Clotworthy Stephenson to Thomas Jefferson, 16 October 1809
From Clotworthy Stephenson
Washington City Octr 16th 1809
Sir
You will particularly obliege by informing where you left my papers deposited with you respecting my Claim againts the U.S. for sevices rendred at the Mariene Barracks in this city. I have made enquiry of Mr Goldsborough he informs that he has not seen them1 your goodness will Excuse
Clotworthy Stephenson
RC (MoSHi: TJC-BC); endorsed by TJ as received 30 Oct. 1809 and so recorded in SJL.
Clotworthy Stephenson (d. 1819), an Irish joiner, arrived in Virginia about 1787 and, with fellow joiner John Hart, constructed much of the new Virginia State Capitol’s interior woodwork. In 1793 he moved to Washington, D.C., where he was heavily involved in the building of the United States Capitol and superintended work from May–July 1801 on the commandant’s house at the Marine Barracks (Stephenson’s fidelity oath, 8 Aug. 1787, Richmond Hustings Court Order Book, 2:190, Vi; Sumpter T. Priddy III and Martha C. Vick, “The Work of Clotworthy Stephenson, William Hodgson, and Henry Ingle in Richmond, Virginia, 1787–1806,” American Furniture [1994]: 206–33; Benjamin Henry Latrobe to Paul Hamilton, [27?] Nov. 1811, and Latrobe to Stephenson, 30 Nov. 1811, in MdHi: Latrobe Letterbook; Jeffrey A. Cohen and Charles E. Brownell, eds., The Architectural Drawings of Benjamin Henry Latrobe [1994], 2:331; Washington National Intelligencer, 27 Nov. 1819). Stephenson had written a similar letter to TJ on 24 Feb. 1809 (MoSHi: TJC-BC).
1. Manuscript: “th.”