Description:

Marshall John

John Marshall, as Chief Justice, Writes His Wife that “Business seems to agree with me.””

 

JOHN MARSHALL, Autograph Letter Signed, to his wife, Mary Willis Ambler Marshall, March 11, 1829, Washington, D.C.  2 pp., 6.5” x 7.5”.

 

This charming letter from a busy Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court reports his delight at a letter from his granddaughter, news of his wife’s good health, and a surprise visit by one of their sons. He also expresses concern about the wheat crop and satisfaction in his responsibilities with the Court.

 

Complete Transcript

                                                                        Washington March 11th 29

My dearest Polly

            I was very much gratified yesterday at receiving a letter from my Grand daughter giving me all the news of Richmond, and that which was more delightful than any other—that your health was as good as usual. Tell her I am much obliged by her letter, and very much pleased to find she writes so agreeably. I did not perceive a single fault in her letter.

            I was very much surprized the other day on my return from court, to be met by Jaquelin. He staid a day or two in the city and surprized me still more by the object of his visit than by <2> his visit itself. He came to purchase a carriage and pair of horses, and did actually make the purchase. I did not see either the carriage or horses, but if his account of them is to be relied on he purchased them very cheap. I was to sorry to hear his account of the growing crop of wheat. He says the severe winter has injured it very much.

            I was never more closely occupied that I am this winter and have been from the commencement of the court. Business seems to agree with me. I eat hearty and sleep sound. If I could take a peep every now and then at our dear fire side and my dearer wife, I should be quite content. I am happy however, at least comparatively so, to know that you are well. May Heaven keep you so. Farewell my dearest wife

                                                                        Your

                                                                        J Marshall

 

[Address:] Mrs Mary W Marshall / Richmond / Virginia

 

Historical Background

In 1790, John Marshall built a family home in Richmond and lived there until his death in 1835. For several months each year from 1801 to 1835, he traveled to Washington to preside over sessions of the U.S. Supreme Court.

 

John Marshall (1755-1835) was born in Fauquier County on the Virginia frontier and studied law on his own as a young man.  He served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and rose to the position of captain in a Virginia regiment. After the war, he studied law with George Wythe at the College of William and Mary and was admitted to the bar in 1780. He married Mary Willis Ambler in 1783, and they had ten children, six of whom survived to adulthood. He served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1782 to 1789 and again from 1795 to 1796. He built a home in Richmond, Virginia, in 1790, where he often returned for relaxation. He was a member of the Virginia convention to ratify the U.S. Constitution, which he strongly supported. He served as one of three commissioners appointed by President John Adams to negotiate with France in 1797, which devolved into the XYZ Affair, when Marshall and the other commissioners refused to pay bribes to the French. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1799, and in 1800, Adams appointed him as Secretary of State. In 1801, Adams nominated him as Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, a position he held until his death 34 years later. During his tenure, he participated in more than 1,000 decisions and wrote 519 opinions himself. His powerful opinions in pivotal cases established the U.S. Supreme Court as the final authority on the meaning of the Constitution.

 

Mary Willis Ambler Marshall (1766-1831) was born in Yorktown, one of seven daughters born to Rebecca Burwell and Jaquelin Ambler. She grew up with the traditional lessons of wealthy girls at that time. According to tradition, John Marshall fell in love with Mary Ambler shortly after meeting her. After meeting her at many dances, John Marshall asked the sixteen-year-old Mary to marry him. Surprised, she initially refused but quickly changed her mind and sent a cousin after Marshall with a lock of her hair. He returned the lock, entwined with a lock of his own, encased in a locket.  They were married in January 1783 after a short courtship. The couple had ten children, but only five sons and a daughter lived to adulthood. Shortly before her death, Mary Marshall gave the locket back to her husband, who wore it as a reminder of her until his own death four years later.

 

Jaquelin Ambler Marshall (1787-1852) was the second son of John Marshall and Mary Willis Ambler Marshall and educated at Princeton University. Named for his maternal grandfather, Jaquelin Marshall was a gentleman farmer, physician, and even dabbled in theology. He married Eliza Letitia Steptoe Clarkson in 1819. His father gave him a large tract of land called Prospect Hill in Fauquier County, Virginia, as a wedding present, and he lived there for the rest of his life.

 

Condition: Mailing folds, tear where seal was broken, not affecting text.

 

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!
Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. ***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR SHIPMENT TO BE SENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE ON FILE WITH INVALUABLE, YOU WILL NEED TO INFORM US OF THIS AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS SUBMITTED FOR YOUR WINNINGS*** Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000