Thomas Jefferson Papers

Benjamin Galloway to Thomas Jefferson, 30 July 1816

From Benjamin Galloway

Hagers Town Washington County Maryland July1 30th 1816.

Sir.

I have taken the liberty of placing under cover to you a Letter for your amiable daughter, Mrs Randolph; which, I shall be much obliged to you, to deliver into her hands: Should she be with you at Monticello, when you receive this—If Mrs R should be absent, I must beg the favour of you, Sir, to break the seal, peruse the contents, and comply with a sollicitation contained therein, at an early day; which will confer a favour on me—I have enjoyed perfect health, ever since I took my departure from your house, with the exception of a short, but, dangerous illness, with which I was attacked, in September last; whilst I was on a visit to my friends in Ann Arundel: since, which; I have been gaining flesh, almost daily, and am thirty pounds heavier, than I weighed, when, at your house: I hope, that you, and your kind family, have enjoyed the same blessing—

Mr Johnson, the Watch & Clock Maker, who, I did suppose, would have eagerly embraced the very favourable offer, that, you authorized me make to him; as an inducement to remove his family to Charlotteville: tho’ he was seemingly anxious, to better his situation, when I set off from Hagers Town to Monticello; like too many others, was unwilling to encounter the trifling difficulties, with which such an undertaking, would have been accompanied: but promised to use his endeavours to persuade some fit young man of the trade to settle in your part of the country: and has repeatedly informed me, that he has recieved promises so to do, in abundance: but, the characters, have never come forward: which, has been in no slight degree, painfull to me; because, I gave you confident assurance, of the practicability of engaging a good workman to accept your very generous offer—I find, on enquiry, that the Clock, and Watch makers business, is, so rapidly encreasing in the western counties of our state: that I almost despair of succeeding in my said undertaking: I will, however, keep a sharp look out; and, if I should be so fortunate, as to meet with a proper character; who, may be willing to accept your offer; I will inform you: and afford every aid and assistance towards his removal—

Mrs Galloway joins me in Compliments—

I am, Sir with lively esteem and due respect—Yours &

Benjamin Galloway

RC (MHi); endorsed by TJ as received 11 Aug. 1816 and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure not found.

1Reworked from “June.”

Index Entries

  • Charlottesville, Va.; watchmaker needed in search
  • clocks; repairman needed for search
  • Galloway, Benjamin; and publication of TJ’s correspondence search
  • Galloway, Benjamin; and watchmaker for Charlottesville search
  • Galloway, Benjamin; health of search
  • Galloway, Benjamin; letters from search
  • Galloway, Benjamin; travels of search
  • Galloway, Benjamin; visits Monticello search
  • Galloway, Henrietta Maria Chew (Benjamin Galloway’s wife) search
  • health; and weight search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Correspondence; publication of papers search
  • Johnson, Arthur (clock maker) search
  • Monticello (TJ’s estate); Visitors to; Galloway, Benjamin search
  • Randolph, Martha Jefferson (Patsy; TJ’s daughter; Thomas Mann Randolph’s wife); and B. Galloway search
  • watches; needing repair search