Thomas Jefferson Papers

Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 10 March 1809

To George Jefferson

[Washi]ngton Mar. 10. 09.

Dear Sir

By a vessel just departing hence for Richmond I send a number of packages as by the inclosed, in which however I believe there may be an error or two, for I have not yet got the bill of lading. I must pray you to procure for me 3. dozen stick chairs, of the kind marked in the margin, painted black with yellow rings, & forward them for me to Lynchburg. Couch’s boats are, I believe, the most to be depended on. I inclose you 100.D. to cover that & other expences. being all hurry on my departure I must here close with the assurances of my constant affection

Th: Jefferson

PoC (MHi); one word faint; at foot of text: “Mr G. Jefferson”; endorsed by TJ.

George Jefferson (1766–1812) was a grandson of TJ’s uncle Field Jefferson. The Richmond-based mercantile firm of George Jefferson & Company that he founded in 1797 sold flour and other produce, and in 1804 he joined Patrick Gibson to form Gibson & Jefferson. The firm acted as agent and factor for TJ in Richmond beginning in December 1797. Madison nominated George Jefferson as consul to Lisbon in March 1811, but he did not take up the post until February 1812, relinquished it due to poor health later that year, and died at sea on his return trip (Landon C. Bell, The Old Free State [1927], 2:294–6; TJ to Jefferson, 2 Dec. 1797, PTJ description begins Julian P. Boyd, Charles T. Cullen, John Catanzariti, Barbara B. Oberg, and others, eds., The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, 1950– , 31 vols. description ends , 29:577–8; Madison, Papers description begins William T. Hutchinson, Robert A. Rutland, John C. A. Stagg, and others, eds., The Papers of James Madison, 1962– , 31 vols.: Congress. Ser., 17 vols.; Pres. Ser., 5 vols.; Sec. of State Ser., 6 vols description ends , Pres. Ser., 3:340n, 4:497; Richmond Enquirer, 4 Aug. 1812).

TJ ordered the bow-back Windsor chairs to be made at Richmond for Poplar Forest. William Couch, of Warren, Albemarle County, employed boats to transfer goods between Richmond and Lynchburg on the James River (Chambers, Poplar Forest description begins S. Allen Chambers, Poplar Forest & Thomas Jefferson, 1993 description ends , 42–3; MB description begins James A. Bear Jr. and Lucia C. Stanton, eds., Jefferson’s Memorandum Books: Accounts, with Legal Records and Miscellany, 1767–1826, 1997, The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Second Series description ends , 2:1243).

Index Entries

  • boats; transfer goods to and from Richmond search
  • Couch, William search
  • furniture; TJ orders search
  • furniture; Windsor chairs search
  • Gibson & Jefferson (Richmond firm); and household articles acquired by TJ search
  • Gibson & Jefferson (Richmond firm); identified search
  • Jefferson, Field (TJ’s uncle) search
  • Jefferson, George, & Company; as TJ’s agent in Richmond search
  • Jefferson, George (TJ’s cousin); identified search
  • Jefferson, George (TJ’s cousin); letters to search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Business & Financial Affairs; orders furniture search
  • Madison, James; and appointments search
  • Poplar Forest (TJ’s Bedford Co. estate); furniture at search
  • Richmond, Va.; boats transfer goods to and from search