To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Turpin, 9 August 1804
From Philip Turpin
Salisbury, August 9th 1804—
Dear Sir
Mr. John H. Smith, a Grandson of my sister Harris (whom perhaps you may remember) has earnestly requested me to employ the Interest which he supposes me to possess with you, in his behalf. Mr. Smith is a respectable young Man; has had a tolerably good education, and is, I have reason to think, capable of due application to business. Sometime since, he wrote a Twelve-month under Mr. Price regester of the Land-Office in this State, whose testimony in Mr. Smith’s favour is herewith enclos’d. Mr. Smith is at present in the state of Kentucky, but wishes to try his fortune in the Indiana Territory, and humbly solicits an appointment to the regestership of one of those Land-Offices which he understands, are to be open’d in that State. Should not this be attainable, he will be satisfied with a surveyor’s Place, or any other office you may be pleas’d to confer.
Thus, dear Sir, I have taken the liberty of making known to you Mr. Smith’s request. I consider him as a young Gentleman of modesty and merit; and doubt not his endeavouring to act with zeal & fidelity in any business which might be committed to his care.
I must apologise, Dr. Sir, for giving you this trouble, which I hope you will have the goodness to excuse.
Accept, dear Sir, my sincerest wishes for your health and happiness, and beleive me to be, with the greatest respect,
your most obt. hble. Servt.
Philip Turpin
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); addressed: “His Excellency Thomas Jefferson Presidt. of the U. States” and “now at Monticello near Milton” interlined in place of “City of Washington”; franked; postmarked Richmond, 14 Aug.; endorsed by TJ as received 16 Aug. and “Smith John to be Surveyor” and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure: statement of William Price, dated at Richmond, 7 Aug., describing John Smith as an enterprising young man who had applied industry and attention to his unpaid post at the land office and who is “deserving of Public Patronage” (same).
you may remember: Philip Turpin and his sister, Obedience Turpin Harris, were TJ’s first cousins through his aunt, Mary Jefferson Turpin (William Clayton Torrence, “Thomas and William Branch of Henrico and Some of their Descendants,” , 1st ser., 25 [1916], 111; Vol. 6:330n).