LOT #47012 |
Sold on Dec 15, 2023 for: Sign-in
or Join (free & quick)
Thomas Jefferson Autograph Letter Signed as Vice President. ...
Click the image to load the highest resolution version.
Sold on Dec 15, 2023 for:
$62,500.00
Bid Source: Live: Phone bidder
Get one of these:
Explore Available Items
Description
"I am sincerely concerned for the death of Jupiter, which I am persuaded might have been prevented could I have prevailed on him to give up going with me to Fredericksburg."
Thomas Jefferson Autograph Letter Signed as Vice President.
Two pages, 7 ¾ x 9 ¾ inches, Philadelphia; February 10, 1800.A letter addressed to Richard Richardson, an overseer at Monticello, in which Jefferson expresses regret at the death of enslaved person, Jupiter Evans, provides instructions for other enslaved individuals at Monticello, and discusses upcoming renovations at the estate. Housed in a quarter morocco clamshell case.
Jefferson writes:
"Your favors of Jan. 7th and 18th have both been received on the 12th of January I made a remittance to Mr. Jefferson and direct him to pay out of it 329 dollars to your order as I notified you in my letter of the 13th which I presume you received on the 22d. I am sincerely concerned for the death of Jupiter, which I am persuaded might have been prevented could I have prevailed on him to give up going with me to Fredericksburg, or to have stopped the 2d day, and permitted a man to go on with me whom I engaged for that purpose, proposing to him to stay by the way. I supposed the journey to my brother's compleated [sic] the business. I hope you will have care taken of the things in his charge, such as the carriages, harness, saddles &c as it is proper somebody should sleep so as to guard the house, perhaps it would be best for Joe [Fossett?], Wormely [Hughes] & Burwell [Colbert] [three of Sally Hemmings' nephews], or any two of them to sleep in the North square cellar. I take John to be a great nightwalker. besides I have no idea of letting him off from his share of labour with the men. he is beginning to be idle, and I consider his labouring with the rest in the winter to be necessary to keep him to his duty. at that season there is nothing to be done in the garden but what the old people can do with his direction. I think therefore it would be better that Burwell should feed the horses. if a supply of forage is kept ready, it need interrupt his day's work but a short time. I shall be glad if you will keep the key of the corn crib in the stable, and see that the corn is always locked up in that. under this arrangement, the sheep might remain on John's hands, without hindering him. as I understand Ned lost everything in his house, & of course his bedding, give him three new blankets, and a hamper roll bed. I am in hopes you have sent down the the [sic] three ton of half crown rod, as my merchant here agrees to take it in Richmond as cash. of course it is important it should be there immediately, as it will save my paying him 120.L cash soon to become due. I hope you have received the 4. tons of nail rod sent on in December, which with the 3. tons received before I came from home will be a supply till summer. I should like to receive the weekly report of the boys work whenever you write to me, as also a journal of the nails sold. If you would write to me always the day after you receive a letter from me, so that it might come by return of the same post, I would do the same here, so that a letter written by each about every three weeks would keep me possessed of the progress of the several works & enable me to give directions. I should have been very glad of the smith you mention to me; but Powel is engaged to come, tho' not till next winter. I wrote to Mr. [John Wayles] Eppes [one of Jefferson's sons-in-law] to try and engage him to come the 1st of July, I expect an answer from him. If he does not I should be willing to take this one for the present year.
I have sent on a bag of particular kind of nut, called the Paccan [sic]. As soon as ever they arrive John must plant them in the nursery in rows 2 feet apart, and 6 inches from nut to nut in the row. Congress propose to rise the 1st of April. If they do, I shall be at home between the 8th & 15th of that month. I want to hear from Mr. Dinsmore as to the progress of his work. I am sir
Your humble servt.
Th. Jefferson"
A unique offering in which Jefferson writes as politician, architect, and slaveholder. At the time of his death, Evans had been enslaved to Jefferson for nearly sixty years. Both men were born at Shadwell in 1743 and Evans served in a number of roles such as personal servant, valet, coachman, and stonecutter, remaining a constant presence in Jefferson's life.
