Thomas Jefferson to Joel Yancey, 15 August 1821
To Joel Yancey
Monticello Aug. 15. 21.
Dear Sir
My visit to Bedford has been delayed by a serious accident to my mill. the workman on whom I relied, went on a journey, then returned and died, so that I have had to attend to it day by day myself. it will be finished and agoing tomorrow, and we shall set out for the Forest the next morning (Friday) the waggon starts this morning1 with a Harpsichord and some necessaries & baggage and will arrive at Poplar Forest Saturday. we shall breakfast there from Hunter’s Sunday morning. in the mean time he will give notice to Hanah & Maria to have the house Etc. in order for us. the harpsichord may be laid down in the center room till we arrive.
I salute you with affectionate friendship & respect.
Th: Jefferson
PoC (MHi); on verso of a reused address cover from Alexander Garrett to TJ; at foot of text: “Mr Yancey”; endorsed by TJ.
The deceased workman was Joseph Gilmore. The day after he wrote this letter TJ recorded paying Samuel Campbell $35 for “stone work at the mill” (, 2:1378).
1. Word interlined.
Index Entries
- Campbell, Samuel; and repair of TJ’s mills search
- Gilmore, Joseph; and repair of TJ’s mills search
- Gilmore, Joseph; death of search
- Hannah (Hanah) (TJ’s slave; b.1770); as housekeeper search
- harpsichords; for Poplar Forest search
- Hunter, Robert; Campbell Co. innkeeper search
- Maria (Poplar Forest slave); as housekeeper search
- music; harpsichord search
- Poplar Forest (TJ’s Bedford Co. estate); harpsichord for search
- Poplar Forest (TJ’s Bedford Co. estate); TJ plans visits to search
- Shadwell mills; repairs to search
- wagons; transport people and goods between Monticello and Poplar Forest search
- Yancey, Joel (d.1833); and TJ’s visit to Poplar Forest search
- Yancey, Joel (d.1833); as superintendent of Poplar Forest search
- Yancey, Joel (d.1833); letters to search