To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Bloomfield, 30 June 1802
From Joseph Bloomfield
Trenton, New-Jersey,
30th: June 1802.
Sir,
I do my Self the honor of transmitting the enclosed.
Mr. Mott who resides near Sandy Hook was lately in Trenton, and requested me whenever Dr. Condit & Mr. Southard should recommend Commissioners of Bankruptcy, for the Eastern part of New-Jersey; to mention his concurrence in their recommendation, and of the recommendation enclosed, of Isaiah Shinn, from Mr. Elmer’s district, & that it is his wish and of those with whom he has advised; that Abraham Brown and Anthony F. Taylor, may be Appointed in the district, in which he resides.
The persons therefore recommended to be Commissioners of Bankruptcy in New-Jersey, are,—
Thomas Ward, of Newark, Essex-County.
Phineas Manning, of New-Brunswick, Middx. Co.
John Cobb, of Morris, Morris county.
Isaiah Shinn, of Woodstown, Salem county.
Abraham Brown, of Burlington, Burlington County.
Anthony F. Taylor, of Bordentown, Burlington county.
Thomas Ward & John Cobb, served in the Militia during the War—Cobb has been a Colonel of Militia & Thomas Ward, is now the senior Col. of Cavalry in New-Jersey.
Phineas Manning, served all the War in the American Cavalry & distinguished himself for his bravery. He follows merchandize.
Isaiah Shinn, is Major-General of the first Division of Militia, was brought up to Mercantile business & is universally esteemed.
Mr. Brown, is a Lawyer, & has been Secretary to the Commissioners of Bankruptcy in West-Jersey, is well acquainted with the duties & will, there is no doubt, give universal satisfaction.
A. F. Taylor, was brought up to Mercantile business, which he follows,—was on board the Alliance as a midshipman in the revolutionary War—& is well acquainted with business.
I beg leave to add, that all the persons recommended, are decided Republicans, and Attached to the present administration.
I had declined recommending any person, but the recommendations having been sent to me to forward, with a desire, that I would Concur, has induced me to trouble the Executive on this occasion.
I cannot add, to the high respect & Sincere esteem, with which I am, most truly, Your obedt. Servt.
Joseph Bloomfield
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR, 12:0098–0100); at foot of text: “The President”; endorsed by TJ as received 3 July and “commrs. bkrptcy” and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure: (1) John Condit to TJ, 28 June 1802, and enclosure. (2) Undated, unaddressed recommendation, perhaps to Ebenezer Elmer, signed by William Parret, Salem County representative in the state’s legislative council, Artis Seagrave, Merriman Smith, and Edward Burroughs, representatives of Salem County in the New Jersey General Assembly, and Jacob Hufty, sheriff of Salem County, endorsing Isaiah Shinn, James Linn, and William Rossell as bankruptcy commissioners, “being Persons of Sound Minds and independent Republican Principals,” who will discharge the “duty with Candour and Integrity”; with a note adjacent to the signatures indicating that Linn and Rossell “decline” (RC in DNA: RG 59, LAR, 10:0250, with a note in TJ’s hand at foot of text: “To Govr. Bloomfield”; Votes and Proceedings of the Twenty-Seventh General Assembly of the State of New-Jersey [Trenton, 1802], 3; , 232–3; Trenton True American, 6 Oct. 1801).
Congressman Ebenezer ELMER’S DISTRICT included Cumberland, Salem, and Cape May counties, although the New Jersey congressional elections were held at large at the time. Elmer resided in Cumberland County (, 2; Newark Centinel of Freedom, 16 Dec. 1800).
TJ appointed all six of the New Jersey candidates recommended above as commissioners of bankruptcy. The commissions for the New Jersey appointees were dated 6 July. On his personal list, TJ dated the appointments 7 July (list of commissions in Lb in DNA: RG 59, MPTPC; Appendix II, List 2).