While Evans' death likely forced Jefferson to face his own mortality, his passing also caused substantial guilt for Jefferson. In a letter written less than a week earlier, dated February 4, 1800, to his son-in-law Thomas Mann Randolph, Jefferson lamented his possible role in Evans' death in much the same way. He wrote: "By a letter recieved [sic] to-day also from mr Richardson I learn the death of Jupiter. he has fallen a victim to an imprudent perseverance in journeying. I was extremely against his coming to Fredsbg with me & had engaged Davy Bowles, but Jupiter was so much disturbed at this that I yielded. at the end of the second day's journey I saw how much he was worsted, & pressed him to wait at Hyde's a very excellent house till the horses should return, & I got the promise of a servant from thence. but he would not hear of it. at Fredericksburg again I engaged the tavernkeeper to take care of him till he should be quite well enough to proceed. and it seems that immediately on his arrival at home, he took another journey to my brother's where he died. I am sorry for him as well as sensible he leaves a void in my domestic administration which I cannot fill up."
In an effort to assuage her father's remorse, Martha Jefferson Randolph insisted that he was not to blame, writing on January 30, that "he too has paid the debt to nature; finding himself no better at his return home, he unfortunately conceived him self poisoned & went to consult the negro doctor who attended the George's. he went in the house to see uncle Randolph who gave him a dram which he drank & seemed to be as well as he had been for some time past; after which he took a dose from this black doctor who pronounced that it would kill or cure. 2½ hours after taking the medecine [sic] he fell down in a strong convulsion fit which lasted from ten to elevin [sic] hours, during which time it took 3 stout men to hold him, he languished nine days but was never heard to speak from the first of his being seized to the moment of his death."
The author of "all men are created equal," Jefferson publicly denounced slavery as a "moral depravity" and the greatest threat to the survival of the United States. Such sympathies can be seen in his discussion of Evans' death. Yet, Jefferson was a slaveholder who owned over six hundred slaves throughout his lifetime. That reality is reflected in his attitude towards the other enslaved persons at Monticello, particular his reprimand of John. His instructions to Richardson reflect his attempt to "reform" slavery. Eschewing violence, Jefferson advocated for incentivized labor, improved material conditions, and skilled training. This included taking his enslaved persons out of the tobacco fields and assigning tasks such as property maintenance, nail-making, and domestic labor, all of which are mentioned in the letter here. Likewise, Jefferson built single-family homes for enslaved individuals at Monticello, a detail noted here in reference to Ned's unfortunate loss of home furnishings.
Finally, Jefferson concludes his letter with an endearing request to plant pecan trees at Monticello as well as a brief discussion of his estate's renovations. Jefferson was in the midst of a massive project to rebuild Monticello in the architectural style introduced to him during his time in France as the United States Minister. From 1796 to 1808, Jefferson demolished virtually the entire estate. In 1800, construction was set to begin on the North Terrace, South Terrace, and dependencies. Jefferson used both hired and enslaved labor to complete the modifications. Here, Jefferson mentions James Dinsmore, an Irish joiner who is responsible for most of Monticello's detailed woodwork. Dinsmore trained enslaved joiner John Hemmings as his apprentice and Hemmings went on to become the head joiner at Monticello.
The recipient of this letter, Richard Richardson, began working at Monticello in 1796 as a bricklayer before learning stonecutting and plastering. Richardson did, in fact, follow Jefferson's instructions regarding the half crown and nail rods as well as his polite request for regular updates on the renovations. In a letter dated March 31, Jefferson confirms that "the nail rod is all arrived at Richmond from Monticello." Although Richardson briefly left Jefferson's employ when he inherited a plantation in Jamaica, he returned shortly thereafter to resume his position.
Condition: Lightly toned and creased along folds. Mounting remnant to left margin verso. Small expert repair at lower left corner not affecting text. A few very short fold separations or marginal tears and pinholes at intersecting folds.
References: Papers of Thomas Jefferson, ed. Oberg, 31: 363-364; cf. Lucia Stanton, Those Who Labor for My Happiness: Slavery at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello (University of Virginia Press, 2012); Monticello.org
Auction Info
2023 December 15 Historical Platinum Session Signature® Auction #6280 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
December, 2023
15th
Friday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 1
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 1,129
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
25% on the first $300,000 (minimum $49), plus 20% of any amount between $300,000 and $3,000,000, plus 15% of any amount over $3,000,000 per lot.
Shipping, Taxes, Terms and Bidding
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms
Important information concerning Sales Tax and Resale Certificates. Learn More
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms