Dudley Richardson to Thomas Jefferson, 22 September 1809
From Dudley Richardson
Kentucky September the 22d 1809 Barren County Glasgow Post office
Sir
I have taken a Liberty to Rite to you hopeing you will Pardon me it Proseeds from A Desire of Hearing from my son Richard Richardson it appears to me that from your kindness to him while he was Living under your Direction that Perhaps he has made known to you his Place of Resedence and my Not Hearing from him since he was with me in the Ear 1804 and we Conditionially Agreed that I should moove to the Western Cuntrey Agreable to his request I movd to Kentucky in the Ear 1805 and have not heard from him sinc and am Convinst from your Goodness to Man and the Publick that if you have any knowledge of him and of his Resedence and ocaponcy you will Acquaint me of him and if he is a Living he must be Ungrateful if he has not mad you Acquanted Whear he Livs as you have been More kinder1 to him than was Ever in my Powr to be I Flatter my self you will Condesend to Rite me and Oblige yr Obedient & Verrey Humble Srt
Dudley Richardson
RC (MHi); endorsed by TJ as received 31 Oct. 1809 and so recorded in SJL.
Dudley Richardson was the father of richard richardson, a Virginia-born bricklayer who worked at Monticello between 1796 and 1800, serving as an overseer during his last year there. In 1801 TJ informed the younger Richardson that his uncle Joseph Richardson had left him an estate in Jamaica, upon which Richardson settled in Kingston, raising a family and occasionally corresponding with TJ (, 29:585).
1. Word interlined.