Letter Introducing Lucy Paradise; from Th. Jefferson, 1788

Transcribed by Kathy Merrill for the USGenWeb Archives Special Collections Project

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Letter Introducing Lucy Paradise

   Th. Jefferson

   William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 5, No. 4.
   (Apr., 1897), pp. 274-275.

                     LETTER(1) INTRODUCING LUCY PARADISE.

   We, Thomas Jefferson, minister plenipotentiary for the United States of America at the court
of Versailles, certify to all whom it may concern:

   That we are personally and well acquainted with the family of Mrs. Lucy Paradise, wife of
John Paradise(2) esquire, with their connections and condition:

   That the said Lucy was born in the state of Virginia, in the lawful wedlock of her parents,
of a Christian family and educated in the Christian religion:

   That her father, the honourable Philip Ludwell esquire, was a native of the same state of
Virginia, was a member of the Royal Executive council, of the General court, the supreme
judicature of the state and a Visitor of the College of Williamsburg of public foundation:

   That her grandfather, the honourable Philip Ludwell esquire, was President of the said state,
that is to say, the vicegerent & representative of the king during the absence of the governor,
& in cases of inter-regnum:

   That her great grandfather, the honourable Philip Ludwell esquire, was Governor of the
neighboring state of Carolina, that is to say, the immediate Vicegerent & Representative of
the King in ordinary and extraordinary:
_____________________________________________________________
   (1) Originial in possession of Miss Philippa Ludwell Barziza.

   (2) Paradise, John, Esq., D.C.L. of Oxford and F.R.S., was of Greek extraction, the son of
Peter Paradise, English consul at Solonica, where he was born; he was educated at Padua, but
resided the greater part of his life in London, in the literary circles of which he was
generally known and highly esteemed.  He became intimate with Johnson in the latter portion of
the Doctor's life; was a member of the Essex-street club and attended his funeral.  He died
December 12, 1795. - Boswell's Life of Johnson, p. 14.  Diaries of Miss Burney.

Page 275.

   That her mother was of the family of Grymes: her uncle on the mother's side, the honourable
Philip Grymes esquire, was Receiver general of the Kikng, a member of the Royal executive
council, and of the General court, the supreme judicature of the state:

   That her grandfather on the same side, the honourable Philip Grymes esquire, was Secretary
of the state, a member of the Royal executive council, and of the General court, the supreme
judicature thereof:

   And that her ancestors in general, both on the side of the father & mother, have been of the
most distinguished in that country from its first settlement, for their wealth, and the honours
& offices they have filled:

   That in that country no distinction of ranks has ever been admitted at all, much less to be
made hereditary:

   And all this we certify of our own knowledge, so far as the facts are of our own times, and
so far as they are of earlier times we have learnt from them the public records & history of
the state, & from the constant uncontradicted reputation of that country, of which we are
native born.

   With respect to the said John Paradise esquire, heretofore resident in the kingdom of Great
Britain, lately removed to Virginia and become of our personal acquaintance, we can certify his
personal worth only, which is great, and his condition, which is that of a gentleman, & citizen
of the state of Virginia, invested with all the rights of that character, capable of all the
offices & honours of that country, and received a Visitor of the same College of Williamsburg
of which his father-in-law, Philip Ludwell before named, was a Visitor; his family is unknown
to us but by reputation, whe * * * * represented it as well distinguised by wealth and * * * 
in England.

   Given under our hand and seal at Paris, in the kingdom of France, this 6th day of July, in
the year of our Lord, 1788.
                                         TH. JEFFERSON.