To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Meeks, 16 June 1801
From Edward Meeks
Cincinnati North-Western Territory
16 June 1801
Sir
The Subscriber living in the North Western Territory and at the Solicitations of a Number of Friends has Presumed to Address your Excellency at this time and praying that a favour may be confered on him, Should your Excellency deem him worthy of Your patronage in So great a Degree, Which is the Appointment to the Office of Marshal of the Sixth Federal Destrict, which Includes the Indiania & No Western Territorys, over which Judge Innes of Kentucky does preside and which he presumes is not yet filled—Your Patitioner has ever been a desided friend to the Revolutionary principles & Establishment of this Country and a Strict adherent to it’s Govornment and Laws, he is a Native of the State of New York and would beg leave to refer your Excellency to your Worthy Colleague Aaron Burr Esqr Vice President, for further Information of himself and Family, as he was for many years living a Neighbour to that Gentleman and likewise resided some time in Alexandria previous to Setteling in this Country, I wish your Excellency to have all the Information in Regard to my character he may require, which can be furnished from New York Virginia & in this country and will furnish any Security that may be required for the true performance of the Office, This Favour Should your Excellency in his Wisdom and Goodness think proper to confer, will ever make a lasting Impression of Gratitude on your patitioners Mind
With the highest Veneration for your Excellencys character & Person I have the Honour to Subscribe Myself your Obt verry Humble Servant
Edward Meeks
(I presume some of my Virginia Friends will wait on his Excellency on this Business to give any Satisfaction that may Appear Necessary)—
E M
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); at head of text: “His Excellency Thomas Jefferson President of the United States of America”; endorsed by TJ as received 3 July and “to be Marshall of 6th Fedl district” and so recorded in SJL with notation “S”; also endorsed by TJ: “includes Indiana & N. W. territory.”
Edward Meeks was enlisted in Colonel William Malcolm’s regiment of New York militia levies during 1776. A native of New York and resident of the city, Meeks continued to serve as a militia officer after the Revolution and became lieutenant colonel commandant of one of the city regiments in 1793. With Peter Catlett in 1799, he established himself as a merchant in the commission flour line in Alexandria, Virginia, but dissolved the partnership in October 1800, and later moved to Ohio (Washington, Papers, Rev. War Series, 11:217; , 1:64; Meeks to James Madison, 30 Nov. 1805 in DNA: RG 59, LAR).