Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-02-18
JEFFERSON'S WILL.
Document of Great Interest Discovered
in the District Archives.


Says the Washington %. c. Star OF
recent date: Among the old records stored
away in the vault at the District building
is copy of the will of Thomas Jefferson,
filed in the archives of the District years
ago, SO long that no one connected with the
! District Government to-day knows the
purpose for which it was placed on record
there. This old document is dated March
Is, 1926. 1t bequeaths to his grandson,
Francs Eppes, lands at Poplar Forest, and
subjects all his other property first to the
payments of the debts of the deceased In
consideration of the insolvent state of the
affairs Of his son-in-law, Thomas Mann
Randolph, he leaves the residue of his
property in trust for his daughter, Martha
Randolph, to become hers absolutely at
the death of Thomas Mann Randolph.
This course, the will explains, is taken to
secure the property against the claims of
Mr.. Randolph's creditors. A codicil at
tached on the following day recommended
to his daughter, Martha Randolph, the
maintenance and care of his beloved sister,
Annie Scott Marks, gave to his friend
James Madison of Montpelier, his gold
mounted walking stick of animal horn,
''as token of the cordial and affectionate
friendship which for nearly now an half
century has united us in the same princi-
pies and pursuits Of what we have deemed
| for the greatest good of our country" He
gave to the University of Virginia such
books in his library as the University had
otEalready copies OF, and the remainder to
his two grandsons-in-law, Nicholas p. Trist
and Joseph Coolidge. To his grandson,
Thomas Jefferson Randolph, he gave his
silver watch in preference to his good one
because of its superior excellence, and also
all his literary papers. He provided also
| for the purchase of gold watch for each
of his grandsons.
az give" continues the will, ito my
| good, atfectionate and faithful servant,
Burwell, his freedom and the sum of $500
to buy necessaries to commence his trade
of painter and glazier, or to use otherwise
as he pleases. | also give to my good
servants, John Hennings and Joe Fesset,
their freedom at the end of one year after
my death, and to each of them respect
lively all the tools of their respective shops
or callings; and it is my will that COM
| Portable log house be built for each of the
three servants so emancipated, on some
part of my lands, convenient to them with
respect to the residence of their wives and
to Charlottesville and the University,
where they will be mostly employed, and
reasonably convenient, also, to the inter-
ests of the proprietor of the lands, of
which houses give the use of one, with a
curtilage of an acre to each during his life
or personal occupation thereof. l give
also to John Hennings the services of his
two apprentices, Madison and Eston Hen
nings, until their respective ages of 81
years, at which period respectively l give
them their freedom. And l humbly and
earnestly request of the Legislature of
Virginia a confirmation of the bequest OF
freedom to these two servants, with per-
mission to remain in this State, where
their families and connections are, as an
additional instance of the favor of which
/ received so many other manifestations
in the course of my life, and for which /
now give them my last solemn and dutiful
thanks"
The will bears certificate, showing
that August z, 1926, it was proved in the
Court of Albemarle county, Virginia, and
ordered to be recorded.