William D. Meriwether to Thomas Jefferson, 17 October 1816
From William D. Meriwether
October 17th 1816
Dear Sir
Understanding by your grandson Mr Randolph, that you have declined to take the property claimed by the legatees of Bennett Henderson Decd, as it was valued to you, by Martin Dawson, I am desirous of knowing explicitly, whether or not, you will give up the property so claimed by them, and pay the rents due thereon, peaceably, and without my having recourse to law to obtain the same: but I assure you, I prefer Setling all the points in controversy, in an amicable way, and will with pleasure submit them, to the decision, of two or more disinterested persons, as you may prefer. Give me your answer to this as speedily as possible accept assurance of my esteem &c
W D Meriwether
RC (MHi); addressed: “Honbl. Thomas Jefferson Monticello”; endorsed by TJ as received 30 Oct. 1816 and so recorded in SJL.
The legatees of bennett henderson in question were Frances Henderson Hornsby, Lucy Henderson Wood, and Nancy C. Henderson Nelson. Meriwether had acted since 1811 as legal counsel for Hornsby and her husband in the Henderson controversy (TJ to Craven Peyton, [12 May 1811]).
Index Entries
- Dawson, Martin; and Milton lands search
- Henderson, Bennett; lands of search
- Henderson case; claims by minor heirs search
- Hornsby, Frances Henderson (Bennett Henderson’s daughter; Thomas Walker Hornsby’s wife); and Milton lands search
- Hornsby, Thomas Walker; and Milton lands search
- Meriwether, William Douglas; and Henderson case search
- Meriwether, William Douglas; letters from search
- Nelson, Nancy Crawford Henderson (Bennett Henderson’s daughter; Matthew Nelson’s wife); and Milton lands search
- Randolph, Thomas Jefferson (TJ’s grandson; Jane Hollins Nicholas Randolph’s husband); and Henderson case search
- rent; due from Henderson lands search
- Wood, Lucy Henderson (Bennett Henderson’s daughter; John T. Wood’s wife); and Milton lands search