Thomas Jefferson Papers

Joel Yancey to Thomas Jefferson, 12 March 1821

From Joel Yancey

P. Forest12th March 1821

Dr Sir

Nace sets off this morning for Montcello with 2 beaves and six muttons, the beeves are not as fat I could have wishd, or would have been had they been younger one of the Steers is very bony, and is a much better beef than he appears to be, but I hope you will find them both respectable beef, the sheep are fatt I have recovered the young Steer that broke from us, when I sent the other 2 by Dick, and have broke him, and he now works tolerably well, tho still a little vicious, but Nace is unwilling to undertake to Drive him, and he is not able to render much service this season, I therefore decline sending at this time, but we can do very well without him, The wheat is all in the mill and I expect the flour can be had at any time, Will you have it sent to Richmond? if the price is no better in Richmond, than in Lynchburg, it will take ½ to pay carriage, we are prizing the Tobo and expect to have it all in Lynchburg in this month, as soon as it is down I will let you Know, as you may determine whether you will send it on to Richmond or sell in Lynchburg

Joel Yancey

As respects our prospects for a crop I refer to Mr. J. Randolp to whom also I have wrote by Nace, I have made evry posible exertion to sell the Hay, but without effect, and I should be extream[ly] glad if it would be convenient to furnish some money to pay some small debts which I have contracted here, and for which I am very much harrassd. about the first of June will do, if not entirely convenient sooner, the People are all well.   with the Highes Respect Im Yrs

Joel Yancey

RC (MHi); edge trimmed; at foot of first page: “turn over,” for postscript on verso; endorsed by TJ as received 16 Mar. 1821 and so recorded in SJL.

Index Entries

  • cattle; at Poplar Forest search
  • crops; hay search
  • Dick (Little Dick) (TJ’s slave; b.1781); transports livestock search
  • hay search
  • Nace (TJ’s slave; b.1773); delivers letter search
  • Nace (TJ’s slave; b.1773); transports livestock search
  • Poplar Forest (TJ’s Bedford Co. estate); cattle at search
  • Poplar Forest (TJ’s Bedford Co. estate); livestock at search
  • Poplar Forest (TJ’s Bedford Co. estate); Overseers at; and prizing of tobacco search
  • Poplar Forest (TJ’s Bedford Co. estate); sheep at search
  • Poplar Forest (TJ’s Bedford Co. estate); slaves at search
  • Poplar Forest (TJ’s Bedford Co. estate); wheat grown at search
  • Randolph, Thomas Jefferson (TJ’s grandson; Jane Hollins Nicholas Randolph’s husband); as manager of Poplar Forest search
  • sheep; at Poplar Forest search
  • slaves; health of search
  • tobacco; grown at Poplar Forest search
  • tobacco; prizing of search
  • wheat; at Poplar Forest search
  • Yancey, Joel (d.1833); as superintendent of Poplar Forest search
  • Yancey, Joel (d.1833); letters from search