Thomas Jefferson Papers

Henry Skipwith to Thomas Jefferson, 22 October 1810

From Henry Skipwith

Williamsburg Octor 22 1810

My dear Sir

Some days since, in looking over the papers of the late Mr Dunbar, I came upon a letter of yours to him, soliciting paiment for a sum of money (£100) which you had advanced young John Banister in his life time, and which sum (by an entry in Dunbars Cash Book) was paid Thomas Pleasant for you.—As I have an unliquidated Acct of some importance with the representatives of John Banister, and as your acknowledgment or voucher will just save me so much money and interest; permit me Sir! to trespass upon your kindness, and to solicit your attention a few minutes to this matter, and that you will be so good as to forward me by the earliest opportunity, whatever document you can, either from papers or memory.—Your compliance will eminently oblige

Dear Sir! Your real friend & Sert

Henry Skipwith

RC (MHi); at foot of text: “Thomas Jefferson Esqr”; endorsed by TJ as received 31 Oct. 1810 and so recorded in SJL.

TJ’s letter to John Dunbar of 15 Dec. 1789 sought to settle a debt owed to him by the late John Banister Jr., a Virginian who borrowed money from TJ during a visit to France, 1785–87. Dunbar was also deceased by 1794, and so TJ obtained repayment from the administrators of Banister’s estate (PTJ description begins Julian P. Boyd, Charles T. Cullen, John Catanzariti, Barbara B. Oberg, and others, eds., The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, 1950– , 32 vols. description ends , 16:30–1, 23:254–5, 28:205, 214–5, 29:45, 102; 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 , 1:637, 2:944).

Index Entries

  • Banister, John, Jr. search
  • Dunbar, John search
  • Pleasant, Thomas search
  • Skipwith, Henry (TJ’s brother-in-law); and J. Banister’s estate search
  • Skipwith, Henry (TJ’s brother-in-law); letters from search