Martha Jefferson Randolph to Ellen W. Randolph Coolidge, with notes by Ellen W. Randolph Coolidge directed to Joseph Coolidge, 27 Oct. 1833
Its ...
Ellen W. Randolph Coolidge to Virginia J. Randolph Trist, 15–17 Apr. 1834
Your letter of April 8. reached me this morning, dearest Virginia, and my children being all in bed I shall at least make an attempt to answer it, although my hand trembles with fatigue and my head aches from the same cause. My nursery woman left me to day upon a notice of twenty four hours,...
Draft Will of Martha Jefferson Randolph, 18 Apr. [1835]
Washington April 18th 2 o’clock in the morning Friday Saturday To my five daughters I wish to bequeath my property in the funds. To Benjamin & Lewis the two negroes now in Benjamins possession. my five remaining negroes Emily I wish liberated as soon as you break up house keeping here; Martha...
Ellen W. Randolph Coolidge to Virginia J. Randolph Trist, 24 May 1835
You will have heard from Mr Barrell and perhaps Dr Lovell, my dear Virginia, that we are so far on our way back to Washington. We shall be detained here until Tuesday morning and even then can get no farther than Trenton ...
Martha Jefferson Randolph to Benjamin F. Randolph, 27 Jan. [1836]
I have no doubt dear Benjamen but that you have made the best possible arrangements in hiring our servants. I have two objects particularly in view paramount to every other, to ensure their being kindly treated and in families where they would be in the least danger from local situation of being...
James T. Barclay and Julia Ann Barclay to Uriah P. Levy: Indenture for Sale of Monticello, 20 May 1836
This indenture made this 20 day of May 20th 1836 between James T Barclay of the County of Albemarle in the state of Virginia and Julia Ann his wife of the one part and Uriah P Levy of the county and state aforesaid, of the other part witnesseth that the said James T Barclay and Julia Ann his wife...
George Wythe Randolph to Ellen W. Randolph Coolidge, 23 Aug. 1836
I arrived here some time ago from the Mediteranean in a Merchant ship, having returned to prepare for my approaching examination which comes on shortly, as I did’nt know where Mama was I have not written to her yet, I wish you would give me Lewis’s direction when you write as I should like to...
Ellen W. Randolph Coolidge to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 5 Sept. 1836
you have no doubt heard from George but lest you should not I send this letter which I have this moment received. Virginia left Newport on the 1st & I shall return to Boston by the 14th. I am as heartily tired of Newport as I ever was of any spot upon Earth. It is hard to say whether the...
Ellen W. Randolph Coolidge to Virginia Jefferson Randolph Trist, 6 Sept. 1836
I meant to have written to you a day or two sooner, dearest Virginia, but I have been preparing letters for Canton & writing to Boston, and have brought on two severe attacks of pain by persisting in bending over my desk after eating, so that this morning (before breakfast,) is the first...
Ellen W. Randolph Coolidge to Virginia J. Randolph Trist, 8–9 Feb. 1837
It is long since I have written to, or heard from you, my dear Virginia, and Mary and myself are beginning to grow quite uneasy at receiving absolutely no accounts from Havana. Our last dates are Dec. 15. nearly two months old, and as vessels are arriving in the Southern ports every day, and...
Ellen W. Randolph Coolidge to Virginia J. Randolph Trist, 23 Mar. 1837
I believe, my dear Virginia, that no one has written to you since Mr Gorham left Boston, and to-day being rainy (as every day has been for the last fortnight, and will be for the next three months) I shall try to get through a few lines if it only be to say that we have received Havana dates...
Ellen W. Randolph Coolidge to Virginia J. Randolph Trist, 25 Sept. 1837
I am much pressed for time, dearest Virginia, but cannot let Sarah Webber go to Havana without a few lines for you. She accompanies the Knights and promises herself great satisfaction in seeing Joseph. She will perhaps remain all winter but, as this depends on her humour which is rather variable,...
Ellen W. Randolph Coolidge to Jane H. Nicholas Randolph, 17 May 1843
I write to you, dearest Jane, a little before the time; as the Steamer leaves England not before the first of next month and I usually allow not more than a week for my letter to reach Liverpool, but if I do not write now I may have to wait five or six weeks, as I am going to a place pretty much...
