11From Thomas Jefferson to ——, 26 July 1764 (Jefferson Papers)
I like your proposal of keeping up an epistolary correspondence on subjects of some importance. I do not at present recollect any difficult question in natural philosophy, but shall be glad to have your opinion on a subject much more interesting. What that is I will tell you. In perusing a magazine some time ago I met with an account of a person who had been drowned. He had continued under...
12From Thomas Jefferson to John Page, 25 May 1766 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your last by T. Nelson whom I luckily met on my road hither. Surely never did small hero experience greater misadventures than I did on the first two or three days of my travelling. Twice did my horse run away with me and greatly endanger the breaking my neck on the first day. On the second I drove two hours through as copious a rain as ever I have seen, without meeting with a...
13From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Willis, 23 July 1766 (Jefferson Papers)
I am at length arrived here, after a long, but agreeable trip along the continent as far as New York; which however was less agreeable for want of a companion, whose equal curiosity might have kept one in countenance in rambling over the different places which lie on the road. This I expected from you, and wrote to you upon that subject early in the spring; and nothing could equal my vexation...
14Memorandum Books, 1767 (Jefferson Papers)
Aug. 25. survey forfeited sold it to Edward Pharr for 37 lib. 10/ cash and gave him a deed &c. Payne after this expr essed sad ness at losing his mill but said he had rather it should be in his h ands? than any other’s. On which Pharr told him? if he would make up his money in a twelve month he would return the land. He agreed with Payne to keep the mill: Payne left the mill as there was no...
15From Thomas Jefferson to John Page, 17 April 1767 [document added in digital edition] (Jefferson Papers)
Your welfare, That of m’rs Page, and your heir apparent give me great joy: but much was I disappointed at not seeing you here today. surely you will visit the city some time in the co urt: do not let family attachments totally rusticate you. in answer to the interrogatories of your letter , I left my wife and family well; I have been in constant health myself and still continue . I left well,...
16Memorandum Books, 1768 (Jefferson Papers)
Jan. 7. Inclosed writ in Christian v. Patteson to sheriff of Buckingham. 13. Samson v. Wm. Winston. The trial was in April 1758 (or within a court or two of it). Search S. O. for Kimbro’s depon. 14. Thompson v. Robertson. The def. is dead. Wm. Cabell has rented the land to Patr. Napier, Benjn. Thacker, & Anthony Askew. Send for escheat warrt. Delivered the sheriff the sci. fa. in Hickman v....
17From Thomas Jefferson to William Preston, 18 August 1768 (Jefferson Papers)
I sit down to petition your suffrage in favor of a friend, whose virtues and abilities have made him such to me, and will give him equal place in your esteem whenever you have an opportunity of becoming acquainted with them. The gentleman I speak of is the Revd. James Fontaine, who offers himself as a candidate for the place of chaplain to the house of burgesses. I do not wish to derogate from...
18Memorandum Books, 1769 (Jefferson Papers)
Jan. 1. Recd. of J. May Summs. in Witt v. Biby and also in Bowyer v. Buchanan, but Qu. wherefore the latter having sent one before. 12. Handcock v. Walker and Witt v. Biby. Delivd. Summ. to G. Thompson. Henry Rose (Amherst) v. Joseph Lifely. Friendly caveat for 148 acres Amherst. Employed by Rose. 16. John McCue (Albemarle) v. Alexander Patten (Amherst) and David Kincaid (Augusta). Enter...
19From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Turpin, 5 February 1769 (Jefferson Papers)
I am truly concerned that it is not in my power to undertake the superintendance of your son in his studies; but my situation both present and future render it utterly impossible. I do not expect to be here more than two months in the whole between this and November next, at which time I propose to remove to another habitation which I am about to erect, and on a plan so contracted as that I...
20From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander White, 19 April 1769 (Jefferson Papers)
Your messenger being about to return before I have an opportunity of conferring with Mr. Blair on the subject of your caveats, I must undertake an answer to your letter tho’ deprived of his assistance. As to the small survey of 220 acres, we need be at no other trouble or expence about it, Mrs. Wood and James Wood not proposing to defend it, and Harrison (as I understand) laying no claim to...
