To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Johnston, 23 November 1803
From Edward Johnston
Norfolk, Novr. 23d. 1803
Sir
Above I now inclose Capt. Butler’s Receipt for a Case which Messrs. Gibson & Jefferson of Richmond lately forwarded with a request that it might be sent on to you—Wishing it safe to hand I remain very respectfuly, Sir,
Your Obed: Servt.
Edward Johnston
RC (DLC); at head of text: “Thomas Jefferson Esquire”; subjoined to receipt signed by Tristram Butler, Norfolk, 23 Nov., for a box “in good order” to be conveyed to Alexandria and delivered to the President’s House; at foot of text in TJ’s hand: “Besides the above there are 2. hampers of wine”; endorsed by TJ. Recorded in SJL as received 2 Dec.
Edward Johnston established a mercantile partnership in Norfolk in 1799 and three years later was operating solely on his own credit. He may have moved to Richmond about 1806 (Richmond Virginia Argus, 20 Aug. 1799, 31 July 1802, 22 Aug. 1807; Norfolk Gazette and Publick Ledger, 19 Feb. 1806).
The wine that TJ also received with the shipment was 100 bottles of burgundy from Chambertin, which had been shipped from Le Havre to Norfolk. In his financial memoranda, TJ recorded paying $86 for the wine, including freight and customs duties (, 2:1116; Vol. 41:612).