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"The tradition in ay father, family, the subje setch way, in 3 own memoirs, ** was, "has secu-try from Wales, and from nea; the Te pa acular information I have of an her, who live at the place in Chesterfiel¦ the lay after ard the glebe of the parish. Her Who ate! x ing Field, who settled on the waters of the Roanoke, ...it in... rous descendants: and Peter, my father, who settled on the I shot own, called Snadweli, adjoing my present resplence. mary 29, 1707-'8, and intermarried, 1759, with Jane Ranph 2o de nye of 19 aughter of Isra Randolph, one of the seven of that name and far y settled in Goochland. They trace the ee tar back in Lig, and d Scotland, to which let every e lacr t. faith and merit ne chooses.”

** the above-named price, Shadwell in Albemarle county, Vi as Jefferson was born, on the 2d of April (oid style), 1"

He

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

OF

THOMAS JEFFERSON.

THE life of Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, is one of the most interesting and instructive among those of the distinguished persons whose names are identified with American history. In the character of this extraordinary man, as well as in the events of his life, we are presented with a combination of philosophical attainments and political talents, of benevolent feelings, and ambitious aspirations, rarely found united in the same individual, and still more rarely resulting in the popular veneration bestowed upon his name by a large portion of his countrymen; while by others he has been regarded in an unfavorable light as a statesman and a ruler, particularly in the effect of his political principles upon the American people, over whom he acquired such an astonishing ascendency.

The family of Jefferson were among the early emigrants from Great Britain to Virginia. "The tradition in my father's family," the subject of this sketch says, in his own memoirs, "was, that their ancestor came to this country from Wales, and from near the mountain of Snowdon; but the first particular information I have of any ancestor, was of my grandfather, who lived at the place in Chesterfield called Osborne's, and owned the lands, afterward the glebe of the parish. He had three sons: Thomas, who died young; Field, who settled on the waters of the Roanoke, and left numerous descendants; and Peter, my father, who settled on the lands I still own, called Shadwell, adjoining my present residence. He was born February 29, 1707-'8, and intermarried, 1739, with Jane Randolph, of the age of 19, daughter of Isham Randolph, one of the seven sons of that name and family settled in Goochland. They traced their pedigree far back in England and Scotland, to which let every one ascribe the faith and merit he chooses."

At the above-named place, Shadwell, in Albemarle county, Virginia, Thomas Jefferson was born, on the 2d of April (old style), 1743. His