Jefferson Quotes & Family Letters

Every day life at Monticello

The establishment at Monticello was regulated very much on the European plan. Amusements of various kinds such as, hunting, fishing, driving, & riding on horseback, were furnished the guests who generally dispersed after breakfast—Mr Jefferson retired to his Library, & Mrs Randolph to her private apartments, where she gave her orders for housekeeping taught her children, and occupied herself in her domestic affairs all the morning. At 12 Oclock the lunch was served, after which she returned to her own rooms, Mr Jefferson was never present at that meal which was quite informal & handed around to the guests. At half past 2 Oclock the great bell sounded, to recall all wanderers to dress for dinner, which was served at half past 3 Oclock. Half an hour before this meal Mr Jefferson and Mrs Randolph would go to the drawing room where the family, and guests assembled for dinner Mr J joined then at the ringing of the last bell. The cake and wine being handed according to custom, before at 3 Oclock the bell announced dinner, and the old Butler—Burwell—opened the door into the dining room. Mr Jefferson considered punctuality a virtue, & impressed it on the younger children by saying that those who [. . .] were not ready when the bell rang should not sit down to the table. Nevertheless when they quietly slipped into their seats after the meal began, he never saw them, apparently. On one occasion a “Hen house” was being built, & the young person for whom it was built was so much interested in seeing the nests properly arranged, that the “second bell was unheeded, and the dinner was nearly over when she arrived entered the dining room, and to her dismay the only vacant seat was the next but one, to this punctual Grandfather. She slid very sheepishly, & quietly into the seat it watching the eyes which she thought would be turned reproachfully on her—but she was not seen, as usual. And remained unreproved. After dinner Mr Jefferson and Mrs Randolph remained with their guests for the rest of the afternoon & evening except¹ for a short time when Mr Jefferson retired to his own rooms. His Son in Law Governor Thomas M. Randolph spent his mornings on his farm nearby, but joined the family at dinner, and added the charm of his conversation to wile away the time. He was a man of great talents, and of European education. The Abbe Correa —who was sent from Portugal to study the flora of America, said that Gov Randolph was the best botanist in America. His arrival return home was hailed with great joy by the children of the family. He was a devoted husband, and father, as well as a distinguished man, in Science & literature. He was in Congress—and filled several high positions. & was A true Patriot in every sense. His merits were obscured by his being with the Greater genius. Gov Randolph would have been a conspicuous character had not the greater light dimmed his. Both were modest unassuming men. The one has not a stone to mark his grave—The other a Monument put over it by Congress. A Monument which was obviously never dictated by Mr Jefferson, who never boasted of his deeds while living, and could leave no such a proclamation of them, to be inscribed on his tombstone. No mention of such a wish was left in his will, or with his papers, probably some friend suggested the one which has passed for his own design, and it was forgotten & never destroyed by him. The exact spot where his brother in law Mr Dabney Carr was burried was not known & a few years ago the grave was was found by being accidentally dug into, and a member of Mr Jeffersons immediate family interred there. A brick wall was built around the little grave yard. A subscription being raised for that purpose by the various members of the family who had near relations burried in it. This wall became in part a ruin, in a very short time, & the bricks were removed, & I heard, a plant paling had replaced it. Mr Jeffersons Mother was interred in that graveyard, but not near the spot he was afterward laid in. His Father was burried at Shadwell by his own request, After Mr Jeffersons death the grave was lost sight of and now it cannot be found.

Mrs Randolph, and Francis Eppes were Mr Jefferson only heirs. His property was left in trust for his daughter, as Col Gov T M Randolph owed debts. Mr Alexander Garret of Charlottesville, Tho J Randolph—Mr Jefferson grandson and Nicholas P Trist were the joint Trustees. This trust ended two years after Mr Jefferson death, by the death of Gov T M Randolph rendering it unnecessary Mr Jefferson had no residuary legatee but his daughter, that was ever known of at the period of his death. Col Tho J Randolph was made his Mothers residuary legatee by his own request which she granted. She had only the $20000 given her by Va & South Carolina to leave, & the silver & a little furniture. The money, she left to her five daughters. Col Tho J Randolph advised her to leave the family silver to the sons which she did. She gave before her death her watch made for her in France to her youngest daughter Mrs Meikleham to whom she also gave the Jefferson family Bible at the same time.