Robert Mitchell to Joel Yancey, 29 December 1819
Robert Mitchell to Joel Yancey
Lynchbg Decr 29h 1819
Sir
My situation is such it compells me to call you for the amt of M Jefferson acco—you speak of a credit which you say he is entitled to, for $50—if you will be good enough to aid me to the balance after taking off the $50 you will certainly oblige me, this credit we will in future come to an understanding about—my case is simply this, if I do not get aid from you, I shall most enevatebly be protested tomorrow. therefore I trust Sir you will do something for me, M Mastin the bearrer of this will recept for the Money—your compliance in this case will greatly oblg your friend &c
Ro: Mitchell
RC (ViU: TJP); addressed: “Joel Yancy esqr Bedford” by “M Mastin”; endorsed by TJ: “Mitchell. for the College.”
Robert Mitchell left his Bedford County home to join William & Reuben Mitchell, a Lynchburg firm to which TJ had previously sold wheat and flour. After his brother William Mitchell persuaded him to endorse notes amounting to many thousands of dollars, Mitchell discovered that the firm was in serious financial difficulty. Earlier in December 1819 he sued William Mitchell in hopes of being released from these obligations (Preliminary Agreement with William & Reuben Mitchell, [ca. 16–17 Aug. 1811]; Robert Mitchell to Yancey, 26 Sept. 1820; Robert Mitchell v. William Mitchell, etc. [Vi: Lynchburg City Chancery Court Records, case no. 246, index no. 1821-042]).
William Mitchell subscribed $200 to Central College in 1817. The credit described above applied to an installment due on this subscription (Master List of Subscribers to Central College, [after 7 May 1817], document 5 in a group of documents on The Founding of the University of Virginia: Central College, 1816–1819, printed at 5 May 1817).
Index Entries
- Central College; subscription for search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Business & Financial Affairs; account with William & Reuben Mitchell search
- Mastin, Mr.; delivers letter search
- Mitchell, Robert; and TJ’s debt to William & Reuben Mitchell (Lynchburg firm) search
- Mitchell, Robert; identified search
- Mitchell, Robert; letter from, to Joel Yancey search
- Mitchell, William; and Central College subscription search
- William & Reuben Mitchell (Lynchburg firm); account with TJ search
- Yancey, Joel (d.1833); as superintendent of Poplar Forest search
- Yancey, Joel (d.1833); letter to, from R. Mitchell search