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Offered here is a remarkable handwritten autograph letter signed (ALS) by Thomas Swann (1765–1840), dated July 22, 1805, from Alexandria, Virginia. Swann was a prominent early American attorney, politician, and businessman who served in the Virginia House of Delegates and held multiple roles in the civic and financial development of early Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia. He was also the father of Governor Thomas Swann Jr. of Maryland.
This letter—entirely in Swann’s hand—discusses a $600 payment deposited to a local bank, requests collections on outstanding debts, and mentions land purchased from the Fairfax estate—the powerful family whose holdings dominated colonial Virginia. The letter references local figures such as Mr. Daw, Mr. Timms, Matthew Whiting, and Mr. Brown near Haymarket, and includes insights into financial dealings, legal proceedings, and social updates involving Miss Cornelia and Mr. Swann’s “courtship.”
The letter serves as a vivid snapshot of early 19th-century land speculation, legal finance, and interpersonal relations in Alexandria and Northern Virginia.
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📄 Full Transcription:
Alex’a July 22d 1805
> Dear Sir,
Mr. Daw has paid me on your a/c $600 which I have deposited in Bank to raise cash & I inclose you the Cashier’s receipt. I have taken the liberty of inclosing to you some cash and two small orders. If your Stewart Mr. Timms should not be too much engaged, he would oblige me by calling on those people for payment. They reside near Mr. Matthew Whiting’s. Legg will certainly be ready to pay. Mr. Brown promised me half the money before I left Hay Market but did not pay it. I presume he is ready with the whole by this time. Be pleased to direct Mr. Timms to press the money in case he should receive it and be pleased to apply it to my credit on a/c of the land I bought of Fairfax.
According to some direction I sold some flour to Mr. Denny at 60 days credit. He will deduct some a/c out of the price.
Our Court has just risen. We have no news. Mr. Swann desires me to present to you his thanks for the Safe you got for him in Baltimore. It has safely arrived and is an excellent one. Miss Cornelia is at home. Thos. with her left here. What will be the issue of his courtship I know not. He did not visit at Mr. Hay’s while here.
With esteem I am
Your obt. servt.
Thos. Swann
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🖋 About Thomas Swann (1765–1840):
Thomas Swann Sr. was a lawyer, politician, and business leader based in Alexandria and Loudoun County, Virginia. He served as a delegate in the Virginia General Assembly, a director in various early American banks, and helped develop infrastructure such as the Alexandria Turnpike Company. His 1805 activities align with Alexandria’s role as part of the District of Columbia and its transformation into a key trade and legal center. Swann was father to Thomas Swann Jr., who became Mayor of Baltimore, Governor of Maryland, and U.S. Congressman.
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📌 Item Details:
Date: July 22, 1805
Place: Alexandria, Virginia
Format: Single page, handwritten, signed
Size: Approx. 7.75\" x 10\"
Condition: Excellent for its age – clear, legible, complete, with expected folds
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💰 A Rare Find for Collectors
Original manuscripts from Alexandria in the early 1800s—especially from notable public figures like Swann—are seldom seen on the market. This letter is a rare blend of financial, legal, and social content, with direct ties to major landholdings and political figures of the time.
Perfect for collectors of:
Early American legal history
Virginia and D.C. regional development
Fairfax family research
Autographs and manuscripts
19th-century Americana
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📦 Shipped securely with archival protection and full insurance.
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