William Wirt to Thomas Jefferson, 23 September 1819
From William Wirt
Washington. Septr 23. 1819
Dear Sir.
A young gentleman of St Mary’s county, in the state of Maryland, Mr William Edelin, being about to become a student in the college at Charlottesville, I have been requested to give him a letter of introduction which will make his reception in your county1 respectable and his situation, as a stranger, more comfortable. I have not the pleasure of a personal acquaintance with Mr Edelin; but his connections are among the most respectable in the quarter from which he comes and he himself supports a high character both for morals and capacity. I hope I do not presume too much on your kindness for me in giving him this letter and requesting from you whatever advice & direction you may find convenient—
Wm Wirt
RC (DLC); at foot of text: “Thomas Jefferson esqr”; endorsed by TJ as received 2 Oct. 1819 “by mr Edelin” and so recorded in SJL. Tr (MdHi: Wirt Papers).
William J. Edelen (ca. 1800–73), physician, graduated from the medical college at the University of Maryland in 1825. He was a longtime resident of Saint Mary’s County, Maryland, and is buried there. In 1870 Edelen owned real estate valued at $8,500 and personal property worth $3,500 (Eugene Fauntleroy Cordell, The Medical Annals of Maryland, 1799–1899 [1903], 389; DNA: RG 29, CS, Md., Saint Mary’s Co., 1850–70; gravestone inscription in Saint Francis Xavier Church Cemetery, Compton, Md.).
1. Tr: “country.”
Index Entries
- Edelen, William J.; identified search
- Edelen, William J.; introduced to TJ search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Correspondence; letters of introduction to search
- Monticello (TJ’s Albemarle Co. estate); Visitors to; Edelen, William J. search
- Virginia, University of; Students; prospective students search
- Wirt, William; introduces W. J. Edelen search
- Wirt, William; letters from search