Thomas Jefferson Day - April 13th

 

April 13th is National Thomas Jefferson Day. According the National Day Calendar:

National Thomas Jefferson Day each year on April 13th honors the birth of the third President of The United States, Thomas Jefferson, who was born on April 13, 1743.

Most known as the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson was a stalwart of democracy. While not much an orator, his pen cut quite a swath of ink through correspondence, documents, journals, and manuscripts.

Those who write tend to read. Jefferson was no different. His vast library contained 6,500 volumes.

Jefferson was not only a lawyer, but he was also a scientist of agriculture, paleontology, and astronomy. Immensely curious, he kept detailed records of the weather and eventually established weather observers across his home state of Virginia.

Jefferson served as minister to France, Secretary of State in President Washington’s Cabinet, and ran for President for the first time in 1796 only to be elected Vice President to his opponent, John Adams, due to a flaw in the Constitution.

Four years later, the same fault in the document caused a tie within the same party between Aaron Burr and Jefferson, with Jefferson assuming the Presidency. (https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-thomas-jefferson-day-april-13/)

 

 I have always admired Jefferson; he was absolutely brilliant. I was pleased to discover a  letter online written from one of my ancestors, John McCoy, to Thomas Jefferson. John McCoy, my 7th great grandfather, was Captain of the Augusta Co. Militia during the Revolutionary War. The letter was written March 26, 1781 and posted from Staunton, Augusta Co. Virginia, addressed to then Governor of Virginia Thomas Jefferson requesting leave to resign his military position. 

Staunton, Augusta, Virginia, March 26, 1781

May It Please Your Excellency

To address you on a subject which I do with the utmost (word unreadable), considering the situation our country is in. But nature prevails over every effort to the contrary of being able to undergo the fatigues of a campaign. Wherefore I humbly address you, hoping you would give me leave to resign my Commission as a Captain in this County Militia, which I have held for the space of five years, and am now aged fortynine; nothing would induce me to ask such a favour was it not that I am unable to discharge my duty as well as I could wish, owing to a complication of disorders which I have had upon me for sometime. Your complying with my request would much oblige.

Your Excellency’s Most Humble Servent,

C. John McCoy

To His Excellency
Thomas Jefferson Esq.
Governor of Virginia 

(https://pastvoices.com/united-states/mccoy-john/) 

 According to a report in The Highland Recorder  on 11 June 1964

A memorial service for Captain John McCoy (1735-1796) will be held at the Doe Hill Cemetery Sunday, June 14 at 3 p.m., with descendants expected to attend from many adjacent states and counties. The grave of Capt. McCoy on the Hiner farm near Doe Hill was recently marked by interested descendants and a Revolutionary War memorial marker was placed in the Doe Hill Cemetery. [Doe Hill, Highland County, Virginia]