To Thomas Jefferson from Josiah Dean, 12 December 1804
From Josiah Dean
Raynham M.S. 12th Decr. 1804
Sir
Understanding that the present Collector of the Port of New Bedford is to be superseded and being requested by a number of Merchants in that place to write to your Excellency on the subject I have presumed to recommend a Candidate for the Office—
Mr. Isaiah Weston of New Bedford is a Gentleman every way qualified to execute the duties of a Collector. he is an undeviateing Republican and a firm supporter of the present Administration and will I am persuaded give universal satisfaction to the District, be faithful to his trust and do honour to the Appointment
I have the honour to be Sir your obedient Servant
Josiah Dean
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); at foot of text: “His Excellency Thos. Jefferson”; endorsed by TJ as received 22 Dec. and “Weston Isaiah to be Collectr. N. Bedford” and so recorded in SJL.
Josiah Dean (1748-1818) was a shipbuilder and iron manufacturer in Raynham, Massachusetts. He was named a justice of the peace, served as town clerk, represented the town in the state house of representatives and Bristol County in the state senate, and served in the Tenth Congress as a Republican (; Enoch Sanford, History of Raynham, Mass., from the First Settlement to the Present Time [Providence, R.I., 1870], 32, 39, 43-5; Boston Columbian Centinel, 31 Dec. 1794; Boston Independent Chronicle, 31 May 1792, 6 June 1793; Pittsfield Sun, 10 May 1806; Boston Patriot and Daily Chronicle, 6 Jan. 1819).
present Collector: Edward Pope.