Thomas Jefferson Papers

John Hemmings to Thomas Jefferson, 2 December 1819

From John Hemmings

Poplar forest Dec. 2th 19

Dear sir

I hav close the 12 windows & put all the fastenings on them I am now going on with the doors those i am in hops to finish by Sunday 12th i hav examiond the spining mechin and the is nothing weanting in the world but Cleaning the gum of of the sildinders wich the spindels run in tha wants oil our travileng cart wheels has bin going from time to time that tha at thist time ont bear thear own weight I shold be detaind a Day or so about them but that is concluded in the time apinted i shold repare them so as to bring us Down ef possible i expect to get Don on the 11th Sunday which is 12th i should be puting evry thing a way & Pacting up my things i should be ready for starting on monday at Day Light Sir pleas to put henry in mind of one collar & one Pair of hames for the muel that draws be fore an exelente pair he will jit by replying to Priscilla hangin up in my Cabin the collar he will git els where al the rest of the gear is here

I am you obedient servent

John Hemings

RC (MHi); addressed: “Mr Thomas Jefferson monticello”; franked; postmarked Lynchburg, 3 Dec.; endorsed by TJ as received 7 Dec. 1819 and so recorded in SJL.

Index Entries

  • carts; for transportation between Monticello and Poplar Forest search
  • Hemmings, John (TJ’s slave; b. ca.1776); as woodworker search
  • Hemmings, John (TJ’s slave; b. ca.1776); letters from search
  • Hemmings, John (TJ’s slave; b. ca.1776); travels to and from Poplar Forest search
  • Hemmings, Priscilla (T. M. Randolph’s slave; John Hemmings’s wife) search
  • Hern, Henry (TJ’s slave; b.1805); travels to and from Poplar Forest search
  • household articles; carts search
  • mules; as draft animals search
  • oil; as lubricant search
  • Poplar Forest (TJ’s Bedford Co. estate); carpentry at search
  • Poplar Forest (TJ’s Bedford Co. estate); doors at search
  • Poplar Forest (TJ’s Bedford Co. estate); spinning at search
  • Poplar Forest (TJ’s Bedford Co. estate); windows at search
  • slaves; as carpenters search
  • slaves; letters from search
  • spinning machines; at Poplar Forest search