To Thomas Jefferson from John D’Antignac, 21 April 1804
From John D’Antignac
augusta 21th april 1804
Sir/
under an impression, that a man who has devoted the most usefull portion of his Days, in the Service of America, has Some Claim, on the patronage of a president of the united States, I beg leave, with Every possible deference, to address you this letter
A frenchman by Birth, I Entered the american service on the first day of May 1777, with the Commission of a Captain, then Brigade Major of General Rochefermois, at Ticonderoga, before the Taking of Bourgoine
these, Sir, are on record, in the war office, and May be Confirmed by General wilkinson, and General gates.
Colonel Samuel Hammond, a menber from Georgia, has put My name, in nomination, for Marshall, of the district of New Orleans—If his friendship, strengthened, by that of general wilkinson, will have weight in recommending me, to your Goodness, I flatter Myself they wil not be wanting
I have lived in South Carolina, About ten years where I have been a menber of the legislature, and a justice of the peace, during the best part of My residence there
Now I live in the City of augusta, in Georgia, where I am a justice of the peace for the City, but a poor Subsistance, for an old veteran with a large familly to Support
family affairs and An opposition to the Measures of the late Administration, prevented me, from Comming forward sooner—
With a wish, that you May long retain that Station, in the Affections, of your fellow Citizens, which you at present hold, I have the honor, with Sentiments of respect, to remain
Sir your most obedient and humble Servant
John D’antignac
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); endorsed by TJ as received from “D’antignal” on 14 May and “to be Marshal of Orleans” and so recorded in SJL.
John D’Antignac (1748-1827) was born in Auvergne in France and emigrated to the West Indies in the late 1760s. He joined the Continental Army in 1777 and was present at both the Battle of Saratoga and the siege of Yorktown (Savannah Daily Georgian, 21 Apr. 1827).
general rochefermois: in November 1776, Congress appointed Alexis Matthias Roche de Fermoy a brigadier general in the Continental Army. He resigned his commission after the British capture of Fort Ticonderoga in 1777 (, 6:927; 10:97, 105).
On 20 April 1804, samuel hammond recommended D’Antignac to Dearborn for the marshal’s position in New Orleans. Hammond emphasized D’Antignac’s Revolutionary War record and his service as a Republican legislator in South Carolina (RC in DNA: RG 59, LAR; endorsed by TJ: “Hammond Colo. to Genl Dearborne”). Five days later, D’Antignac also wrote to Dearborn regarding an appointment (RC in same; endorsed by TJ: “D’antignac. to Genl. Dearborne to be Marshal or something in Orleans”).