Thomas Jefferson Papers

Thomas Jefferson to Charles Simms, 4 November 1811

To Charles Simms

Monticello Nov. 4. 11.

Sir

I have just recieved information that mr Lee, the Collector of Salem has forwarded for me to Alexandria by the Schooner Jachin, Wm Silver a cask of wine, a box of marble, a box of olives, & a bag of almonds. the wine is of the growth of the island of Majorca. can I get the favor of you to have them transhipped on board some vessel bound to Richmond, addressing them to Messrs Gibson & Jefferson? and if the paiment of duties & other charges can be transferred to the same place, that house will discharge them more conveniently for me. but any expences you may incur for the articles at Alexandria if you will have the goodness to drop me a note of them, I will remit them to you without delay. Accept the assurance of my respect.

Th: Jefferson

RC (ViU: TJP); at foot of text: “Colo Charles Simms.” PoC (MHi); endorsed by TJ.

Charles Simms (1755–1819) rose from major to lieutenant colonel in Virginia regiments of the Continental army, 1776–79. He later opened a law office in Alexandria and represented Fairfax County in the Virginia House of Delegates, 1785–86, 1792, and 1796, and at the Virginia ratification convention of 1788, where he supported the new United States Constitution. President John Adams appointed Simms customs collector for the Alexandria district in 1799, and he held the post until his death. In that capacity he occasionally had dealings with TJ. Simms also served as mayor of Alexandria, one of the directors of the Bank of Alexandria, and president of the Potomac Company (Heitman, Continental Army description begins Francis B. Heitman, comp., Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army during the War of the Revolution, April, 1775, to December, 1783, rev. ed., 1914 description ends , 497; Leonard, General Assembly description begins Cynthia Miller Leonard, comp., The General Assembly of Virginia, July 30, 1619–January 11, 1978: A Bicentennial Register of Members, 1978 description ends , 156, 172, 187, 203; Merrill Jensen, John P. Kaminski, and others, eds., The Documentary History of the Ratification of the Constitution [1976– ], 8:168–9, 10:1585; T. Michael Miller, comp., Artisans and Merchants of Alexandria, Virginia 1780–1820 [1991–92], 1:20, 2:44–5; JEP description begins Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States description ends , 1:325–6, 327 [5, 10 Dec. 1799]; PTJ description begins Julian P. Boyd, Charles T. Cullen, John Catanzariti, Barbara B. Oberg, and others, eds., The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, 1950– , 31 vols. description ends , 29:193–6; MB description begins James A. Bear Jr. and Lucia C. Stanton, eds., Jefferson’s Memorandum Books: Accounts, with Legal Records and Miscellany, 1767–1826, 1997, The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Second Series description ends , 2:1325, 1341, 1348; Washington National Intelligencer, 12 Mar. 1812; Washington Daily National Intelligencer, 1 Sept. 1819; Alexandria Co. Account Book, 4:139–40, 158–9; Alexandria Co. Will Book, 2:358–61).

Index Entries

  • almonds; sent to TJ search
  • building materials; marble search
  • food; almonds search
  • food; olives search
  • Gibson & Jefferson (Richmond firm); and food acquired by TJ search
  • Jachin (schooner) search
  • marble; sent to TJ search
  • nuts; almond search
  • olives; sent to TJ search
  • Silver, William (master of schooner Jachin); carries goods search
  • Simms, Charles; collector at Alexandria search
  • Simms, Charles; identified search
  • Simms, Charles; letters to search
  • wine; sent to TJ search