Thomas Newell to Thomas Jefferson, 4 July 1810
From Thomas Newell
State of Ohio Zanesvill July th 4 AD 1810
Sir,
Necessity is the Grounds of this Statement which I hope will not be unactable1 to You as the Friend of the Only Free People upon the Earth. I am a Friend to my Country and have ben from the days of my Youth—at which time I ingaged in the united states service and Continued in it until the Prize was won for which Service I Recieved Six dollars and three Crown only. to Pas over the Hardships attending the service of a Country allmost destitute of Laws and Resources. when the united states took Rank with the Nations of the Earth there was no Provision made for the Payment of our wages until the speculators had all our securities in their hands. a Tract of Land was sett off for [me] at Nine Hundred Miles distance from where I Liv[ed] to which Place I came but found I could not have my Portion Except I took Thirty nine Hundred acres2 more. Now after all the Land is taken up that is of any value I can have my Portion if I can make a Certain Kind of Proof which is at Nine Hundred Miles distance if Living which I am unable to do. Now I have not the Least shadow of hope of Ever Recieving my Land nor my wages. Now if you could think it [were?] not Derogatory to your Station in Life to help me to some imploy in the united states service that would inable me to maintain my family it would be a favour by me Greatfully acknowledged. I have no opulent friends to Recomend me to favour nor have I any uncommon abilities I am a sober man a Surveyor and Book Keeper. if you should think Proper to help me to any imployment some Place of no Great Trust might be the most Proper (as I am unknown to you) where I could Earn my wages and Recieve them if you think me unworthy of any Notice be kind Enought to Wright to me and Let me know it. I am your friend and Humble servant
Thomas Newell
RC (MoSHi: TJC-BC); mutilated at seal (first two bracketed sections); ink stained (third bracketed section); dateline at foot of text; addressed: “Thomas Jefferson Late President of the united States in Virginia”; franked; postmarked 22 July at Zanesville; endorsed by TJ as received 10 Sept. 1810 and so recorded in SJL.
Two Virginians named Thomas Newell served in the American Revolution, one as a lieutenant in the Shenandoah County militia and the other (born ca. 1756) as a private from Prince George County in the Continental army whose service for almost a year ended at the battle of Yorktown (John H. Gwathmey, Historical Register of Virginians in the Revolution, [1938], 583; DNA: RG 15, RWP).
1. Possibly “unacceptable” was intended.
2. Manuscript: “ares.”