1From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 29 September 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
The sorrel riding-horse is to be kept for Mr. Bacon’s riding. If Arcturus has not been exchanged for Mr. Smithson’s mare, I wish him and the Chickasaw mare to be disposed of immediately. I think $150 might be expected for him, and $100 for her; but I would take a fair wagon horse or mule for either, rather than keep them. For Arcturus we ought certainly to get a first-rate wagon horse or mule....
2From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 6 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
After leaving home some other things occurred to me which I will now mention by way of supplement to my former memorandums. I omitted to name Ursula as one who, when the family has left Monticello, may be employed with the other labourers. when Phill proceeds to the making shoes for the people, Barnaby & Shepherd should join him, as they have heretofore done, in order to perfect themselves...
3From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 13 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you 240. Dollars which be pleased to pay as follows. D c to Hancock Allen 92. 80
4From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 19 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 11th. by John is recieved. I should imagine that above & near the New road, and in the clearing you have to make in the river field you would find rail timber enough for the fence down the mountain. should you not however, you must get it where it is most convenient. when you proceed to mend up the fence which incloses the house & it’s grounds, you will find a great deal of timber...
5From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 10 November 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I now inclose you 620. D. to be applied as follows. to John Perry 200. D. James Walker 100. D. Dabney Minor 266. 67 to discharge a debt from G. Lilly, take in the bond yourself, on account 53. 33 for fodder &c.
6From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 21 November 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Davy arrived here last night and he will set out tomorrow, if the weather permits. he takes in his cart a number of articles of which I shall inclose a list with directions as to their contents. I shall here direct only as to some particulars. in the box No. 4. you will find some willow-oak acorns, peach stones, & a little more of the Quarentine corn which I had here. this last you will add to...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 8 December 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you 700. Dollars, of which be pleased to pay to James Walker 100. D. John Perry 100 D. Wm. Maddox 50. D. and there will remain 450. D. for your corn, fodder & pork, which you must pay out as you find most necessary, & let me know what will then remain due for these articles & it shall be remitted about this time next month. after getting all the coal wood you can on the Meadow branch...
8From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 15 December 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I am informed that for want of the mill irons which Stewart should have made, mr Walker has been obliged to quit working on the great mill, & to proceed with the small one it is too important to my interest as well as to the faith of my engagements to mr Shoemaker, to have the delivery of the mill to him suspended for this defect. I wish you therefore to exert yourself to have the irons done...
9From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 28 December 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your letters of the 13th. & 20th. the 14£ which you say is still wanting to pay your debts shall be sent by the first or 2d. post of January. I am chagrined at the malconduct of Martin in the toll-mill. I fear I shall be as much disappointed in his principles as in his health. but if in addition to negligence & dishonesty he disobliges our customers, he must be instantly...
10From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 11 January 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you two hundred and forty five dollars, to wit for mr Dinsmore 20. D. mr Chisolm 50. mr Walker 100. yourself on account 75 245. the 75. for yourself you will pay to those you think best. if mr Perry is with you, tell him I retain 100. D. which I will either remit to him or to mr Speer as he shall direct. mr Speer told me it was to be paid to him, but I wait mr Perry’s order to do...
11From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 26 January 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
As I must carry thorn plants home in the spring to fill up the vacancies in my hedges, I must now get you to take the trouble of walking round the whole of the two thorn enclosures, and counting exactly how many are wanting. there should be one every 6. inches. then count how many plants are living in the thorn nursery, and send me the numbers, that I may be able to procure here the proper...
12From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 8 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of Jan. 30. is recieved. I now inclose you 350. Dollars towit for James Walker 100. D. John Perry 150. Hugh Chisolm 50. yourself on account 50 350. the sum of 50. D. inclosed for yourself is sent because mr Perry wrote me word it was wanting for some sawing done. you can enquire into that and apply it to that or any thing more pressing as you please: I should have no objection to the...
