Davis Durrett to Thomas Jefferson, 22 December 1812
From Davis Durrett
Albemarle 22nd [Dec.] 1812
Sir
yours of the 22nd was duly received, mentioning that you had been informed of my having a horse for sale, & wishing him on trial for 10 days. I cant spare him as long as ten days at this time, You can have him five days on trial at this time, & should you not be satisfed I will let you have him longer after Crismas, I have drove him in a gig two or three times & he always appeared purfectly gentle perhaps when you first put him to the carriage he may appear a little awkward, should he have him led a few steps & I think he will drive very well, I have had him to the waggon once, he drew as well as any horse I ever see, have him put the offside when he is put to the Carriage. this horse was eigh years old last spring his sire was by old Fitzpartner I do not no what blood his dam is of he is by the same horse that the bay horse was that you baught of my Brothe. Your Obedient Servt
Davis Durrett
PS it will not suit me to wait longer than April for the money
RC (MHi); partially dated; at foot of text: “Mr Thos Jefferson”; endorsed by TJ as a letter of 22 Dec. 1812 received a day later and so recorded in SJL.
TJ purchased fitzpartner in 1799 from Chiles Terrell. By late in 1808 he and the other carriage horse, Castor, were no longer able to work. The bay horse that TJ baught from Durrett’s brother on 18 Aug. 1808 for £50 was “got by Fitzpartner on a Seelah mare” (, 2:1001, 1230; , 99; Edmund Bacon to TJ, 1 Dec. 1808 [MHi]).