1From James Madison to Isaac Coffin, 2 April 1820 (Madison Papers)
I have been so fortunate as to procure for you, 3 wild Turkies, two Goblers and one hen. I regret that I could not double the latter also, but all my efforts have failed. The solitary Gobler in a Coop by himself, is several years old, is very large, and has the finest plumage I have ever seen on a Turkey. The pair in the other Coop are of the last year’s brood, and not a forward one. They will...
2From James Madison to Isaac Coffin, 1 October 1819 (Madison Papers)
On receiving your letter of June 10. I offered without delay encouragements for obtaining a few young wild Turkies, but have not been successful. It was too late in the Season to get Eggs, to be hatched under tame hens; and young ones are seldom otherwise procured. Nor indeed is it easy to rear very young ones however procured, such is their mortality under the best domestic management, and...