Thomas Jefferson Papers

From Thomas Jefferson to the Commissioners of the Specific Tax for Essex County, 6 September 1780

To the Commissioners of the Specific Tax for Essex County

In Council September 6 1780.

Gentlemen

Be pleased to send us by the Bearer the Tobacco Notes still in your Hands of the Specific Tax. Should any Accident prevent your sending them by this opportunity, I am to urge your availing yourself of some other safe and early Conveyance. We do not receive any Notes older than January 1779, And suppose that Transfer Notes not returned to us in Time to have them converted into Crop, you have had so converted yourselves. Yr. very hble. servt.,

Th: Jefferson

RC (Vi); in a clerk’s hand, signed by TJ; addressed: “Commissioners of Specific Tax Essex.” Written in a clerk’s hand on the face of the letter is a memorandum reading as follows:

“Thos. Bowler 21,054
Robt. Mann 16,828
Wm. Gatewood 10,663
48,545
  deduct 6 ⅌ Ct.  2,913
45,632
 1,350 for Casks
44,282 Nett Tobo”
A letter virtually identical in form and text, addressed to the Commissioners of the Specific Tax in King William co., is also in Vi; on its blank pages it bears numerous memoranda and calculations relating to the collection of tobacco, including a memorandum of a receipt issued to “Colo. Fras. West” for various notes and weights of tobacco, dated “Sept. 1780” and specifying the tobacco marks.

See the Essex Commissioners’ reply, printed under 16 Oct. 1780.

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