To Thomas Jefferson from John Ammonet, 10 May 1787
From John Ammonet
Norfolk, 10 May 1787. Encloses letters of introduction; though he had expected to sail with Capt. Ramsay, the bearer, he postpones his voyage on account of illness. Asks TJ to make inquiries into the matter of his claim to the estate, “perhaps in the Town of Tessey, in lower Normandy,” of Jacob Ammonet, who left France for Virginia about 1700. He has credentials proving himself the “legal representative” of Jacob, and encloses a copy of several depositions. TJ’s reply should be directed to the care of Edmund Randolph.
RC (DLC); 2 p. Recorded in SJL as received 30 June 1787. Enclosures: (1) Hay to TJ, 26 Apr. 1787. (2) Currie to TJ, 2 May 1787. (3) Fleming to TJ, 2 May 1787. (4) Randolph to TJ, 3 May 1787. (5) Copy in Ammonet’s hand of the deposition concerning his identity by John Barnes, Charles Ammonet, and Charlotte J. Chastain before John and Thomas Harris, justices of the peace for Powhatan co., on 9 Aug. 1786. (6) Copy of certification by Edmund Randolph, dated 14 Apr. 1787, that the Harrises were magistrates (both this and foregoing in DLC). See TJ to Randolph, 11 Aug. 1787.