To James Madison from John Dawson, 28 May 1806 (Abstract)
From John Dawson, 28 May 1806 (Abstract)
§ From John Dawson. 28 May 1806, Fredericksburg. “I take the liberty to present to you Docr. Wellford, who, with his daughter,1 proposes to pass a day in this city, on their way to the north—and to pray your attention to them, as the young lady is anxious to see any thing worthy notice.”
RC (DLC). 1 p.
1. This was probably Robert Wellford (1753–1823), a physician who came to America with the British army in 1776 and was noted for his compassionate treatment of American prisoners. He resigned his commission in 1781 and established a practice in Fredericksburg. His companion was either his daughter, Lucy Yates Wellford (b. 1781), or his stepdaughter, Mary Randolph Thornton (1780–1851) (Jackson and Twohig, Diaries of George Washington, 6:303–4 n.; Abbot et al., Papers of George Washington: Presidential Series, 16:689 n. 3).