1From Thomas Jefferson to William Preston, William Christian, and Joseph Martin, 24 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
In Execution of the within resolution of Assembly you are hereby authorized whenever a proper Occasion shall present itself to meet with Commissioners from the State of North Carolina to treat with the Cherokee Indians on the Subject of Peace. I have taken the liberty of recommending to his Excellency the Governor of North Carolina to make an Appointment of such Commissioners on his part and...
2From Thomas Jefferson to William Preston, 15 October 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Having heard the disagreeable news of your illness, and that there was a doubt whether you would recover in time to attend to the duties of the commission for settling the Western titles, and the executing that commission being of very great importence, the executive has been induced, considering the great distance and the delays that would occasion, to direct the inclosed commission to be...
3To Thomas Jefferson from William Preston, March 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Montgomery County [ Va. ], Mch. 1780 . Has received circumstantial information that “a Number of Men dissafected to the present Government had combined to disturb the Peace of this unhappy Frontier as soon as the Season would Permit and the british Troops could gain any Footing in So. Carolina.” There are now fifteen British commissions in this county and that of Washington. Nor is this the...
4From Thomas Jefferson to William Preston, 3 July 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
The measures you have taken for the preservation of the Leadmines by calling in the militia of Montgomery Washington and Botetourt are as wise as could have been advised, and as effectual as, in the present State of things, can be administered. The distress of the Western Frontier is much too general to confine Crocket’s battalion to a single part. It is indispensably necessary that he proceed...
5From Thomas Jefferson to William Preston, 22 October 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Mrs. Byrd the other day inclosed to me copies of two entries under your hand, the one for 1000 acres at and near the Lead mines on both sides New river joining Forbes’s and Herbert’s land including the Mine hill, the other for 1000 acres at the big French Salt lick on the S. W. side of Cumberland river near the mouth of Stone’s creek, both made by Colo. Byrd on the 1st. of March 1774 by virtue...
6To Thomas Jefferson from William Preston, 10 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Yesterday I received your Excellency’s Letter with other Papers by Wheeling the Messenger. I was then on my Way from Montgomery Court House where I had called a meeting of the Officers and Magistrates in order to lay off the County into Districts agreeable to the act of Assembly for raising Troops for the Continental Army; And as I had but Just parted with several of the Officers and Justices...
7From Thomas Jefferson to William Preston, 22 June 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my Letter directing the Guards from the Lead mines to escort the ammunition to Kentucky, I am informed that those men have not arms. Should this be the case it will be necessary that they should either be furnished with arms public or private or that a guard of the militia from the counties of Montgomery and Washington should go, the numbers from each county to be furnished in proportion...
8From Thomas Jefferson to William Preston, 21 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 13th. is come duly to Hand. We consent to the dividing your Militia into two battalions and will send you Commissions for a second Set of field Officers whenever you will forward to me the Courts Recommendations. Having been obliged by a movement of the Enemy up James River to pack up all our papers for removal, I am unable to send you the blank Commissions desired. They...
9From Thomas Jefferson to William Preston, 28 June 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last letter to you we have concluded to send from hence fifty stand of arms for the regulars at the mines, which with a few at Colo. Fleming’s and such as you have fit for service wi[ll] arm the regulars at the Leadmines so that they may escor[t] the ammunition to Kentucky and render an escort of iniliti[a unnecessary. Such of the arms as you have, unfit to be de[livered to them, be...
10To Thomas Jefferson from William Preston, 8 August 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
A most horrid Conspiracy amongst the Tories in this Country being providentialy discovered about ten Days ago obliged me Not only to raise the militia of the County but to ca[ll] for so large a Number from the Counties of Washington and Botetourt that there are upwards of four hundred men now on Duty exclusive of a Party which I hear Col. Lynch marched from Bedford towards the Mines yesterday....