13From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 1 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I suppose Davy will set out tomorrow, and of course that he will hardly be back to Monticello before the 13th. in the mean time the season is advancing. I think therefore you had better take up the thorns in the Nursery, & plant them in the hedge of the South orchard as soon as the weather becomes favorable for it. the plants are to be every where 6. inches apart. a caution very strictly to be...
14From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 12 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Davy has been detained here until this day. he now carries with him some bundles of trees, and 4000. thorns. as to the trees, the moment he arrives, dig a trench in the garden 18. I. deep and set them in it in their bundles, side by side, & fill in the earth again very close, so that the air may not possibly get to them, and let them remain so till I come home, only watering them every day...
15From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 13 May 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Memorandums The first work to be done is to finish every thing at the mill, to wit, the dam, the stone still wanting in the South abutment, the digging for the addition to the toll mill, the waste, the dressing off the banks & hollows about the mill houses, making the banks of the canal secure every where. in all these things mr Walker will direct what is to be done & how. The 2d. job is...
16From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 31 May 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Will you be so good as to desire mr Stewart to fit up my cutting knife to be used at Monticello, and to make me another for my own use at this place. he has in his shop what remains of the old one to be repaired. by the next week’s post I shall send you money to pay the balance of your corn debt. I salute you with my best wishes. P.S. The Burr milstones for the toll mill are gone on. The...
17From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 8 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you four hundred and eighty dollars to be paid as follows. D to mr John Carr for J. Perry. 100
18From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 14 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
My packages which were shipwrecked having been sent on from Richmond to Monticello, I send you a list of them; and as they have doubtless been wet, and might still grow worse by continuing unopened, I must pray you to open them, to examine particularly the condition of the contents and report it to me in a letter by the first post, that I may know which of them must be replaced, and have time...
19From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 28 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Perry informs me he is ready to proceed with the stable, but cannot for want of the hauling. not knowing exactly the different works which may be pressing on your waggon, I can only observe that it is very important that the stable should be done before I come home, which will be about the 23d. of July, because otherwise I shall have no place to put my horses, nor those of the company...
20From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 6 July 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I promised Henry Williams to send him by this day’s post 87 D. 13 C for William Stewart. I therefore now inclose you 90. D. out of which you will be so good as to pay him immediately. I expect to be on in a fortnight with what may be necessary the demands still remaining on you. I offer you my best wishes. MHi : Coolidge Collection.
21From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 11 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I now inclose you 360. Dollars to be paid as follows to John Perry for Walker’s order 100. D. to mrs Lewis, my assumpsit for J. Perry 49. mr Nelson 20. mr Maddox 50. mr Chandler & the younger Shoemaker 40. on account 101. 360. this last sum is intended as a commencement for the discharge of your debts. you will therefore pay it towards those most pressing. in about 3. weeks you shall have...
22From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 18 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I am entirely uninformed of the nature of mr John Peyton’s account, as also of that of Cooper. I must therefore get you to forward them to me, with the credits to be placed against them. I have recieved a letter from mr Craven offering his river field in exchange for new land over the road where I proposed, provided I will add to it the bottom land from where the Colle & Park branches meet, up...
23From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 25 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 16th. was recieved by the post of last week. I authorised mr Shoemaker to give some Whiskey to the people while at work in the water. we must of course take his word for the quantity. be pleased to settle with him also for the work of his cart. but you will do well to warn him to furnish nothing on my account but on your written order or mine. otherwise he will be paying his...
24From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 9 November 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I now inclose you 250. Dollars, of which 100. is for James Walker, 50. for mr Maddox, and 100. D. towards paying such of your debts as are most pressing. another like remittance the next month will I hope begin to place you at your ease. Mr. Peyton sent me an order from Madox for 50. D. but at the date of the order you had in hand that sum for him. it will therefore be necessary, for you to...
25From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 24 November 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Davy has been detained till now, the earth having been so frozen that the plants could not be dug up. on the next leaf are directions what to do with them, in addition to which I inclose mr Maine’s directions as to the thorns. he brings a couple of Guinea pigs, which I wish you to take great care of, as I propose to get this kind into the place of those we have now, as I greatly prefer their...