21From Thomas Jefferson to John Walker, 3 September 1769 (Jefferson Papers)
Ero apud Society spring on Tuesday per quatuor. Fortasse et I. Lepus-æmula veniet. Apis ibi et tu quoque. Ferto sequelam tuam Septentrionalem. Ferto etiam, ut ante tibi præcepi, tabulam scaccariam. Oculus feram viros. Si possemus gignere tabulam pro hac vice expressè factam, lignum apis puteus. Sed de hoc postea confabulemur. Suntne bubulæ terræ patris tui in Augusta salvæ? Id est nonne sint...
22Advertisement for a Runaway Slave, 7 September 1769 (Jefferson Papers)
[7 September 1769] R un away from the subscriber in Albemarle , a Mulatto slave called Sandy , about 35 years of age, his stature is rather low, inclining to corpulence, and his complexion light; he is a shoemaker by trade, in which he uses his left hand principally, can do coarse carpenters work, and is something of a horse jockey; he is greatly addicted to drink, and when drunk is insolent...
23To Thomas Jefferson from Perkins, Buchanan & Brown, 2 October 1769 (Jefferson Papers)
Having entered into some engagements with our worthy Friend Mr: Thos. Adams for Mr: Jordan by which we are to have a Ship in James River in March next we take the Liberty through his Recommendation to Solicit the favour of your Assistance in the dispatch of the said ship by the Consignment of some part of your Tobacco and be assured you shall not suffer by putt[ing] it into our hands as we...
24Report on Parliamentary Procedure, [8 November–8 December 1769] (Jefferson Papers)
A.6. ✓ Resolved that a question being once determined must stand as the judgment of the house, and cannot again be drawn into debate. A.9. ✓ Ordered that the orders for the business appointed for the day be read by the clerk before any other matter be proceeded on. A.5. ✓ Ordered that when a question shall arise between the greater and lesser sum or the longer and shorter time , the question...
25Memorandum Books, 1770 (Jefferson Papers)
Jan. 3. Inclosed writs in Harrison v. Bernard and Howell v. Netherland to Carter H. Harrison. 5. Committed my opinion in Dr. Campbell’s case to writing. 21. Donaghe v. Leeper. Delivd. Summses. to pl. Waterson’s and Johnston’s cases. Recd. by Hugh Donaghe 308 English half crowns = £48–2–6, 4 half Joes = £9, 1 Caroline and Portugal peice of gold £3–5–7 ½, two doubloons = £8–12 and two pistoles =...
26From Thomas Jefferson to John Page, 21 February 1770 (Jefferson Papers)
I am to acquaint Mrs. Page of the loss of my favorite pullet; the consequence of which will readily occur to her. I promised also to give her some Virginia silk which I had expected, and I begin to wish my expectations may not prove vain. I fear she will think me but an ungainly acquaintance. My late loss may perhaps have reac[hed y]ou by this time, I mean the loss of my mother’s house by...
27To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Nelson, Sr., 6 March 1770 (Jefferson Papers)
I was extremely concerned to hear of your Loss the account of which had reached us some time ago. As I have a pretty good collection of Books, it will give me pleasure to have it in my power to furnish you with any you may want. The bearer carries 4 pr. dovetail-hinges for doors, 2 Mortise locks, 20 Pullies, and 20 pr. of Shutter-hinges. I have none of the sort proper for the Leaves, which may...
28To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Nelson, Jr., 6 March 1770 (Jefferson Papers)
I just received your melancholy account of the Loss you have sustaind, and have only time, (the messenger that brought the Wheat being in a great hurry to return) to assure you that nothing can give me so much pleasure as to render you every service that is in my power. You may depend on your Letter to your Bookseller being sent by the first opportunity; it would be prudent to send a Copy of...
29To Thomas Jefferson from John Page, 6 March 1770 (Jefferson Papers)
I have heard of your Loss [and] heartily condole with you, but am much pleased with the Philosop[hy] you manifest in your Letter which I this Moment received. I will very soon convince you that I had not forgot you, for I have a Letter at Home which I wrote some Month[s] since, and will send you in[close]d in another as soon as I [… .] I snatched up my Pen […] these few Lines not...
30To Thomas Jefferson from George Wythe, 9 March 1770 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you some nectarine and apricot graffs and grapevines, the best I had; and have directed your messenger to call upon Major Taliaferro for some of his. You will also receive two of Foulis’s catalogues. Mrs. Wythe will send you some garden peas. You bear your misfortune so becomingly, that, as I am convinced you will surmount the difficulties it has plunged you into, so I foresee you will...
