To Thomas Jefferson from Samuel Tupper, 15 March 1804
From Samuel Tupper
Detroit 15th March 1804
sir
I had taken the liberty (at a former period) to mention Mr Frederick Bates to Mr Phelps of N York as a Candidate for the Office Secretary, Should a new territory be erected in this part of the Country.—Mr Phelps has requested me to furnish him with additional information on the subject, but will probably leave the seat of Government before it can arrive.—
I therefore take the liberty of Submitting immediately to yourself, that information which, no doubt was Originally designd for your Consideration.—Mr Bates is a young Gentleman who is Descended from a respectable family in Virginia, where he received an Academic education.—Since that time his employments have been mostly of an Official nature, in which he has acquired regular and Systematic habits of business, and has accumulated a fund of Speculative and practical information.—In his manners he is modest & unassuming, but firm and Decided in his Opinions.—He is Studious, temperate, and industrious and his moral Character Stands unimpeached His attachment to republican measures is unquestionable.—He is at this time honorably and industriously employed, hold the Office of postmaster in this town, and possesses in a high degree the Confidence and esteem of his fellow Citizens.—Such Sir is the Character of the Gentleman respecting whom information has been asked, and is now respectfully Submitted to Your Consideration.—
I have the honor to be with Great respect your Obnt. Servt
Samuel Tupper
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); at head of text: “His excellency Thomas Jefferson Esquire”; endorsed by TJ as received 4 May with notation “Bates Frederick—to be Secretary of new state at Detroit” and so recorded in SJL with notation “Fredck. Bates, Secrety. new territ[y].”
Samuel Tupper (ca. 1765-1817) was a temporary resident of Detroit. In 1803, he was living in the Canandaigua region of New York represented by Congressman Oliver Phelps. By 1805, he was back in New York and settled in Buffalo. He and Phelps were active in the local politics of western New York and involved in military contracting. From 1806 to 1811, Tupper was the U.S. Indian factor at the trading house in Sandusky, Ohio. Beginning in 1808, he was a judge in Niagara County, New York (Orsamus Turner, History of the Pioneer Settlement of Phelps & Gorham’s Purchase, and Morris’ Reserve [Rochester, N.Y., 1852], 292, 416-17; Clarence Monroe Burton, Corporation of the Town of Detroit: Act of Incorporation and Journal of the Board of Trustees 1802-1805 [Detroit, 1922], 60, 65; , Pres. Ser., 3:393; James L. Barton, Early Reminiscences of Buffalo and Vicinity [Buffalo, 1879]; Alden Chester and E. Melvin Williams, Courts and Lawyers of New York: A History, 1609-1925, 4 vols. [New York, 1925], 3:1258; Albany Gazette, 13 Jan. 1818; Dearborn to TJ, 25 Nov. 1806).
Frederick bates sought the secretarial position on an understanding that Congress would form “our corner in the Indiana Territory” into a separate territory. Michigan Territory, however, was not created until 1805. TJ appointed Bates receiver of public moneys for lands at Detroit in October 1804 and secretary of the Louisiana Territory in 1807 (Thomas Maitland Marshall, Life and Papers of Frederick Bates, 2 vols. [St. Louis, 1926], 1:6-7, 9, 18; TJ to Madison, 4 Oct. 1804).
TJ also saw a memorial recommending Solomon Sibley as secretary of the anticipated new territory. On 14 Dec. 1803, James Henry of Detroit wrote Thomas Worthington enclosing the memorial. Addressed to Worthington from Wayne County, Indiana Territory, it was dated 10 Dec. and signed by 17 residents, including six judges of the court of common pleas; the agent for Indian affairs, Charles Jouett; and Matthew Ernest, customs collector at Detroit. Noting that Sibley had resided in the country for several years, the signers praised “his uniform, consistant, and meritorious conduct” and urged Worthington to make their recommendation known to the president (DNA: RG 59, LAR; letter endorsed by TJ: “Sibly Solomon to be Secretary of Michigan”; memorial also endorsed by TJ).