26From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 8 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night your letter of the 4th. and a new arrangement of the post which begins this day will enable me hereafter to answer letters the day after they are recieved, so that to a letter written Saturday morning the answer will be recieved the Thursday following, which will be a week sooner than heretofore. I inclose you 120. Dollars, of which 20. Dollars are to be paid to Hugh...
27From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 5 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you four hundred & fifty five dollars to be paid as follows. to John Perry 100. D. Hugh Chisolm 100. D. mr Higginbotham by ord. of Madox 38. 49 David Anderson of Milton 15. 16 yourself on account 201. 35
28From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 11 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Eppes of Eppington in Chesterfield has bought a horse for me which is now at his house, and for which I must pray you to send off a trusty person immediately on reciept of this. I think Jerry would be most to be depended on to take care of the horse, as he is a horse of high price. it is 80. miles to Eppington. he goes by Colo. Lewis’s at the Byrd, crosses the river at Dungeness, then goes...
29From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 12 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night information that 2. tons of nail rod were shipped from Philadelphia for me. they will probably be at Richmond by the last of this month. after writing my letter to you of yesterday I recieved your’s of the 8th. mr Minor is not obliged to recieve nails as his contract was for money. you had not mentioned to me the debt of 30. D. to John Carr for 6. barrels of corn. I have...
30From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 19 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night yours of the 18th. respecting mr Belt’s horse. he never spoke to me on that subject, but as I believe him to be an honest man who would not apply our grain to his support I shall not object to it. I am very sorry indeed to hear how little the tollmill gets. however I hope you keep an exact account of all the toll she gets, as nothing but exact observations of that can...
31From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 7 February 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of Jan. 29. has been recieved. mr Randolph having been so kind as to offer his aid in directing the repairs of the dam in my absence, I have accepted it, and therefore refer you to take his advice and directions as my own, the time of my return home being too uncertain to look to that. but I suppose the permanent repair must not be attempted till the weather & water become warm, that...
32From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 23 February 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night your letter of the 19th. by which I learn you have done 250. f. of the garden. were we to go on, reducing the whole to the same level we have begun with, the labor would be immense. I therefore conclude to do it in 4. levels of 250. f each, and taking such a level for each as that the earth to be dug away shall just fill up the part which is too low. in this way each...
33From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 8 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday yours of the 4th. I would have you sow in oats the whole of the field we got of mr Craven, and plant your last year’s clearing in Pani corn, that is the kind of corn which was planted last year below the garden. the other kinds of corn, I would not have planted at all, as the Pani is the best. I wish it were possible for you to get red clover seed to sow with your oats....
34From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 22 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The plants of Privet which you have recieved are from mr Gordon and I intend them for a hedge in the garden which not being yet ready, they must be set out in a nursery where you can find a convenient open spot. the waggon must not go to Bedford before mr Chisolm goes. it will not be wanting there till they are proceeding to burn the brick kiln which must not be till mr Chisolm is there...
35From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 29 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I send by post some Beny seeds which I must pray you to plant. take any open space in the South orchard, and prepare it as you would do for wheat, smoothing it with a harrow after it is ploughed. Then at about every 12.I. in a row drop a few seeds by hand, and just cover them—the rows are to be 3. f. apart. about half an acre will suffice altho the seed now sent would plant a great deal more....
36From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 12 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you 100. D. of which be pleased to pay 50. D. to J. Perry and keep 50. for the debts you have still to pay. I ought to have remitted J. Perry 50. D. more and mr Chisolm 60. D. but these deficiencies I will make up on my arrival at home and then bring you 200. D. which will pay off the whole list of debts furnished me heretofore. let Davy set off with my horse on Saturday the 23d....
