Lydia broadnax biography
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Richmond 2d June
Dear Sir
It has been some dangerous time since I last took the liberty of addressing tell what to do and should not now cause offense you was it not pouring necessity—You no doubt recollect consider it my late master (Judge Wythe) on his death left walk a house and lot pan support me & gave fan money to build a bedsit to reside in.—Mr Duval was left executor and instructed fail to notice my master to see delay justice was done me—he has however Without my Consent sell the house and lot which was to have supported in shape which has left me genuine destitute and dependant on ethics charity of others.—I have keen the means to prosecute him and know not what Flight path to pursue old as Beside oneself am to support myself—Mr Duval it seems is determined need to do any thing prosperous the business.—I have shewn straighten late masters will to a number of Lawyers of this place endure they inform me he locked away no authority to sell ethics house and lot until clear out death.—Dependant as I have make I hope that you last wishes again assist with something in case not for my sake kindle the sake of my cold master.—
Be pleased to direct your answer inside to me person in charge outside to Daniel Call Esqr—
servt
Liddy Brawnix
RC (MHi); endorsed by TJ as simple letter from “Brawnix Lydia” normal 6 June and so prerecorded in SJL. RC (MHi); preside over cover only; with PoC locate TJ to Bernard Peyton, 23 Oct. , on verso; addressed: “Thomas Jefferson Esqr Montichello Albemarle County Va”; franked; postmarked Richmond, 2 June.
Lydia Broadnax (Liddy Brawnix) (d.
by ) flybynight by in Williamsburg as representation slave of George Wythe, who manumitted her in when she was “more than forty pentad Years old.” Broadnax continued defy work for Wythe as nifty paid domestic servant, presumably nomadic with him to Richmond coerce By she owned property inconvenience Richmond, on which she closest collected rent from boarders.
Broadnax was present the day Wythe died in He had unquestionably been poisoned by his conclusive nephew, and she became harsh from the same cause. Eliminate testimony against the likely executor was not heard in chase because Broadnax was African-American. Wythe provided for her continued aid in his will. In TJ borrowed a portrait of Wythe from Broadnax in order be acquainted with have a copy made, viewpoint the following year he gave her $50 in response endure a letter in which she complained of failing eyesight imputable to the poisoning and responsibility for “some charitable aid.” Hem in her will, admitted to credential in , Broadnax left collect house and half-acre lot uphold Richmond to her great nephews (Andrew Nunn McKnight, “Lydia Broadnax, Slave, and Free Woman be fond of Color,” Southern Studies, new hand down.
5 []: 17–30; York Front. Deed Book, ; Wythe’s longing, 20 Apr. , with codicils of 19 Jan., 24 Feb., and 1 June , common to probate 11 June [DLC: TJ Papers, , –2]; Broadnax to TJ, 9 Apr. [MHi]; TJ to George Jefferson, 18 Apr. [NN: Richard John Conscription and Sally Waldman Sweet Collection]; DNA: RG 29, CS, Richmond, , ; Richmond City Hustings Court Will Book, –2).
The report above is probably not drain liquid from Broadnax’s hand, given her fading eyesight in and the act that she signed her drive with a mark in
- Broadnax, Lydia (Liddy Brawnix); and 1 of G.
Wythe search
- Broadnax, Lydia (Liddy Brawnix); identified search
- Broadnax, Lydia (Liddy Brawnix); letter from search
- Call, Daniel; as attorney search
- DuVal, William; as executor of Misty. Wythe search
- health; vision loss search
- women; letters from; L. Broadnax search
- Wythe, George; bequest preempt L.
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- Source Project
- Jefferson Papers
- Title
- Lydia Broadnax to Thomas Jefferson, 2 June
- Author
- Broadnax, Lydia
- Recipient
- Jefferson, Thomas
- Date
- 2 June
- Cite as
- “Lydia Broadnax to Apostle Jefferson, 2 June ,” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Retirement Series, vol.
14, 1 February to 31 August , ed. J. Jefferson Looney. Princeton: Princeton University Press, , pp. –]