Lot 135
Monroe James 1758 - 1831 President James Monroe writes a scathing letter protecting his land investments
Autograph Letter Signed "James Monroe" as President, 2 pages, 8" x 9.75", front and verso. Washington, March 23, 1819. With inlaid blank integral leaf addressed on verso by Monroe to "Thomas Swann Esqr. / Alexandria." Minor flaws. Housed in a dark blue morocco folding protective case with a portrait. Fine condition.
In full, "I forgot to mention to you the case of Mr. Swart yesterday, who has admitted, in some degree, that he must pay the balance due for the land at the death of Judge Jones, but has never paid a cent of it. Mr Benton will take your instructions in it. I am satisfied that the object of Swart is to evade the payments in hope of taking advantage of the act of limitation, or some other circumstance. He had no title from the old gentleman, & the young one could make none. Had he better be sued in Chancery,or by ejectment. The legal title was not in me, except by the old gentlemans will, which may have some weight in the decision. If you think proper to consider the subject, & want further information, & will be so good as to inform it to me, the delay will not be material to Mr. Benton, who will always be ready to follow your instructions.
"I am aware that I am indebted to you, on acct of the estate & my own account, by your kind attention to my affrs. In Alexa. You never mentioned whether you were so fortunate as to collect some bonds given you by Col. Mercer. If you will be so kind as send me an account I will with great pleasure make sure an arrangement as will be satisfactory to you. With sincere regard, your friend, James Monroe"
Judge Joseph Jones (1727-1805), was the brother of Monroe's mother, Elizabeth Jones Monroe (1730-1774). Monroe's father was Spence Monroe (1727-1774). Monroe and his siblings (each younger than James) became wards of their Uncle Joseph. Monroe's youngest sibling, Joseph Jones Monroe, was only 10 when his parents died. It was Judge Jones who enrolled James Monroe in William and Mary in 1774, becoming a mentor and adviser to the future President. Joseph Jones was a Member of the Continental Congress (1777, 1780-1783) and later served as a Judge of the Virginia General Court.
In 1794, Monroe purchased the land on which Oak Hill was located jointly with his uncle. Monroe inherited all interests in this land when his uncle died in 1805 with no heirs. Jones' will indicated that Monroe held the land in a moiety share. Jones' son, Joseph Jones, Jr., had lived on the property until his death, predeceasing his father.
In 1810, to pay off his debts to the United States Bank, James Monroe attempted to sell the Oak Hill plantation. A notice of land sale in 1810 described the property as follows: "Loudoun Land - For sale on Thursday, the 21st of December next on the premisies, the tract of Land on which the late Judge Jones resided in Loudoun County with about 25 slaves, and the stock of Horses, Cattle, and Hogs, on the estate..."
Robert Swart was the farm manager at Oak Hill plantation. He owed James Monroe money for land he had purchased from the estate of Judge Jones. William Benton managed the plantation. Colonel of a Virginia Regiment in the Revolutionary War, John Francis Mercer (1759-1821) had been friends with Monroe since they were classmates at the College of William and Mary. Mercer had served in the Continental Congress (1783-1784), the U.S. Congress (1792-1794), and as Governor of Maryland (1801-1803). In January 1825, President Monroe appointed his lawyer, "Thomas Swann, of the District of Columbia, to be Attorney of the United States for the District of Columbia."
Ex Pratt, Sigety Sold in 1989 for the lofty price of $2,200.
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