11From Thomas Jefferson to John Page, 25 May 1766 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your last by T. Nelson whom I luckily met on my road hither. Surely never did small hero experience greater misadventures than I did on the first two or three days of my travelling. Twice did my horse run away with me and greatly endanger the breaking my neck on the first day. On the second I drove two hours through as copious a rain as ever I have seen, without meeting with a...
12From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Willis, 23 July 1766 (Jefferson Papers)
I am at length arrived here, after a long, but agreeable trip along the continent as far as New York; which however was less agreeable for want of a companion, whose equal curiosity might have kept one in countenance in rambling over the different places which lie on the road. This I expected from you, and wrote to you upon that subject early in the spring; and nothing could equal my vexation...
13From Thomas Jefferson to John Page, 17 April 1767 [document added in digital edition] (Jefferson Papers)
Your welfare, That of m’rs Page, and your heir apparent give me great joy: but much was I disappointed at not seeing you here today. surely you will visit the city some time in the co urt: do not let family attachments totally rusticate you. in answer to the interrogatories of your letter , I left my wife and family well; I have been in constant health myself and still continue . I left well,...
14From Thomas Jefferson to William Preston, 18 August 1768 (Jefferson Papers)
I sit down to petition your suffrage in favor of a friend, whose virtues and abilities have made him such to me, and will give him equal place in your esteem whenever you have an opportunity of becoming acquainted with them. The gentleman I speak of is the Revd. James Fontaine, who offers himself as a candidate for the place of chaplain to the house of burgesses. I do not wish to derogate from...
15From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Turpin, 5 February 1769 (Jefferson Papers)
I am truly concerned that it is not in my power to undertake the superintendance of your son in his studies; but my situation both present and future render it utterly impossible. I do not expect to be here more than two months in the whole between this and November next, at which time I propose to remove to another habitation which I am about to erect, and on a plan so contracted as that I...
16From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander White, 19 April 1769 (Jefferson Papers)
Your messenger being about to return before I have an opportunity of conferring with Mr. Blair on the subject of your caveats, I must undertake an answer to your letter tho’ deprived of his assistance. As to the small survey of 220 acres, we need be at no other trouble or expence about it, Mrs. Wood and James Wood not proposing to defend it, and Harrison (as I understand) laying no claim to...
17From Thomas Jefferson to John Walker, 3 September 1769 (Jefferson Papers)
Ero apud Society spring on Tuesday per quatuor. Fortasse et I. Lepus-æmula veniet. Apis ibi et tu quoque. Ferto sequelam tuam Septentrionalem. Ferto etiam, ut ante tibi præcepi, tabulam scaccariam. Oculus feram viros. Si possemus gignere tabulam pro hac vice expressè factam, lignum apis puteus. Sed de hoc postea confabulemur. Suntne bubulæ terræ patris tui in Augusta salvæ? Id est nonne sint...
18Advertisement for a Runaway Slave, 7 September 1769 (Jefferson Papers)
[7 September 1769] R un away from the subscriber in Albemarle , a Mulatto slave called Sandy , about 35 years of age, his stature is rather low, inclining to corpulence, and his complexion light; he is a shoemaker by trade, in which he uses his left hand principally, can do coarse carpenters work, and is something of a horse jockey; he is greatly addicted to drink, and when drunk is insolent...
19From Thomas Jefferson to John Page, 21 February 1770 (Jefferson Papers)
I am to acquaint Mrs. Page of the loss of my favorite pullet; the consequence of which will readily occur to her. I promised also to give her some Virginia silk which I had expected, and I begin to wish my expectations may not prove vain. I fear she will think me but an ungainly acquaintance. My late loss may perhaps have reac[hed y]ou by this time, I mean the loss of my mother’s house by...
20From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Adams, 11 July 1770 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of interceding for your friendly aid to Mr. James Ogilvie a gentleman of my acquaintance now in London. Purposing last fall to go to Britain for orders he made the usual application to the commissary for his recommendatory letter to the bishop. This man, partly from an evil disposition to defeat the wishes of some gentlemen, no favorites of his, who bore a warm friendship to...