37From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 19 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your’s of the 15th. two tons of nailrod were ordered on the 5th. instant and would leave Philadelphia by the first vessel after that. they may be expected at Richmond in all next week. I expect to be at home in the morning of the 8th. of May. I wish mr Chisolm to hurry himself as to the South Outchamber, as the opening & moving my books into that will require all the spare...
38From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 4 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Davy has been detained till to-day in order to carry home another decayed horse which I must pray you to let run at large in the day, having him fed night & morning. I apprehend Davy will have to lead him most of the way, and I cannot conjecture the time it may take him to get home. I had hoped to have set-off tomorrow, and to have been at home on Sunday, but I think it rather probable I shall...
39From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 7 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Directions for mr Bacon. June 7. 08. Consider as your first object the keeping a full supply of water to the mill, observing that whenever the water does not run over the waste, you should take your hands and having put in a sufficiency of stone, then carry in earth and tighten till the water runs steadily over the waste. it ought to do this when both mills are running one pair of stones each....
40From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 13 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I now inclose you 260. D. to be paid as follows John Perry 100. Colo. Nicholas Lewis 103. 89 Wurtenbaker for Wm. Stewart 10. taking in my note Terril on acct. of James Walker 47. 98 261. 87 inform mr Peyton that I have paid for him to the Postmaster General 28. D 53 c. the true balance of his account after correcting the error of addition. my best wishes attend you. Privately owned.
41From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 27 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
By a letter from mr John Peyton I percieve he is not satisfied that there was an error of addition in the account I left with you to be shewn to him. will you be so good as to return it to me by the first post. I mean the account in which he had corrected some of the figures on your shewing them that they were wrong. you will know it by my having stated some of the figures in my own hand. I...
42From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 5 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I duly recieved yours covering mr J. Peyton’s account. I find it is exactly as I had thought before, and I shall convince him of it when at home, which will be about the 24th. or 25th. instant. I inclose you 265. D. in Richmond bills which be pleased to pay as follows. to John Perry. 100. 100.
43From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 11 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 8th. came to hand last night, and I now inclose you 30. D. for Bishop’s order in favor of Brown. this pays all the debts of which I have any note except that of Mullins’s which I informed mr Higginbotham should be paid at the beginning of the next month. it is possible I may be at Monticello on the morning of the 22d. but it is possible I may be one, two or three days later. I...
44From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 11 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you 360. D. to be paid as follows. to John Perry 200. mr Nelson 30. Wm. Maddox 52. 16 mr Belt 75. on account 2. 84 360. mr Belt shall receive his balance the first week in next month.
45From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 17 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 13th. is recieved, and the 135. D. shall be sent you the first week in Nov. as shall also the small debts stated to be now due in the paper you gave me, & which I have now recovered these amount to something under 50. D. I expect mr Madox is now about the stable, & the house laid off where an old loghouse stands, & of course that he draws off some of your force. I think it will be...
46From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 25 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 21st. is recieved. I think you ought not to venture to come without a horse or mule besides those in the Phaeton. a dog may disperse your sheep, or some other occurence, & they could not be pursued either with the Phaeton or the man on foot. two horses in the Phaeton & a mule for the rider would be best. if you can hire a steady horse reasonably, do so; or if you can borrow one....
47From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 7 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you 565. Dollars to be paid as follows. D. to John Perry 200.
48From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 15 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your letter of the 10th. and will remit you the monies therein desired the first week of next month. you have not mentioned whether the note to mrs Carter is in part of the 113. barrels of corn, or whether it is an additional sum and for what. as soon as Castor recovers so as to be fit to ride, and is in good order I wish you to swap or sell him as well as you can, and...
49From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 22 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 17th. is recieved. you may proceed to the purchase of the other 100. barrels of corn @ 9/6 drawing on me for the amount paiable to mrs Carter on the 10th. of January. if I understand your contracts correctly they will then stand thus. mr Meriwether 12. Dec. 10. mrs Carter for Giannini for corn 105.
50From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 6 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you three hundred & five Dollars to be disposed of as follows D to John Perry 200.