Thomas Jefferson to Nelson Barksdale, 11 November 1817
To Nelson Barksdale
Monticello Nov. 11. 17.
Th: Jefferson to mr Barksdale
Mr Harrison of Lynchburg was authorised to make an agreement for us with mr Knight, which I now inclose to you, and pray you to settle with him, when he is done, and give him an order on mr Garrett. I think he arrived here about Oct. the 7th or 8th
RC (ViU: TJP); dateline at foot of text; addressed: “Mr Nelson Barksdale”; endorsed by Alexander Garrett (one word editorially corrected): “Drafts on Alex: Garrett Treasu[r]er of Central College” and “Knight vs College} acct &c”; with verso containing apparently unrelated calculations by Garrett and note in an unidentified hand relating to payments to Knight: “
| 1817 Octo | 25 | 30 | ||
| Novr | 6. | 140 | .50 | |
| $ | 170 | .50.” |
Nelson Barksdale (1781–1861), planter, was a lifelong resident of Albemarle County. He subscribed $200 toward the establishment of Central College in 1817, and he served as the institution’s proctor from that year until it evolved into the University of Virginia in 1819. At his death he owned land and personal property valued in excess of $137,000, including fifty-five slaves (, 141–2; Master List of Subscribers to Central College, [after 7 May 1817], document 5 in a group of documents on The Founding of the University of Virginia: Central College, 1816–1819, 5 May 1817; Minutes of Central College Board of Visitors, 28 July 1817; Minutes of University of Virginia Board of Visitors, 29 Mar. 1819; Barksdale to TJ, 28 Oct. 1822; New York Herald, 12 Feb. 1861; gravestone inscription in Adventure Farm Cemetery, Earlysville, Albemarle Co.; Albemarle Co. Will Book, 26:163–6, 286–97).
Index Entries
- Barksdale, Nelson; as Central College proctor search
- Barksdale, Nelson; identified search
- Barksdale, Nelson; letter to search
- Central College; brickmasons for search
- Garrett, Alexander; as Central College treasurer search
- Harrison, Samuel Jordan; and brickmasons for Central College search
- Knight, David; and brickwork for Central College search