To Thomas Jefferson from Leonard Vandegrift, Sr., 16 March 1801
From Leonard Vandegrift, Sr.
March 16th. 1801
Sir,
Being one of those Citizens whose Politicks has ever been congenial with your own, and having long been a faithfull labourer in the Vineyard of Republicanism; beg leave on the Authority of the enclosed recomendatory Vouchers, to offer my Self as an Applicant for the Collectorship of the District of Deleware if not already C[overe]d.
I am Sir, with the highest consideration of regard for your Personal and Political welfare yours
Leonard Vandegrift Senr.
RC (DLC); torn; above date: “St. Georges Hundred New Castle County S. of Delaware”; at foot of text: “Thomas Jefferson President of the United States”; endorsed by TJ as received 20 Mch. and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure: probably an undated recommendation signed by Thomas FitzGerald and ten others proposing Vandegrift “as a suitable person for the office of Collector of the Port of Wilmington in Delaware” and noting that he had “a Large and promissing family of children” and had been a “uniform and active Republican” (MS in DLC: TJ Papers, 119:20529; in unidentified hand, with FitzGerald and four of the other signers identified as “Member’s of the Legislature for the County of New Castle”).
In a letter of 12 Mch. from Thomas FitzGerald to Israel Israel, Vandegrift was recommended “as a Gentleman Possessed of Genuine Political and Moraal principles, and Who Means to solicite for the office of Colector in this State Believing my worthy friend to have Considerable Influence with our Present worthy President.” Israel appended a personal note to the letter and forwarded it to TJ: “I concider it improper to Recommend anyone that Resides in another State or I wold Oblige my freind” (RC in DLC; with note by Israel subjoined at foot of text).