1To Thomas Jefferson from John Syme, 19 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Our Waggons and Men being Chiefly Out With the Militia, I Have met with Great Difficulty in procuring them both with that Dispatch with Which I would be Glad to Execute any thing Committed to my Care by Your Excellency; However, the Business is now in Some forwardness. You Have Half a Dozen Waggons Loaded with Spirits, with Directions to Wait on You, as You Desir’d, and Riders Out to get more....
2To Thomas Jefferson from John Syme, 27 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Having Several Matters to lay before your Excellency, I fully intended to Have Waited on You Yesterday; My indisposition prevents me, and I Know not Certainly when I can go Out. Reflecting on the Business of Moving the Stores and from a thorough Conviction of being Right, as to Not Water bearing them, I wrote the Inclos’d Letter to Mr. Claiborne; He being on a Jorney, I immediatly Communicated...
3To Thomas Jefferson from John Syme, 1 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
New Castle, 1 Feb. 1781. Acknowledges TJ’s letter of 31 Jan. Has heard that “Mr. Watkins (who is Very Anxious to Remove evry thing from Cumberland) has loaded 3 Vessells, now on their way with Shells, Shott &c. Shall they be Landed Here or Return’d?” In obedience to Gen. Nelson’s orders, Syme has ordered out his lower battalion of militia, but doubts the propriety of the order, which...
4To Thomas Jefferson from John Syme, 20 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
New Castle, 20 Feb. 1781. The £1,500 ordered by the Council to be paid to Syme “for Waggonage of Stores” is quite inadequate for his “Cash ingagements”; needs £1,000 more. “Col. [John] Nicholas Writes Me He Has Your Directions, for releiving my Militia , from the Lower Battallion, Now On Duty, without Asertaining the Numbers”; Syme desires more exact information. Congratulates TJ “on the...
5To Thomas Jefferson from John Syme, 26 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
New Castle, 26 Feb. 1781 . Is informed that there are 50 state muskets at John Newell’s in Hanover co. which might be repaired; shall Syme order them to be repaired? Further instructions from TJ clarifying the method of drafting men are needed. “A few People Among us (One of which is a Field Officer) that Declares He Will not Pay a Shilling, and intends to Plead the Laws not being in Time.”...
6To Thomas Jefferson from John Syme, 11 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Rocky Mills, 11 Mch. 1781 . Has been informed that the Assembly contemplates prolonging the “time of Draft for those Countys whose Militia are in Service”; requests information thereon in order that he may give notice at his general musters “Tomorrow and Wednesday.” RC ( Vi ); 2 p.; addressed, in part: “By N. Syme”; endorsed.
7To Thomas Jefferson from John Syme, 22 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Daniel Trueheart thinks the Court Martial of Our County Have Done Wrong, in placing Him on the present Tour of Duty. For Certain Reasons, it May be impolitick for me to intermeddle with His Case, therefore, Hope to be Excus’d by Your Excellency for Referring Him to Yourself, Being wth Great Esteem, Sir Your Mo: Obedt. Servt., RC ( Vi ); addressed and endorsed. Syme was county lieutenant of...
8To Thomas Jefferson from John Syme, 20 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
New Castle, 20 Apr. 1781 . Has received TJ’s orders “Directing A Court Martial, on the Delinquents, for My County. I understand by it, those that Have fail’d in any Tour of Duty, whatever, Say for 12 Months Back, Or thereabouts.” No returns were made by Syme’s officers while he was “at the Springs,” but has “now c[all]’d for them, as thinking it, both just and suitable from your Orders, and...
9To Thomas Jefferson from John Syme, 21 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I am to Ask Your pardon for Omitting the Return I mention’d; I now inclose it. You Will Observe, it falls greatly short of two Battalions. Your Excellency does not Direct me, How I am to Act in that Case; I did take notice of it Yesterday; We think Here, the Court ought to Make the Arrangements, Accordingly, but I Wait Your Determination. Yesterday Noon I Received Yours, Ordering out my...
10To Thomas Jefferson from John Syme, 2 September 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I duly received your Message by Doctor Currie, relative to My Horse Romeo, who is one of a pair, that Mrs. Syme and the Girls, are Very fond of, and who Carrys them to Richmond, Very comodiously, Indeed, 30 Miles upon Occasion, which makes them Unwilling to part with them; at all events, not to break the pair. I Have other Nags, that you shall see, either single, or together, that are Very...
11To Thomas Jefferson from John Syme, 26 September 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I am Honor’d by the account of Yours, of 17th inst., being the Day, of Your departure from Us. I can bear Witness You never sought Places, but places sought you. These are the Men We want at present, and not Men to fill Offices, created for them. You Have sacrificd Much for Your Country, both at Home and abroad. You are not Yet too Old. To whom from the Southern States, shall We Look up. My...
12To Thomas Jefferson from John Syme, 17 February 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Very Freindly attention to Mrs. Barclay, induces Me, to ask the Favor of You, to give the inclos’d , a safer Conveyance, than either Her, Or Myself can do, and as it Contains Matters of importance, the Obligation Would be greatly added to, by forwarding the Answer, which is speedily wanted. We Experience so Many disapointments by private Oportunitys, that, it is Hop’d, the Freedom will...
13To Thomas Jefferson from John Syme, 23 March 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I came down here Yesterday, and am this moment favor’d with your melancholy Letter, of 17th. Currt. with the Inclosures. After returning you My sincere thanks, for your very Freindly Communications of poor Barclay’s Death, I am to request You’ll Advise me, soon as possible, of the readiest Method, of Obtaining for His Family, the Moneys Due, for His Services to the publick, and which They are...
14To Thomas Jefferson from John Syme, 18 September 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I did write you sometime Since, but hear it miscarry’d. Bestow one of your precious Momts. on a Very Aged Republican, always Your Friend; Depress’d indeed 4 yrs. ago; But rejoic’d (perhaps) in the Extreme, last Congress. I perceve the Dust Kick’d up, whenever You Dismiss a Federal culprit. One & all your well wishers, are Clearly of Opinion wth. Abraham Bishop , that you possibly may halt too...