From John Jay to Donald Fraser Sr., 10 October 1820
To Donald Fraser Sr.
Bedford—10th. Octr. 1820
Sir
I have recd. your Letter of the 2d. Inst,1 with a Copy of the Prospectus mentioned in it.2 Be pleased to add my Name to your List of Subscribers for 2 Copies— I shall write by this Mail to my Son Peter Augustus Jay to pay you the Price in advance, without waiting for the Delivery of the work—3
Permit me to remark that you are mistaken as to my being present when the Declaration of Independence was passed— for altho I was at that Time ^then^ a Member of Congress, yet I was then ^at that Time^ detained from it by public Business in the State of New York— With the best wishes for your Health & Welfare I am Sir Your obt Servt
Mr D. Fraser Senr NYork
Dft, NNC (EJ: 08772). Donald Fraser Sr. (c. 1755–1820), New York schoolteacher and author.
1. Letter not found.
2. Donald Fraser, Proposals, for publishing, by subscription, an original work, entitled “The biographical compendium, and patriot’s mirror” (New York, [c. 1817–20]). JJ doubted it could be completed due to Fraser’s advanced age and lack of resources. See JJ to PAJ, 10 Oct. 1820, ALS, NNC (EJ: 11478).
3. Fraser was a recipient of JJ’s charity in the past. JJ intended to make a loan to him, and then cancel his note. See JJ to D[onald] Fraser, 10 Feb. 1812, Dft, NNC (EJ: 08713). Matthew Clarkson sent a communication about a similar loan, saying that Fraser was “a little insane.” See PAJ to JJ, 21 Feb. 1812, ALS, NNC (EJ: 06159). The work was apparently never published. Donald Fraser Sr. died on 17 Dec. 1820. Daily Advertiser (New York); New-York Gazette; National Advocate (New York), all 18 Dec. 1820.