James Madison Papers

To James Madison from Joseph N. Thomas, 19 December 1805 (Abstract)

From Joseph N. Thomas, 19 December 1805 (Abstract)

§ From Joseph N. Thomas. 19 December 1805, “Oxen Ferry,” Maryland. “I had the Houner of recievg a Letter from the Departmt, of State informing me that the President had been pleased to appoint me a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Washington in the District of Columbia. I beg Leave Sir, to Inform the Departmt, of State that I am not a resident of the District of Columbia, my Dweling-House being outside the Line in the County of Prince Geo, State of Maryland, Consiquently am not Eligible to the Office.”1

RC (DLC: Jefferson Papers). 1 p.; docketed by Jefferson.

1Joseph N. Thomas (ca. 1755–1815), who had formerly lived in Alexandria, Virginia, lived near Oxon Hill, Maryland, where he operated a ferry to and from Alexandria. Jefferson named him justice of the peace for Washington County on 20 Dec. 1805 (Alexandria Gazette Commercial and Political, 17 Jan. 1805; T. Michael Miller, ed., Pen Portraits of Alexandria, Virginia, 1739–1800 [Bowie, Md., 1987], 5; Senate Exec. Proceedings, description begins Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America (3 vols.; Washington, 1828). description ends 2:8; Centinel of Liberty and George-town Advertiser, 7 Apr. 1797; Alexandria Daily Advertiser, 15 Feb. 1806, 10 Nov. 1807).

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