To Thomas Jefferson from Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, with Jefferson’s Note, 12 October 1803
From Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, with Jefferson’s Note
Albany 12th. October 1803.
Sir
There being a vacancy in the commission of Bankruptcy for this City and as I Presume there is a necessity for filling it as soon as possible, permit me to recommend to your notice as a very proper person to fill the same Sebastian Visscher Esquire of this place in whom the trust and confidence may be placed.
I am Dr. Sir with respect your obt. Servt.
Jer V Rensselaer
[Note by TJ:]
| Lansing Ten Wyck Merchant |
 |
are now commrs. & sufft. |
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); at foot of text: “Thomas Jefferson President of the United States of America”; with TJ’s note written on verso below endorsement; endorsed by TJ as received 19 Oct. and “Visscher Sebastn. to be Commr. bkrptcy Albany” and so recorded in SJL.
For the commissioners of bankruptcy at Albany, see Vol. 37:709 and Nicholas N. Quackenbush to TJ, 8 June 1803.
sebastian visscher regularly served as secretary at Republican meetings in Albany, while George Merchant served as chairman. In 1803, both were elected aldermen of the First Ward. In 1808, Visscher was appointed clerk to the state senate (Albany Gazette, 21 Apr. 1803; 8 Mch. 1804; 1 Oct. 1807; New-York Herald, 5 Oct. 1803; Albany Register, 11 May 1804; 2 Apr. 1807; 16 Feb., 19 Apr. 1808).
ten wyck: that is, Abraham Ten Eyck (Vol. 40:505n).