To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Heyward, Jr., 3 August 1801
From Thomas Heyward, Jr.
Charleston, South Carolina
3d. Augst. 1801
Sir
This Letter is intended to be handed to you by Mr. John Huger a friend of mine & a respectable Inhabitant of this State. he is gone from hence to Rhode-Island on Account of his Health & proposes returning by Land to Carolina, taking the City of Washington in his Way—He has requested that I would remind you of our Acquaintance in the years 1776, 77, & 78, when we attended Congress—I do it with Chearfulness from a Conviction of his Claim on me for every Service that I can render & whatever Attentions you confer on him will be esteemed an Obligation confered on me—With great Respect I am
your Excelys Most obedt humble Servt.
Thos. Heyward
RC (Facsimile in Anderson Galleries Catalogue, J. H. Manning Sale, No. 350, January 1926); according to catalogue, text is endorsed by TJ as received 22 Oct. Recorded in SJL as received 23 Oct.
Thomas Heyward, Jr. (1746–1809) represented South Carolina in the Continental Congress from 1776 to 1778 and was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. After many years of service as a state legislator and jurist, he retired from public life in 1790 to concentrate on his agricultural interests, especially tidal rice cultivation. In 1791, TJ had recommended him for the office of comptroller of the Treasury (; Vol. 20:146).
Heyward’s friend, John Huger, was a wealthy South Carolina planter, former state legislator, and intendant of Charleston from 1793 to 1795 (, 2:775–7).