Thomas Jefferson Papers

Jonathan & Thomas Foster to Thomas Jefferson, 4 January 1810

From Jonathan & Thomas Foster

Winchester 4th. Janry 1810

Highly Respected Sir

We have taken the liberty to send you one of the first papers of the Constellation, and cannot help expressing a wish, that you may so approbate it as to become its patron,

With the highest consideration of respect & esteem we are your obedient friends & fellow citizens

J. & Thos Foster

Genl John Smith, our representative, is one of our worthy patrons, & holds a Prospectus

RC (MHi); adjacent to closing: “Thomas Jefferson Esqr”; endorsed by TJ as received 17 Jan. 1810 and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure: Winchester Republican Constellation, 2 Jan. 1810.

Jonathan Foster and his son Thomas Foster operated a printing business that was entirely in the elder Foster’s hands by October 1810. Jonathan Foster also published books and operated a school in Winchester. In 1819 he sold his newspaper and print shop to George McGlassin (Brigham, American Newspapers description begins Clarence S. Brigham, History and Bibliography of American Newspapers, 1690–1820, 1947, 2 vols. description ends , 2:1164–5, 1414; Garland R. Quarles and Lewis N. Barton, eds., What I Know About Winchester: Recollections of William Greenway Russell, 1800–1891 [1953], 51, 63, 65, 97; Frederic Morton, The Story of Winchester in Virginia [1925], 223, 227).

Index Entries

  • Foster, Jonathan; identified search
  • Foster, Jonathan; letters from search
  • Foster, Jonathan & Thomas (Winchester firm); identified search
  • Foster, Jonathan & Thomas (Winchester firm); letters from search
  • Foster, Jonathan & Thomas (Winchester firm); Republican Constellation (Winchester newspaper) search
  • Foster, Thomas; identified search
  • Foster, Thomas; letters from search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; works sent to search
  • newspapers; Winchester Republican Constellation search
  • Republican Constellation (Winchester newspaper) search
  • Smith, John (1750–1836); and Winchester newspaper search
  • Winchester, Va.; Republican Constellation search