From James Madison to Robert Williams (Abstract), 15 March 1805
§ To Robert Williams
15 March 1805, Department of State. “I have the honor to enclose a Commission1 appointing you Governor of the Mississippi Territory and another for Thomas H. Williams as Register of the land office in the County of Adams in the same territory. As however it is uncertain whether the latter commission will meet the acceptance of Mr. Williams,2 to provide for filling the office, another commission is enclosed, blank as to name & date, which it is left to your discretion to fill up in case of Mr. Williams declining. Be pleased to return me the blank commission if he should accept, or the name and date you may insert in it, if he should not.”
Letterbook copy (DNA: RG 59, DL, vol. 14); letterbook copy of enclosures (DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Permanent and Temporary Presidential Commissions). Letterbook copy 2 pp. For enclosures, see n. 1.
1. The enclosures (2 pp.) are copies of the 1 Mar. 1805 commission appointing Robert Williams governor of Mississippi Territory, and the 3 Mar. 1805 commission appointing Thomas Hill Williams register of the land office for lands west of Pearl River.
2. Thomas Hill Williams accepted the position of register; he was later named territorial secretary also and he served in both posts until he was appointed collector at New Orleans in 1810 (, Mississippi, 5:412, 417–18, 6:67, 73, 75 n. 72).