American Historical Ephemera and Photography, Featuring African Americana

Stampless cover addressed to Manhattan financier and friend of Thomas Jefferson, Henry Remsen, Jr. (1762- 1843) at the office of the Manhattan Company, Wall Street, New York. 1p, 8 x 9 3/4 in. (toning, light soil, several small tears at folds).

Randolph writes to Remsen regarding drafts made in payment of debts "on the Estate called Varina" and another on "the Estate called Edgehill in Albermarle...." He notes that he will "add all my slaves to the security" if there should be any doubt as to his repayment, and closes stating, "There are still 1200$ to pay on acct. of the lien upon Edgehill and the Negroes...."

Thomas Mann Randolph descended from a "First Family" of Virginia, and was a descendant of Pocohontas through his mother. He served as a U.S. Representative from Virginia and later as the 21st Governor of Virginia from 1819-1822. He married Martha "Patsy" Jefferson Randolph (1772-1836), the eldest child of Thomas Jefferson, at Monticello on February 23, 1790. According to the Encyclopedia of Virginia, for their marriage settlement the Randolphs received two plantations, a 950-acre plantation called Varina in Henrico County that came with 40 enslaved persons, and 1,000 acres in Bedford County with 27 enslaved persons. The couple later acquired Edgehill Plantation in Albermarle County near Monticello. The marriage proved to be a difficult one, with Randolph's alcoholism and financial difficulties exacerbating the strained marriage. Due to debt, the Randolphs were forced to sell Varina in 1825. In 1826, they lost Edgehill to foreclosure when they were forced to sell the plantation to their son. A desperate letter demonstrating the close association of Thomas Jefferson and his family to the institution of chattel slavery.