To Thomas Jefferson from Janet Livingston Montgomery, 3 June 179[8]
From Janet Livingston Montgomery
Rhinbeck House June the 3d 99 [i.e., 1798]
Sir
Having not readily the address of Mr. Monroe May I trespass so fare on my former acquaintance with you as to commend my letter to your care—the satisfaction I, once enjoyed in that acquaintance makes the idea of brightening the chain most pleasant yet I ought not to flatter myself with being equally recolected—since but a few Years back you pass’d through my Domain and with in ken of my house without remembering it however at Rhinbeck, who would have been most happy to have received you—and gratified to have enjoyed that society—Which she participated for a Moment—at N York with her friends and which she has never forgotten
should fortune ever induce you to turn your stepes this road again I shall hope you will not pass me by and praying you to pardon this interruption I remain
Sir with sentiments of esteem
J Montgomery
RC (ViW); endorsed by TJ as received 25 June 1798 and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure not found.
The widow of General Richard Montgomery of Revolutionary War fame and the sister of Chancellor Robert R. Livingston and Edward Livingston, Janet Livingston Montgomery owned tracts of land in the Hudson Valley and elsewhere. She had first made the acquaintance of James Monroe in 1784. Her only previous correspondence with TJ was a letter of 9 Dec. 1785 that enclosed one to the Marquis de Lafayette (Katherine M. Babbitt, Janet Montgomery: Hudson River Squire [Monroe, N.Y., 1975], 15, 17, 19).