bacon should recieve corn from you as money: but you must be so good as to inform him yourself what he is to recieve from you &...