Thomas Jefferson Papers

Thomas Jefferson to John Brockenbrough, 27 December 1817

To John Brockenbrough

Monticello Dec. 27. 17.

Sir

On my return after a long absence, I found here your favor of Dec. 10. I never owned but one piece of ground in Richmond which was conveyed to me by Charles Carter as trustee for Colo Byrd, and sold and conveyed again by me to David Higginbotham, to whom I delivered all the papers I had concerning it. a copy of the deed which I retained enables me to quote it’s description, to wit, ‘included within four right lines whereof one on the South Eastern side bounding on the tenement No 334 formerly the property of Patrick Coutts is 36. yards long; one other on the South Western side bounding on the Common towards the river is 24. yards long one other on the North Western side bounding on the Common laid off as a road from Shockoe warehouse to the wharf is 39. [yards] long, and the other on the North Eastern side bounding [on th]e lands formerly the property of R. C. Nicholas decd is 22. yards long, being part of the lot 335. Etc.’     the original of this deed is in possession of mr Higginbotham: altho’ I doubt whether this can relate to the question stated in your letter I have quoted it that you may judge of it yourself. accept the assurance of my great esteem & respect.

Th: Jefferson

PoC (DLC); on verso of a reused address cover from Alexander Garrett to TJ; mutilated at seal, with missing text supplied from Conveyance of TJ’s Lot in Richmond to David Higginbotham, Nov. 1811; at foot of text: “John Brockenbrough esq.”; endorsed by TJ.

Index Entries

  • Brockenbrough, John; as Richmond Common Council member search
  • Brockenbrough, John; letters to search
  • Byrd, William (1728–77); TJ purchases lot from search
  • Carter, Charles (1732–1806); as trustee for W. Byrd (1728–77) search
  • Coutts, Patrick; and TJ’s Richmond lot search
  • Higginbotham, David; purchases Richmond lot from TJ search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Business & Financial Affairs; sells Richmond lot search
  • Nicholas, Robert Carter (1729–80); and TJ’s Richmond lot search
  • Richmond, Va.; TJ’s property in search
  • Richmond, Va.; warehouses in search