31To Thomas Jefferson from James Ogilvie, 28 March 1770 (Jefferson Papers)
I am disappointed hitherto in every attempt to get ordained. The Commissary wrote against me in these words. Colo. Mercer saw the letter. “Mr. Ogilvie applied to me last spring for a recommendation to your Lordship for holy Orders. For reasons which then existed I refused him. He has now applied to me a second time, as these reasons are not removed I have denied him again, but he goes home in...
32To Thomas Jefferson from John Page, Jr., April 1770 (Jefferson Papers)
When you were at Col. Lewis’s my Heart was with you, but something more than a Punctillio, for it was a Coach Load of Hospitality, kept my Body from you. When I reflect on the Restraint I was under during this Seperation of Heart and Body, and as I am still in the same divided state tho’ now from a different Cause; I can hardly refrain from describing it. There is a great and secret...
33Commission as Lieutenant of Albemarle, 9 June 1770 (Jefferson Papers)
HIS EXCELLENCY The Right Honourable Norborne Baron de Botetourt , his Majesty’s Lieutenant and Governor General of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia, and Vice Admiral of the same. To Thomas Jefferson Esquire By Virtue of the Power and Authority to me given as his Majesty’s Lieutenant and Governor General of this his Colony and Dominion, I, reposing special Trust and Confidence in your...
34From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Adams, 11 July 1770 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of interceding for your friendly aid to Mr. James Ogilvie a gentleman of my acquaintance now in London. Purposing last fall to go to Britain for orders he made the usual application to the commissary for his recommendatory letter to the bishop. This man, partly from an evil disposition to defeat the wishes of some gentlemen, no favorites of his, who bore a warm friendship to...
35From Thomas Jefferson to Peyton Randolph, 23 July 1770 (Jefferson Papers)
I am to beg the favor of your friendly interposition in the following case, which I hope you will think sufficient to excuse the freedom of the application. Sometime last fall Mr. Jas. Ogilvie proposing to go to Britain for orders made the usual application to the commissary for his recommendatory letter to the bishop. The commissary finding him somewhat deficient in his Greek expressed some...
36To Thomas Jefferson from Samuel Jordan, with Jefferson’s Notes, 7 August 1770 (Jefferson Papers)
I some time Since received a letter from Colo. Randolph of Tuckahoe requesting I would inform him what I knew of his right to Leatherwood land and as you are or will be his Lawer I trouble you with it which is as follows. There was leive granted by the Council to Colo. Peter Jefferson Charles Lynch and Ambross Smith to take up fifteen Thousand Acres of Land adjoining Randolph & Co. at the Wart...
37To Thomas Jefferson from Alexander McCaul, 26 August 1770 (Jefferson Papers)
The last time I had the pleasure of writting you accompanied an Account of some Books you ordered which were unfortunately lost, I received the order from London but they are not to come to hand time enough to be sent by this Opportunity. They will be sent you soon and if they come too late for you you’ll be so good as dispose off them to the best advantage. This will be delivered you by the...
38To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Burke, 3 September 1770 (Jefferson Papers)
I received yours of July 15th a few days past, and Immediately communicated your Sentiments and my own relative to the Suit of Tuckers Creditors vs his Executors to the persons concerned and endeavoured to enforce what you recommended which was Intirely agreeable to my own Opinion. I also recommended the Joining Creditors to undertake all the Enquiries at their common Expence and to average...
39Memorandum Books, 1771 (Jefferson Papers)
Cash acct. in R. C. N.’s cases (till get into order). 1771 April 16. Scott v. Scott. Recd. 30/. May 4. Bowker v. Mimms. Recd. 25/. Octob. 15. Newby v. Bailey. Recd. 25/. 27. Archer v. Jones. Recd. 21/6. 31. Collier v. Mennis. 2 suits. Recd. £5. paper + gold .
40Notice of Sale of Bernard Moore’s Property, 10 January 1771 (Jefferson Papers)
To be sold to the highest Bidders, on Thursday the 31st of this Instant (January) at the House of Colonel Bernard Moore , in King William, Eighteen Hundred Acres of land for the Life of Colonel Moore , lying on