Object Status:
Unlocated
Accession Date:
January 4, 1809
Primary Source Reference:
Poulson's American Daily Advertiser (Philadelphia) 4 Jan 1809
Notes:
Thomas Jefferson had been interested in raising and breeding sheep since the early 1790s. On 13 Oct 1808 he wrote Philadelphian James Ronaldson, "I happen by accident to have obtained the Iceland or Shetland race of sheep of many horns. it is from their wool I understand that the famous Shetland stockings are made which I believe sell for a guinea a pair being as soft as fur. as this peculiar wool may possibly be useful for some manufacture here, I send a fleece of it as a sample, by my grandson [Thomas Jefferson Randolph], who is going to Philadelphia, and who will put it into your hands. and I am encouraged to take this liberty by the zeal which your letter manifested for the promotion of manufactures. the request I have to make is that you will be so good as to have ascertained whether there will be any particular utility in raising this kind of wool, & what would be it’s probable price in Philadelphia, if encouraging I can probably extend it’s produce to any requisite degree in my neighborhood. your information in due time on this subject will be thankfully recieved." (Jefferson Papers, Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/99-01-02-8853 (Early Access)
See the article "Sheep" on the Monitcello website (https://www.monticello.org/site/research-and-collections/sheep)
Thomas Jefferson Randolph (1792—1875), Jefferson's eldest grandson, was in Philadelphia to be educated in natural history and anatomy. He lodged with the Peales beginning in Oct 1808.
