From Thomas Jefferson to Gibson & Jefferson, 26 September 1801
To Gibson & Jefferson
Monticello Sep. 26. 1801.
Gentlemen
This serves to advise you that on the 20th. inst. I desired you to pay to Joel Yancey or order three hundred & eighty two dollars fifty two cents, on […] paper, not being able to get a stamp. I am now […] you to pay to Alexander Garrett five hundred and twenty seven dollars & thirty eight cents.
I have this day drawn on you in favor of Bowling Clarke for £144.19.2 payable the 1st. day of November ensuing.
I set out tomorrow morning for Washington. accept assurances of my esteem.
527.38 D.
Th: Jefferson
PrC (MHi); faint; at foot of text: “Messrs. Gibson & Jefferson”; endorsed by TJ in ink on verso.
TJ’s payment to Joel Yancey included $11.15 for federal taxes on his land at Shadwell in Fredericksville Parish, Albemarle County. The remaining $371.37 was for cash TJ had received from Yancey on 29 Aug. and 20 Sep., which was to be repaid at Richmond. The payment to Alexander Garrett included $408.24 for cash received from him on 21, 26, and 27 Aug. and 26 Sep., $10.24 for taxes on William Short’s land, $12.97 for taxes on TJ’s land in St. Anne’s Parish, and various other payments (, 1:40; 2:1023–4n, 1050–2).
TJ had settled his account with Bowling Clark (Clarke), who had served as overseer at Poplar Forest since the early 1790s, on 31 Oct. 1800. At that time TJ owed him £136.15.1. TJ’s payment due on 1 Nov., for $483.21, included £8.4.1 in interest (same, 2:878, 1052, 1067).
In a second letter to Gibson & Jefferson of this date TJ reiterated that the firm was to pay Clark £144.19.2 for him on 1 Nov. TJ also enclosed a letter to Clark (recorded in SJL at 26 Sep. but not found) and described his first letter to Gibson & Jefferson, printed above, as that carried “by mr Garrett” (PrC in MHi; at foot of text: “Messrs. Gibson & Jefferson”; endorsed by TJ in ink on verso; with notation in SJL “by Bowling Clarke £144.19.2”).