To Thomas Jefferson from John Page, 14 March 1792
From John Page
Philada. March 14th. 1792.
My Dear Sir
I am sure I need not take up a Moment of your Time to tell you how much you have obliged me by lending me your Name on the present Occasion. Your indorsing this Note will enable me to take up the other at the Bank of N. America which will be delivered to Mr. Wheaton our Serjeant at Arms on the Day of negociating the Business at that Bank, when I will send it to you cancelled. I will take Care that you shall not be liable to pay a single Cent of it on Account of your much obliged Friend,
John Page
RC (MHi); endorsed by TJ as received 13 Mch. 1792 and recorded under that date in SJL, wherein the date of the letter is given as above.
TJ had co-signed the note the previous day. Page assured him that he would not be called upon again if and when he renewed the note. When Page sent the note to TJ on 16 Mch. he informed him that Joseph Wheaton’s name had been added “as a Ceremony” when he received the money at the bank (Page to TJ, 16 Mch. 1792; RC in MHi; endorsed by TJ as received 16 Mch. 1792 and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure: Promissory note in Page’s hand obligating himself to pay $630 at the Bank of the United States within sixty days from date, 14 Mch. 1792; signed by Page but most of the signature torn away as a cancellation, and endorsed by both TJ and Joseph Wheaton).