Peter Jefferson
Encyclopedia
Peter Jefferson was the father of American President Thomas Jefferson
(1743–1826)http://www.whosyomama.com/gabroaddrick3/26301.htm. A surveyor and cartographer, his Fry
-Jefferson Map of 1751 accurately depicted the Allegheny Mountains
for the first time and showed the route of "The Great Road from the Yadkin River thro Virginia to Philadelphia distant 455 Miles" — what would later come to be known as the Great Wagon Road
.
, one of six children. He did not receive any formal education while young, but according to his famous son, he nevertheless "read much and improved himself."
In 1734, Jefferson claimed the land in present-day Albemarle County which he eventually named Shadwell
. He married Jane Randolph
in 1739 (daughter of Isham Randolph and granddaughter of William Randolph
). For a year or two following his marriage, his residence was in present-day Powhatan County Virginia near Fine Creek. Jefferson built a house on the Shadwell tract in 1741 or 1742, and moved there sometime before Thomas Jefferson was born.
Thomas Jefferson, Lucy Jefferson, and Randolph Jefferson were notable for having a number of descendants in common with the Lewis family of Virginia.
He was made one of the first officers of Albemarle County in 1745. Later in that same year, he was made guardian over the children of William Randolph, his wife's cousin who had recently died. He and his family moved to Tuckahoe
in Goochland County, where Thomas Jefferson first attended school. In 1749, Peter Jefferson, along with Joshua Fry
, Thomas Walker
, Edmund Pendleton
and others, established the Loyal Land Company, and were granted 800,000 acres (3,200 km²) in present-day Virginia, West Virginia
and Kentucky
.
Peter Jefferson was a cartographer and surveyor who, along with Fry, completed the survey of the Virginia-North Carolina border
, begun by William Byrd II
some time earlier. The detailed Fry-Jefferson Map, cited by his son Thomas in Notes on the State of Virginia
, was produced by him and Fry.
The Jefferson family moved back to Shadwell in 1752.
Peter Jefferson died at his house on the Shadwell tract in Albemarle County when his son Thomas was 14 years old. It burned down in 1770. The area around his house is being studied, but his burial location is unknown.
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
(1743–1826)http://www.whosyomama.com/gabroaddrick3/26301.htm. A surveyor and cartographer, his Fry
Joshua Fry
Colonel Joshua Fry was a surveyor, adventurer, mapmaker, soldier, and member of the House of Burgesses, the legislature of the colony of Virginia...
-Jefferson Map of 1751 accurately depicted the Allegheny Mountains
Allegheny Mountains
The Allegheny Mountain Range , also spelled Alleghany, Allegany and, informally, the Alleghenies, is part of the vast Appalachian Mountain Range of the eastern United States and Canada...
for the first time and showed the route of "The Great Road from the Yadkin River thro Virginia to Philadelphia distant 455 Miles" — what would later come to be known as the Great Wagon Road
Great Wagon Road
The Great Wagon Road was a colonial American improved trail transiting the Great Appalachian Valley from Pennsylvania to North Carolina, and from there to Georgia....
.
Biography
Jefferson was born in Chesterfield County, VirginiaChesterfield County, Virginia
Chesterfield County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. In 2010, its population was estimated to be 316,236. Chesterfield County is now the fourth-largest municipality in Virginia . Its county seat is Chesterfield...
, one of six children. He did not receive any formal education while young, but according to his famous son, he nevertheless "read much and improved himself."
In 1734, Jefferson claimed the land in present-day Albemarle County which he eventually named Shadwell
Shadwell (Virginia)
Shadwell, a location by the Rivanna river in Albemarle County, Virginia near Charlottesville, was the birthplace of Thomas Jefferson. It was so named by Peter Jefferson after Shadwell parish in London where his wife Jane Randolph had been christened...
. He married Jane Randolph
Jane Randolph Jefferson
Jane Randolph Jefferson, née Jane Randolph was the wife of Peter Jefferson and the mother of president Thomas Jefferson. Born February 9, 1721 in Shadwell Parish, Tower Hamlets, London, she was the daughter of Isham Randolph and Jane Rogers, and a cousin of Peyton Randolph.There is almost no...
in 1739 (daughter of Isham Randolph and granddaughter of William Randolph
William Randolph
William Randolph was a colonist and land owner who played an important role in the history and government of the Commonwealth of Virginia. He moved to Virginia sometime between 1669 and 1673, and married Mary Isham a few years later...
). For a year or two following his marriage, his residence was in present-day Powhatan County Virginia near Fine Creek. Jefferson built a house on the Shadwell tract in 1741 or 1742, and moved there sometime before Thomas Jefferson was born.
