Thomas Jefferson Papers

Thomas Jefferson to John Staples, 25 January 1814

To John Staples

Monticello Jan. 25. 14.

Sir

Understanding that you are the agent for disposing of mr Oliver Evans’s patent screws for crushing the ear of corn, cob & all for grinding in a mill, I have to ask the favor of you to deliver one for me to mr William Johnson, a waterman of Milton, who will apply to you for it about a week hence. Mr Gibson will be so good as to pay you the price on presenting him this letter.

Accept the assurance of my esteem and respect

Th: Jefferson

PoC (MHi); at foot of text: “Mr John Staples”; endorsed by TJ.

Evans had received his patent for an “Improvement called the screw mill for breaking and grinding different hard substances” on 14 Feb. 1804 (List of Patents description begins A List of Patents granted by the United States from April 10, 1790, to December 31, 1836, 1872 description ends , 39–40).

Index Entries

  • corn; and O. Evans’s patent mill screws search
  • Evans, Oliver; machinery of patented search
  • Evans, Oliver; sells milling screws search
  • Gibson, Patrick; payments made for TJ search
  • Johnson, William (waterman); transports goods from Richmond search
  • machines; O. Evans’s patent machinery search
  • mills; screws for search
  • patents; of O. Evans search
  • Staples, John; as patent agent search
  • Staples, John; letters to search