David J. Thompson to Thomas Jefferson, 30 August 1815
From David J. Thompson
Augus 30, 1815
Sir,
The timber that was sawed at my Mill for you My Father let Doctr Steptoe have it, in My absence, While at Norfolk, in the Army But as I, am in the habit or practice of sawing for the halves you can get as much more Sawed at any time: or As Soon as you Bring the timber to the Mill I am Sorry you are Disappointed in the planke I am Yo—
David J Thompson
RC (ViU: TJP-ER); dateline at foot of text; addressed: “Mr Thomas Jefferson”; endorsed by TJ.
David Jones Thompson inherited land in Campbell County in 1830 from his father, John Thompson, including mills on Buffaloe Creek. The younger Thompson possessed at least six slaves in 1820. By 1837 he had emancipated at least one, Robert Thompson. David J. Thompson first purchased land in Missouri in 1838. Within two years he had moved there, settling in Sugar Tree Bottom in Carroll County (Roger G. Ward, 1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners [1997–99], 2:16, 47; Campbell Co. Will Book, 6:379–82; DNA: RG 29, CS, Va., Campbell Co., 1810–30; Mo., Carroll Co., 1840; legislative petition of Robert Thompson, 3 Feb. 1837 [Vi: RG 78, Legislative Petitions, Botetourt Co.]; David J. Thompson’s land patents in Carroll and Lafayette counties, Mo., dated 7 Sept. 1838 and 1 May 1843 [DNA: RG 49, GRMLO]).
In sawing for the halves one cuts out half the thickness of the end of a piece of lumber so that it will fit flush with a similarly cut piece ().
Index Entries
- lumber; used at Poplar Forest search
- mills; saw search
- Poplar Forest (TJ’s Bedford Co. estate); lumber for search
- Steptoe, William; lumber for search
- Thompson, David Jones; identified search
- Thompson, David Jones; letter from search
- Thompson, David Jones; military service of search
- Thompson, David Jones; provides lumber for TJ search
- Thompson (Thomson), John (Campbell Co. landowner); and lumber for TJ search