Thomas Jefferson to Charles Wingfield, 8 September 1811
To Charles Wingfield
Monticello Sep. 8. 11.
Dear Sir
The death of mrs Carr, my sister, which took place a few days ago, and the desire that she should be buried here by the side of her husband, induce me to trouble you with a request that you would be so kind as to come and officiate on the occasion of her funeral. it is proposed that it shall take place on Wednesday the 11th at 12 aclock. it will be private, her near connections only proposing to attend, and our desire is to have the ceremony performed in a simple way, with prayers Etc as you shall think proper. I defer inviting her friends until I can recieve an answer from you by the bearer, whether we may hope the favor of your attendance. accept the assurance of my great esteem & respect.
Th: Jefferson
RC (Kate Joyner Bailey, Keswick, Va., 2004; photocopy in ViU: TJP); addressed: “Charles Wingfield.” PoC (MHi); at foot of text: “Revd Charles Wingfield”; endorsed by TJ.
Charles Wingfield (1752–1819) may have been the man of that name who attended Hampden-Sydney College and served as a tutor there in 1778. He lived on the Hardware River at Bell-air fourteen miles southwest of Monticello. Wingfield served as an Albemarle County magistrate in 1794 and had been sheriff briefly at the time of his death. He was licensed as a Presbyterian minister in 1808 and officiated at least twice at Monticello funerals (, 345; , 2:959, 1268, 1279; Herbert C. Bradshaw, History of Hampden-Sydney College [1976], 45, 77; Richard Wingfield Quarles, “The Wingfields of Albemarle County, Virginia: A Correction,” Magazine of Virginia Genealogy 26 [1988]: 83; Hanover Presbytery Minutes, 4:230, 241, 242 [21 Oct. 1807, 7 May 1808]; Albemarle Co. Order Book [1808–10], 294; Albemarle Co. Will Book, 7:7–9, 27–9).