Thomas Jefferson to Roger Sherman Baldwin, 9 March 1822
To Roger Sherman Baldwin
Monticello Mar. 9. 22.
Sir
I have duly recieved your letter of Feb. 24.1 and am sorry it is in my power to furnish no other2 materials for the biography of your very respectable grandfather, mr Roger Sherman3 than such as are very generally known. I served with him in the Old Congress in the years 1775. & 1776. he was a very able and logical debater in that body, steady in the principles of the revolution, always at the post of duty, much employed in the business of Committees, and particularly was of the Committee of Dr Franklin, mr J. Adams, mr Livingston & myself for preparing4 the Declaration of Independance. being5 much my senior in years, our intercourse was chiefly in the line of our duties. I had a very great respect for him, and now learn with pleasure that the public are likely to be put into possession of the particulars of his useful life. I pray you to accept the assurance of my great respect.
Th: Jefferson
RC (MHi: Foster Family Autograph Collection); addressed: “Mr Roger Sherman Baldwin New-Haven”; franked; postmarked Charlottesville, 12 Mar. Dft (DLC); beneath signature of RC of Baldwin to TJ, 24 Feb. 1822; torn at seal. Printed in biography of Roger Sherman in John Sanderson and others, eds., Biography of the Signers to the Declaration of Independence (Philadelphia, 1820–27; , 5 [no. 152]), vol. 3.
1. Biography of the Signers: “22nd.”
2. Word interlined.
3. Preceding three words not in Biography of the Signers.
4. Word interlined in Dft in place of “drawing.”
5. In Dft TJ here canceled “very.”
Index Entries
- Adams, John; and Declaration of Independence search
- Baldwin, Roger Sherman; and proposed biography of R. Sherman search
- Baldwin, Roger Sherman; letter to search
- Biography of the Signers to the Declaration of Independence (J. Sanderson) search
- books; biographical search
- Continental Congress, Second; and Declaration of Independence search
- Declaration of Independence; committee appointed to draft search
- Declaration of Independence; signers of search
- Franklin, Benjamin; and Declaration of Independence search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Public Service; in Continental Congress search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Writings; Declaration of Independence search
- Livingston, Robert R.; and Declaration of Independence search
- Sanderson, John; Biography of the Signers to the Declaration of Independence search
- Sherman, Roger; andBiography of the Signers to the Declaration of Independence (J. Sanderson) search
- Sherman, Roger; and Declaration of Independence search
- Sherman, Roger; TJ on search