Thomas Jefferson Papers

To Thomas Jefferson from Ephraim Kirby, 16 December 1803

From Ephraim Kirby

Natchez, Mississippi Territory
Decemr. 16th. 1803

Sir

Being necessarily detained in this place a few days to prepare for the remaining part of my journey, I have availed myself of the opportunity which it presented to designate some suitable character for the office of Register in The County of Washington.—I have heard but of one person who would do justice to the appointment. Among all the respectable characters, with whom I have conversed, there seems to be a concurrence of opinion in favour of this Gentleman. The information was spontaneously afforded, under an impression that he had been previously appointed. Upon this evidence I have discharged the trust with which you was pleased to honor me, by filling the Registers Commission for the County of Washington with the name of Joseph Chambers.1—He resides near Fort Stodard, and of course I have had no communication with him, but have no doubt of his acceptance

With great respect I am sir Your Obedt. Servt

Ephm Kirby

RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); at foot of text: “The President of the United States”; endorsed by TJ as received 1 Jan. 1804 and so recorded in SJL; also endorsed by TJ: “Chambers Joseph. Register Ld. office. Tombigbee.”

discharged the trust: see TJ to Kirby, 15 July. Highly recommended by James Wilkinson, joseph chambers was serving as U.S. factor to the Choctaws and learning their language (Terr. Papers description begins Clarence E. Carter and John Porter Bloom, eds., The Territorial Papers of the United States, Washington, D.C., 1934-75, 28 vols. description ends , 5:176n, 238).

On this date, Kirby also wrote to his friend Gideon Granger. After describing his long journey to Natchez, during which he was “many times in the most eminent danger,” Kirby informed the postmaster general that he had made up his mind “to become an inhabitant of this part of the United States.” He wrote: “I leave to my friend to designate for me the service which he thinks me most competent to Perform.—In the organization of the government of Louisiana I hope I shall not be forgotten” (RC in DNA: RG 59, LAR; endorsed by TJ: “Kirby Ephraim. for employment N.O. his lre to mr Granger”).

1Kirby first left a blank, into which he inserted Chambers’s name.

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