Letter from Maria Jefferson
Description:
Maria Jefferson writes to her father about her study habits. Image courtesy, Papers, of the Randolph, Jefferson, Eppes, Nicholas and Kean Families, MSS 2143 (TB 168), Special Collections, University of Virginia Library.Transcript:
Dear Papa Eppington May 23
I received your affectionate
letter when I was at presqu'ile but
was not able to answer it before I came
here as the next day we went to uncle
Bolings and then came here. I thank
you for the pictures you was so kind
as to send me and will try that your
advaice shall not be thrown away. I
read in don quixote every day to my
aunt and say my grammer in spanish
and english and write and read in
robertson's america after I am done that
I work till dinner and a little more
--page 2 --
recd. June 5.1790
after. it did not snow at all last month.
my cousin Boling and myself made a
pudding the other day. my aunt has given
us a hen and chickens. adieu my
Dear papa. believe me to by your ever
dutiful and affectionate daugther,
Maria Jefferson
*Presqu'ile was the home of David Meade Randolph, one of Thomas Jefferson's cousins, who lived in Chesterfield County, Virginia.
* Uncle Boling was John Boling (1737-1800), the husband of Thomas Jefferson's sister Mary. They lived at Chestnut Grove in Chesterfield County, Virginia.
* Jefferson typically noted the day he received his letters. In this case, he received Maria's letter on June 5, thirteen days after she wrote it.