John Mantz to Thomas Jefferson, 19 December 1820
From John Mantz
Fredk Town Maryland Decr 19 1820
Dear Sir,
I send you by Mr Elijah Brown—one side upper leather tanned alltogether with wood—and no Bark in any way whatever has there been applyed—to Complete it—you will please to accept the same—and remain yours respectfully— Ob H S
John Mantz
RC (MHi); endorsed by TJ as received 31 Jan. 1821 and so recorded in SJL. RC (MHi); address cover only; with PoC of TJ to David Hosack, 5 Mar. 1821 (second letter), on verso; addressed: “Thomas Jefferson Esqr Near Charlotts Vill Albermarle County Virg ⅌r E Brown.”
John Mantz (1767–1839), merchant and tanner, owned a general store with Isaac Mantz by 1797 in Fredericktown (later Frederick), Maryland, and in 1801 he was compensated for “supplies furnished French prisoners at Fredericktown.” By 1803 the Mantzes had also entered the tanning business, which John Mantz conducted on his own by 1819. He served as a Frederick County commissioner in 1820 (Philadelphia Porcupine’s Gazette, 12 Oct. 1797; Accounts of the Treasurer of the United States, of payments and receipts of Public Monies, From the first of October, 1800, to the thirtieth of June, 1801, inclusive [Washington, 1801], 101; MdHi: Quynn Family Collection; Fredericktown Bartgis’s Republican Gazette, 29 Apr. 1803; Fredericktown Bartgis’s Republican Gazette, and General Advertiser, 22 May 1819; , 1:482; Hagerstown Torch Light & Public Advertiser, 22 Apr. 1823; gravestone inscription in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Frederick).