Finding Aid for the Thomas Stuart Letter, 1805
MS-3140University of Tennessee Special Collections Library, Knoxville, TN
Collection processed by: Elizabeth Dunham, 18 July 2007
Finding Aid written by: Elizabeth Dunham, 18 July 2007
Encoded by: Elizabeth Dunham, 18 July 2007
Summary Information
Thomas Stuart Letter
Date/Date Range : 1805
0.1 linear feet
Abstract: This collection houses a three-page letter from Thomas Stuart, Attorney of the U.S. for West Tennessee, to George Simpson, Cashier of the United States Bank in Philadelphia, documenting counterfeiting rings and specifically the incarceration of a counterfeiter named Thomas Moore in Nashville, Tennessee. In this document, Stuart passes on a copy of a letter he has received from Jas. Doyle and D. Dicky of North Carolina warning that some of Moore's associates may be planning to break him out of jail and recommends that strict security be enforced and Governor John Page of Virginia be warned.
MS-3140
University of Tennessee Special Collections Library, Knoxville, TN
Access and Use
The University of Tennessee Special Collections Library purchased this collection in June of 2002.
Collection is open for research.
The copyright interests in this collection remain with the creator. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library.
[Identification of Item], Thomas Stuart Letter, MS-3140. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Special Collections Library.
Arrangement
Collection consists of a single folder.
Biography / History
Thomas Stuart was born to John and Ann Stuart on June 11, 1862 in Pennsylvania. Although it is not known where or with whom he studied law, he was licensed to practice in Davidson County in 1796 and admitted to the Bar in Sumner County in July 1797. Stuart practiced law in Kentucky for several years before returning to Tennessee and accepting a position as the Fourth Circuit's first Circuit Court judge. He began his term on May 14, 1810 and spent the next 26 years hearing civil and criminal cases in the Fourth Circuit's eight counties: Williamson, Davidson, Wilson, Lincoln, Rutherford, Giles, Maury, and Bedford. He also sat on the Supreme Court of Errors and Appeals handling cases transferred from the Fifth Circuit. He retired due to failing health in February of 1836 and died on October 16, 1838 in Williamson County.
Stuart married Margaret Larimore (1768-1835) prior to 1802, and the couple had no children.
Collection Scope and Content Note
This collection houses a three-page letter from Thomas Stuart, Attorney of the U.S. for West Tennessee, to George Simpson, Cashier of the United States Bank in Philadelphia, documenting counterfeiting rings and specifically the incarceration of a counterfeiter named Thomas Moore in Nashville, Tennessee. In this document, Stuart passes on a copy of a letter he has received from Jas. Doyle and D. Dicky of North Carolina warning that some of Moore's associates may be planning to break him out of jail and recommends that strict security be enforced and Governor John Page of Virginia be warned.
Subject Terms
- Page, John, 1744-1808.
- Bank notes -- Forgeries -- United States.
- Counterfeiters -- United States.
- Law enforcement -- United States.
Contents List
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Thomas Stuart Letter, 1805 Scope Note: Transcription of Letter:
Nashville Feby. 18th 1805
Sir,
Judge McNairy shewed me a letter of Which the following is a copy. it relates to Joseph Moore now in Jail in Nashville for passing counterfit Bank notes, of whom I have heretofore written you a particular account.
Rutherford County North Carolina
18th Jany. 1804.
May it Please your honor we are informed you have a certain Joseph Moore in Nashville Jail. we have had correspondence from Governor Page in Virginia which States said Moore to be one of the principal hands in passing the counterfint bank notes, we know the man very well, and can aprise you if you can give him a sufficient scare you can rout the whole nest of counterfieters in our country, we have a set of them in our county Thomas Davis is plat cutter he lives at Alexander Twittys from whence all the western part of the continent gets supplied with those notes, we are likewise sensible that the said Moore knows about the hard Money counterfieters. One Abram Collins and Martin Collins counterfeits the gold coin and one Lyn the silver. we have not been able to get that proff we think necessary to be a compleat conviction. That party in our county is very uneasy about Moores counfinement, and we do understand there are some of them going westward shortly and if great care is not taken we expect the Jail will be broak therefore we suppose it might be convenient to keep a strict watch about the Jail and to examine strangers that appear there, this if they do go from here they may work by proxy as the Combination is very larg.
Jas. Doyle
D. Dicky
Sir, the Signers of this letter both act in the commission of the peace and have had communications from different parts of the continent on the subject. it may be in you power if you think proper to give notice to Governor Page of the confinement of Moore, for we think the time is fast at hand. That something may be done for the good of the continent we remain yours sir.
D. Dickey
To the Honorable Judge McNein near Nashville in Tennessee. This day Spencer Beavers was brought before Judge McNairy for passing a counterfit bank bill of the United States bank of $50 who on his examination said he had it of one Anthony Sloan, but he discharged it not appearing sufficiently that he knew it was counterfit.
I am Sir yours
Thos Stuart att. of U.S. for West Tennessee
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