Thomas Jefferson Papers

To Thomas Jefferson from John Callier and Ranson Harwell, 27 November 1804

From John Callier and Ranson Harwell

Fort St. Stevens, November 27th, 1804.

Sir

Chozen from the different parts of the District of Washington and now assembled togather in a committee for the purpose of making our Grevenses Known we beg leave to inclose a petition subscribed by the most Respectable Citizen in the District afore said we are well acquainted with the carracter of the Gentleman recommended in that Petition and Sereously believe him to be a Republican in heart and in principle, and one firmly attached to the prcent administration, he is a Law Carracter and a man of fine abilities and in our Opinion would give Genl, Satisfaction. We congratulate our selves in the participation with a community that has displayed, Wisdom enough to place the Highest Literary Carracter in the most Dignified station, and Transmited to posterity a Glorious Example which future ages may equally boast of and admire, we Invoke the god of heaven to give you good health and length of days, and with Submission subscribe our selves your Hombl. Servant, Sr.

Jno. Callier President

Ranson Harwell Secy.

RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); in Harwell’s hand, signed by both; at foot of text: “Thos, Jefferson president of the United states of america”; endorsed by TJ as received 12 Feb. 1805 and “Gilmer to be judge” and so recorded in SJL, with a brace connecting it to John Callier’s letter of 17 Dec. and notation “Gilmer to be judge.” Enclosure: see Rodominick H. Gilmer to TJ, 8 Nov. 1804.

John Callier, older brother of James Callier, had been a militia officer in Washington County, Mississippi Territory. In 1805, he became chief justice of the orphan’s court and presiding justice of the county court. The Callier brothers achieved a level of notoriety for their filibustering and land acquisition schemes. Ranson Harwell was a justice of the peace and county clerk in Washington County (Philip D. Beidler, First Books: The Printed Word and Cultural Formation in Early Alabama [Tuscaloosa, Ala., 1999], 16-17; Jacqueline Anderson Matte, The History of Washington County: First County in Alabama, 2 vols. [Chatom, Ala., 1982], 1:434; Rowland, Claiborne Letter Books description begins Dunbar Rowland, ed., The Official Letter Books of W. C. C. Claiborne, 1801-1816, Jackson, Miss., 1917, 6 vols. description ends , 1:65, 66; Rodominick H. Gilmer to TJ, 8 Nov.; John Callier to TJ, 17 Dec.).

Gentleman recommended: Rodominick H. Gilmer.

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