To Thomas Jefferson from George Andrews, 24 April 1805
From George Andrews
New York April 24th 1805
Sir
by Mrs. Andrews I was informed you wished to see me I am extremely sorry it is my Lot to be from home the want of sufficient imployment, in Washington City has rendered it necessary for me to remain here some time to transact Business the Various Building I am employed for will not I fear be finesed until the midle of may the execution of work for which renders my personal attendance necessary but if you will be pleased to Honour me with your Commands I shall endeavour to execute them as promply as possible Sir the communication. you were pleased to Honour me with respecting Mr Oldham orders I recd and return you my sincere and respectfull acknowledgements for your Goodness so strongly manifested towards me I trust I shall ever retain lively sentiments of gratitude understanding that an apropriation has been made by Congress for the purchase of furniture for your accomodation I have taken the Liberty of mentioning that any Window cornices that may be wanting for your House I can get Manufactored in as handsome a Stile as any I presume can be obtained and on as Good terms my professional pursuits having led me into some knowledge of most of the Fine Arts if any particular pieces of Furniture Looking glasses &c. are wanting if no other arrangement has been made I trust I could at least I would endeavour to give as much satisfaction as any other Person any communication you will be pleased to Honour me with Mrs Andrews will forward me. with Sincere and respectfull acknowledgements
I am your obedit servt
George Andrews
RC (MHi); at foot of text: “Thos Jefferson Esqr”; endorsed by TJ as received 29 Apr. and so recorded in SJL.
Irish immigrant George Andrews (ca. 1765-1816) first set up shop as a “composition manufacturer” in New York during the mid-1790s. In 1799 he became a naturalized citizen and that same year he expanded his business to Baltimore. After James Hoban commissioned his work for the President’s House in 1800, Andrews relocated to Washington. Soon after, TJ turned to Andrews for architectural ornamentation needed at Monticello, and he would continue to do so through 1807, sometimes sending detailed preparation notes to the artisan. Andrews also earned commissions for the Octagon House and for Riversdale in Prince George’s County. He supplied ornamentation for the President’s House into the Madison administration. Active in local affairs, Andrews was an officer in the district militia, a city commissioner, and chair of the Washington Building Committee, and he served as a city tax collector (Mrs. Edward J. Chapin, “Naturalizations in Federal Courts, New York District, 1790-1828,” New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 97 (1966), 7; New York Columbian, 23 Aug. 1816; Baltimore Telegraphe and Daily Advertiser, 17 May 1799; Baltimore American, 13 Apr. 1801; Orlando Ridout V, Building the Octagon [Washington, D.C., 1989], 77, 92-3, 123; Boston Independent Chronicle, 7 July 1806; Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political, 15 May 1811; National Intelligencer, 12 May 1809, 21 May 1811; Daily National Intelligencer, 30 June 1814, 14 Sep. 1815; , 2:1167, 1198; Vol. 35:30-1; Vol. 40:80-1; Vol. 43:536).
you wished to see me: see TJ to James Oldham, 11 Mch.
Congress appropriated $14,000 for the purchase of furniture (Thomas Claxton to TJ, 1 Mch.).