Ellen W. Randolph Coolidge to Virginia J. Randolph Trist, 29 May [1848?]
We arrived here safe & sound, dearest Virginia, on saturday, but as I was obliged to write for the Steamer, it is only now, Monday, that I have time to write to you. Tell Cousin Beverley that his recommendations procured me all sorts of attentions from his friends. Mr Bomford was very civil,...
Ellen W. Randolph Coolidge to Henry S. Randall, 10 July 1853
I am very sorry, my dear Mr. Randall, that I can give you no information on the subject of the chasms in Mr. Jefferson’s Correspondence.—I have no copy of Tucker’s Biography at hand to see what mention he makes of them. He wrote whilst my mother was yet living. She, of all persons would have...
Thomas Jefferson Randolph to Charles Wirtenbaker, [ca. 30 June 1858]
Your note inclosing that of Gov. Wise is before me. I most fully appreciate his Excellency’s feelings and views, but as the nearest relative and sole Executor of Mr Jefferson I cannot disregard what I know to have been his cherished domestic feeling, fostered while he lived with a warmth and...
Extract from Ellen W. Randolph Coolidge to Henry S. Randall, 26 Jan. 1856
Few things could give me more pleasure than to contribute in the smallest degree to the successful termination of the work which at present occupies your time and thoughts. I feel the deepest interest in it.— I will not take up your questions in order, but write what I can, when I can, and as the...
Extract from Ellen W. Randolph Coolidge to Henry S. Randall, 13 Feb. 1856
No. 3. I have found it impossible to resume my pen until now when I have an hour or so of leisure before turning my attention to the daily cares & duties which admit of no postponement. The decay of my grandfather’s fortune was owing, as you know, to various causes, but to none more than the...
Ellen W. Randolph Coolidge to Henry S. Randall, “parts omitted,” 18 Feb. 1856
No. 4.Life at Poplar Forest. Randall’s Life of Jefferson. vol. 3d P. 342. “Mr Jefferson had once owned I believe something like ten thousand acres of fertile land, (to which the name of Poplar Forest was given,) in the county of Bedford near Lynchburg in Campbell Co. I do not know when he began...
Ellen W. Randolph Coolidge to Henry S. Randall, 22 Feb. 1856
Sent to Mr Randall with alterations or additions which I no longer remember, but the whole letter omitted in Mr Randall’s book No. 5. This letter is a continuation of the one of the 18h and I begin by correcting several small, unimportant inaccuracies. My grandfather’s visits to Bedford were...
George Wythe Randolph to James L. Cabell, 27 Feb. 1856
I have received your letter of the 25th, and but being confined to the house by an attack of measles from which I am not entirely recovered, some little time may elapse before I can comply with your request in reference to the Publisher. It will give me very great pleasure to aid you in any way...
Ellen W. Randolph Coolidge to Henry S. Randall, 2 Mar. 1856
I have been prevented from writing, my dear Mr Randall, by the illness of one of my sons, and the absence of a confidential domestic who has for years been a sort of right hand on all household matters. I resume my pen uncertain how soon I may be compelled to lay it down. You ask for the...
Ellen W. Randolph Coolidge to Henry S. Randall, 13 Mar. 1856
I know not where to begin in reply to your enquiries, my dear Mr Randall, for many subjects press upon me at once. I will therefore take up the one to which I have already alluded. You say in one of your letters “From some remark that dropped from Wormeley, a former slave in your family, as in...
Ellen W. Randolph Coolidge to Henry S. Randall, 27 Mar. 1856
Enclosed you have part of a letter, which I began a week ago. Sudden and severe cold which confined me some days to my bed, prevented me from going on with it: I send it in it’s unfinished state. Yours of the 22nd with it’s enclosures, reached me yesterday. I am not strong enough to write much to...
Extract from Ellen W. Randolph Coolidge to Henry S. Randall, with “omissions” Noted by Ellen W. Randolph Coolidge, 31 Mar. 1856
In my last short letter I told you &c &c. I should not forget to tell you or remind you that after my marriage, just a year before my Grandfather’s death, I was separated from my family, never saw my grandfather again, and my father but once. (After the anecdote of my grandmother’s...