Extract from William Radford

Dear Sir Bedford Decr 26th 1822

The trial of Billy, Hercules and Gawin took place at Bedford court on monday last—Billy was found guilty of stabbing & was sentenced to be burnt in the hand and whipped—The other two were acquitted, there being no positive proof of a conspiracy. They were defended by Mr Clark who was employed by me to defend them at the request of your grandson—

Be pleased to accept my best wishes for your health and happiness
Wm Radford.
Recipient’s Copy (Massachusetts Historical Society); addressed: “Thomas Jefferson esq Monticello near Charlottesville”; franked; postmarked Lynchburg, 3 Jan.; endorsed by TJ as received 12 Jan. 1823 and so recorded in SJL.
Extracted text from letter which discusses land title disputes in Bedford County and the outcome of Billy, Hercules, and Gawen’s trial.

Source Information

Author William Radford
Date 26 Dec. 1822
Place of Origin Bedford, Virginia