To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Chambers, 27 October 1804
From Joseph Chambers
Hobuckintoopa October 27th. 1804.
Sir,
I have to announce to you the sad & melancholy intelligence that Colonel Ephraim Kirby is no more, he expired about 4. OClock before noon of the 20th. Current, and his Corpse, was interred with Military honors, at 3. O:Clock of the 28th:—It may not be unsatisfactory for you to be informed, that the Military at Fort Stoddert gave very great respect and attention to his funeral: Capt. P. P. Schuyler commanding.
An Inventory of the Colonels, books, papers and other effects have been taken, and (the papers carefully) sealed up:—they will be forwarded by David Parmelee, Clerk to the late board of Commissioners & a resident of Litchfield Connecticut, & the particular friend of the Colonel, to be delivered to Mrs. Kirby or such other person as may be legally authorised to receive them.
From a knowledge of the respectful and confidential regard which you had for Colonel Kirby, I have been induced to make this communication directly to you
I have the honor to be, Sir, With respectful attachment Your mot. obedt. Servt.
Joseph Chambers
RC (DLC); at foot of text: “Thomas Jefferson Esqr. President of the U. States.”; endorsed by TJ as received 4 Dec. and so recorded in SJL.
In 1802, Joseph Chambers of North Carolina became the first U.S. factor for the Choctaw trading house at Fort St. Stephens in Mississippi Territory, and later, the area’s first postmaster. In 1804, on the recommendation of Ephraim Kirby, TJ appointed Chambers the register of the Washington County land office, an additional responsibility that he accepted reluctantly. In late 1807, Chambers left the territory to return to his home state of North Carolina (James P. Pate, ed., The Reminiscences of George Strother Gaines: Pioneer and Statesman of Early Alabama and Mississippi, 1805-1843 [Tuscaloosa, Ala., 1998], 40, 48; , 5:176, 342, 421; Dearborn to Chambers, 1 Aug. 1807, in DNA: RG 75, LSIA; TJ to Jacob Wagner, 5 Oct. 1804).