From Thomas Jefferson to the Commissioners of the Specific Tax for Augusta County, 30 May 1780
To the Commissioners of the Specific Tax for Augusta County
Richmond May 30. 1780
Gentlemen
Be pleased to deliver for the use of this State to Messrs. Eaton and Brown, or order, whatever indian corn, oats rye, or barley you may have received for the public. Your wheat you will please to have properly manufactured and packed. No return being yet received from your County I shall hope to receive one without delay. I am Gentlemen Yr. hble Servt,
Th: Jefferson
RC (Vi); in a clerk’s hand signed by TJ. Addressed below text: “The Commissioners of Specific tax for Augusta County.”
By an Act “for laying a tax, payable in certain enumerated commodities” ( x, 79–81), passed in the May 1779 session, a tax payable in wheat, corn, rye, barley, oats, hemp, or tobacco was levied on all persons over sixteen years of age, and two commissioners were appointed in each county to collect the levies and to make annual returns to the governor on or before 15 May.