Children
Peter Jefferson's children were:- Jane Jefferson (1740–1765) - died unmarried at age 25
- Mary Jefferson Bolling (1741–1811) - married John Bolling, who served in the Virginia House of Burgesses
- Thomas JeffersonThomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
(1743–1826) - Elizabeth Jefferson (1744–1774) - mentally handicapped
- Martha Jefferson Carr (1746–1811) - married Dabney CarrDabney Carr (Virginia assemblyman)Dabney Carr was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and brother-in-law of Thomas Jefferson.Carr was born on October 26, 1743 to John and Barbara Carr at Bear Castle, a large farm in Louisa County, Virginia. He studied law at The College of William & Mary at the same time as his friend,...
, founder of the underground Committee of Correspondence in Virginia on the eve of the American Revolution - Peter Field Jefferson (1748-1748) - died as an infant child
- Peter Thomas Jefferson (1750-1750) - died as an infant child
- Lucy Jefferson Lewis (1752–1811) - married Charles Lilburn LewisCharles Lilburn LewisCharles Lilburn Lewis , sometimes referred to as Charles Lilburn Lewis of Monteagle, was one of the founders of Milton, Virginia, as well as one of the signers of Albemarle County, Virginia's Declaration of Independence in 1779....
- Anna Scott Jefferson Marks (1755–1828) - twin of Randolph
- Randolph JeffersonRandolph JeffersonRandolph Jefferson was the younger brother of Thomas Jefferson. He was Thomas' only brother to survive infancy, and was a twin to Anna Scott, Thomas' youngest sister. Randolph was 12 years younger than Thomas. He married his first cousin Anne Jefferson Lewis in 1780 or 1781 and they had four sons...
(1755–1815) - twin of Anna Scott
Thomas Jefferson, Lucy Jefferson, and Randolph Jefferson were notable for having a number of descendants in common with the Lewis family of Virginia.
He was made one of the first officers of Albemarle County in 1745. Later in that same year, he was made guardian over the children of William Randolph, his wife's cousin who had recently died. He and his family moved to Tuckahoe
Tuckahoe
Tuckahoe may refer to Tuckahoe-Cohee, an early American cultural sub-group.It may also refer to:Buildings:*Tuckahoe , or the Leach Mansion, in Jensen Beach, Florida*Tuckahoe Plantation, boyhood home of Thomas Jefferson, in Virginia...
in Goochland County, where Thomas Jefferson first attended school. In 1749, Peter Jefferson, along with Joshua Fry
Joshua Fry
Colonel Joshua Fry was a surveyor, adventurer, mapmaker, soldier, and member of the House of Burgesses, the legislature of the colony of Virginia...
, Thomas Walker
Thomas Walker (explorer)
Dr. Thomas Walker was a physician and explorer from Virginia who led an expedition to what is now the region beyond the Allegheny Mountains area of British North America in the mid-18th century...
, Edmund Pendleton
Edmund Pendleton
Edmund Pendleton was a Virginia politician, lawyer and judge, active in the American Revolutionary War. -Early years:...
and others, established the Loyal Land Company, and were granted 800,000 acres (3,200 km²) in present-day Virginia, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
and Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
.
Royal Colonial Boundary of 1665
The Royal Colonial Boundary of 1665 is a historic civil engineering landmark, as designated by the American Society of Civil Engineers. It was a brainchild of King Charles II of Great Britain & Ireland to mark the boundaries of various English North American colonies...
, begun by William Byrd II
William Byrd II
Colonel William Byrd II was a planter, slave-owner and author from Charles City County, Virginia. He is considered the founder of Richmond, Virginia.-Biography:...
some time earlier. The detailed Fry-Jefferson Map, cited by his son Thomas in Notes on the State of Virginia
Notes on the State of Virginia
Notes on the State of Virginia was a book written by Thomas Jefferson. He completed the first edition in 1781, and updated and enlarged the book in 1782 and 1783...
, was produced by him and Fry.
The Jefferson family moved back to Shadwell in 1752.
Peter Jefferson died at his house on the Shadwell tract in Albemarle County when his son Thomas was 14 years old. It burned down in 1770. The area around his house is being studied, but his burial location is unknown.
See also
- John HarvieJohn HarvieJohn Harvie was an American lawyer and builder from Virginia. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1777 and 1778, where he signed the Articles of Confederation....
Peter Jefferson Chief Executor. - Thomas LewisThomas Lewis (Virginia)Thomas Lewis was an Irish-American surveyor, lawyer, and a pioneer of early Virginia. He was a signatory to the Fairfax Resolves preceding the American War for Independence, and after the conflict, contributed to the settlement of western Virginia in an area that would one day become part of West...
(1718–90), a surveyor with Jefferson of the "Fairfax Line"