Thomas Jefferson Papers

Thomas Jefferson to Edwin Stark, 10 October 1816

To Edwin Stark

Monticello Oct. 10. 16.

Sir

Mr Timothy Banger of Philadelphia informs me that a box found in the military stores addressed to me, & so long there as that neither it’s contents, or when it came there is known, has been sent to you to be forwarded. I am equally ignorant of the box & it’s contents; but if you will have the goodness to send it to Richmond to Messrs Gibson & Jefferson, my correspondents there, they will receive it and pay all expences which have attended it. Accept my apology & thanks for the trouble it costs you & the assurance of my respect.

Th: Jefferson

PoC (MHi); on verso of portion of reused address cover to TJ; at foot of text: “Mr Edwin Starke”; endorsed by TJ.

Edwin Stark (ca. 1769–1830), public official, was a longtime resident of Norfolk who was appointed a collector of the federal direct tax and internal duties in 1813. He served as a military storekeeper, 1813–21, and as a customs measurer from about 1823 until his death. Stark owned fifteen slaves in 1810, ten a decade later, and seven in 1830. He left a personal estate valued at almost $900, including three slaves (WMQ description begins William and Mary Quarterly, 1892–  description ends , 1st ser., 4 [1896]: 271; DNA: RG 29, CS, Norfolk, 1810–30; JEP description begins Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States description ends , 2:438, 442 [13, 23 Dec. 1813]; Heitman, U.S. Army description begins Francis B. Heitman, comp., Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, 1903, 2 vols. description ends , 1:916; A Register of Officers and Agents, civil, military, and naval, in the Service of the United States [Washington City, 1824], 51; [1830], 58; Norfolk Hustings and Corporation Court Will Book, 5:190–1, 192–5; American Beacon and Norfolk and Portsmouth Daily Advertiser, 3 July 1830; gravestone inscription in Saint Paul’s Episcopal churchyard, Norfolk).

Index Entries

  • Banger, Timothy; and package for TJ search
  • Gibson & Jefferson (Richmond firm); payments made for TJ search
  • Stark, Edwin; and package for TJ search
  • Stark, Edwin; identified search
  • Stark, Edwin; letters to search