Henry Skipwith to Thomas Jefferson, 10 July 1809
From Henry Skipwith
Williamsburg. July 10. 1809
My dear Sir.
After congratulating you on your happy return to the shades of retirement, and wishing you from my soul every sublunary happiness.—I beg leave to mention a suit in Richmond chancery court in which you, Mr Eppes & myself are comprehended, among others; and which I am totally unacquainted with,—It is the old claim of Gilliam revived, and a Notice served on me some five days since,—As my total ignorance of this matter renders me unfit for defence,—I pray you Sir! to write me a few lines, and inform me whether there is any thing for me to do in this matter, and whether any services of mine can render good to the common cause.—Your compliance will ever oblige
Henry Skipwith
RC (MHi); at foot of text: “Thomas Jefferson Esqr”; endorsed by TJ as received 20 July 1809 and so recorded in SJL.
Henry Skipwith (1751–1815) became TJ’s brother-in-law when he married Anne Wayles on 7 July 1773. Skipwith served as a lieutenant colonel in the Virginia forces during the American Revolution and represented Cumberland County in the House of Delegates in 1782. Skipwith, TJ, and (until his death in 1808) Francis Eppes were the executors of their father-in-law John Wayles’s estate following his death in May 1773. Skipwith and his wife lived on lands inherited from Wayles until her death in 1798, after which he married Elizabeth Byrd and moved with her to Williamsburg. (, 1:100; John C. Biller, “Henry Skipwith of Hors du Monde, Cumberland County, Virginia” [master’s thesis, University of Virginia, 1963]).
Index Entries
- Eppes, Francis (TJ’s brother-in-law); as J. Wayles’s executor search
- Eppes, John Wayles (TJ’s son-in-law); and Gilliam v. Fleming search
- Gilliam v. Fleming; and settlement of accounts search
- Skipwith, Anne Wayles (TJ’s sister-in-law; Henry Skipwith’s wife) search
- Skipwith, Henry (TJ’s brother-in-law); and Gilliam v. Fleming search
- Skipwith, Henry (TJ’s brother-in-law); identified search
- Skipwith, Henry (TJ’s brother-in-law); letters from search