1Ellen W. Randolph (Coolidge) to Martha Jefferson Randolph, [ca. 10 November 1816] (Jefferson Papers)
We were a good deal disappointed at not recieving letters from some of the family in the large pacquet which came to Grandpapa from Monticello ; one of the girls might have written to let us know that you were all well— Grandpapa We expect to be with you the last of the Month and in the mean time are making very good use of our time; I have got through the Syntax, & have finished Corderi ....
2Extracts from Ellen W. Randolph (Coolidge) to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 28 July 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Grand papa and myself are in the habit of sitting, some time after dinner, in conversation, upon different subjects, and it was but the other day, that, speaking of education, & the influence exerted by mothers over their children, he paid to his grandchildren the compliment of all others the most valuable, that of alluding indirectly to what he considers their excellences, and ascribing them...
3Extract of Ellen W. Randolph (Coolidge) to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 18 August [1817], document 2 in a group of … (Jefferson Papers)
Cornelia will probably give Virginia a detail of our Journey to the Natural Bridge —for me it was a complete chapter of accidents—my misfortunes began the day I left home and have not yet ceased, for a cold caught I believe in crossing the blue ridge settled upon my face and has kept me in almost constant agonies—I have not been free of pain one moment for the last eight and forty hours and...
4Extracts from Ellen W. Randolph (Coolidge) to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 24 August 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
In spite of the desperate condition of Col. N ’s affairs , I cannot help hoping that my dear Grand-father will escape, or at least that he will receive some indemnification. the 20,000 $ as you observe would still leave a large estate behind, if it was simply a loss of 20,000$, but in times like these, to raise such a sum, you must sell property perhaps to the value of 100,000 or even more....
5Extract of Ellen W. Randolph (Coolidge) to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 14 April 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Grandpapa has been taking such a long nap, my dear Mother that I began to despair of getting ink in time to write to you, but he has at last made his appearance, and as I have very little to tell you, I shall in spite of my fatigue, make an effort to write. we did not stop at Warren the first night as we intended, but after dining with M rs Patterson got on to M rs Gibson’s who received us...
6Extract from Ellen W. Randolph (Coolidge) to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 13 September 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
We have reached our journey’s end my dear Mother, in safety, not without some disagreable adventures, such as being confined one whole day by the rain— at Flood’s tavern . we left Uncle Eppes ’s before sun-rise monday —the morning was lowering, and it was dropping rain before we set out, but you know Grand-papa —he was morally certain we should have “a cool agreable cloudy day for our journey,...
7Extract of Ellen W. Randolph (Coolidge) to Martha Jefferson Randolph, [after 29 August 1817], document 3 in a group of … (Jefferson Papers)
Johnny’s arrival gave us great pleasure as we began to be very anxious to hear from you, and I thank you very much for having spared time to write such a long letter. the head of Christ is really a great curiosity, Grand-papa is almost as much pleased with it as we are, and considers it extremely ingenious & original. it is certainly a very fine face and the character is so decided that I...
8From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 31 December 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I received three days ago Mr. Randolph’s letter of the 14th. from Richmond, and received it with great joy as it informed me of the reestablishment of dear Anne’s health. I apprehend from an expression in his letter that some of mine may have miscarried. I have never failed to write every Thursday or Friday. Percieving by the Richmond paper that the Western post now leaves that place on...
9From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 12 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
My journey to this place was not as free from accident as usual. I was near losing Castor in the Rapidan, by his lying down in the river, where waste deep, & being so embarrassed by the shafts of the carriage & harness that he was nearly drowned before the servants, jumping into the water, could lift his head out & cut him loose from the carriage. this was followed by the loss of my travelling...
10From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 20 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Short in a late letter says that your acquaintances in Panthemont complain excessively of your inattention to them and desired him to mention it. Matters there are going on well. The sales of the church lands are succesful beyond all calculation. There has been a riot in Paris in which M. de Castrie’s houshould furniture was destroyed. I am opening my things from Paris as fast as the...