AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED, FROM WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA, 6 JANUARY 1829, TO COLONEL ROGER JONES OF WASHINGTON, D.C., THE BROTHER OF THOMAS AP CATESBY JONES, ABOUT MISSING SLAVE SAM LEE; AND AN UNRELATED LAW CASE ABOUT DIVISION OF THE "FAIRFIELD NEGROES, " IN WHICH COLONEL JONES AND WIFE HAVE AN INTEREST. "I HAVE JUST LEARNED THAT NEGRO SAM LEE LEFT THIS PLACE SOME TIME BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND HAS NOT RETURNED. IT SEEMS THAT HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO THE CITY TO SEE HIS MASTER MEANING AS I UNDERSTAND MR. THOMAS APP. C. JONES, SUPPOSED TO BE NOW AT THE CITY . I HAVE THOUGHT IT BEST TO WRITE TO YOU ON THE SUBJECT AS THERE MAY BE SOME UNCERTAINTY AS TO COM. JONES BEING AT THE CITY: AND IT IS PROBABLE THAT IF SAM DID GO TO THE CITY HE PAID YOU A VISIT. IT IS SAID HE HIRED A HORSE OF A MAN HERE, WHO IS UNEASY ABOUT THE HORSE, FEARING SAM HAS GONE OFF NOT TO RETURN . . . I AM NOT CERTAINLY ADVISED, WHO SAM DOES BELONG TO: THE LAST HIRE I PAID FOR HIM, WAS PAID ON THE ORDER OF MR. JOHN MURPHEY, ACTING AS AGENT FOR MRS. ANN TURBERVILLE WHO CLAIMS HIM . I HAVE RECEIVED HIS HIRE FOR LAST YEAR (FORTY DOLLARS) . RESPECTFULLY YOURS, OBED WAITE. "P.S. IN PASSING OVER THE CHANCERY DOCKET THIS DAY IN THE COUNTY COURT, A SUIT WHICH HAS BEEN LONG ON THE DOCKET IN THE NAME OF YOURSELF AND WIFE, AGAINST THE OTHER HEIRS OF WILLIAM B. PAGE DECD WAS CALLED - THIS IS A SUIT FOR A DIVISION OF THE SLAVES BELONGING TO THAT ESTATE . . ."
Winchester, Frederick County, Virginia: 1829. Folio, 8-1/4" x 13-1/4". [3], [1] p. Completely in ink manuscript. Addressed on final page to "Col. Roger Jones | City of Washington" and light postal cancel dated Jan. 9 at Winchester; with manuscript docket note in a different hand: "On the subject of the..... More
