06 November 2013

Trousdale's Debt To Andrew Jackson


Jim's Photo Of Andrew Jackson Statue In New Orleans

"The store of Jackson, Coffee & Hutchings it appears did not prove very profitable. Some bad debts were made [see court case below], and as there was then no mail between Nashville and the lower country, there was no way of ascertaining beforehand the market price of the commodities bought for transportation to New Orleans. Sometimes the boat loads of produce reached a glutted market and there was a heavy loss. Moreover the enormous cost of bringing goods from Philadelphia to the Cumberland narrowed the margin for profit besides absorbing a large amount of money. The tradition is that after some years of storekeeping, Jackson sold out to Coffee, taking notes payable at long intervals in payment for his share; that Coffee floundered on awhile by himself and lost all he had in the world; that afterwards Coffee gave up the business, resumed the occupation of surveying, prospered and married a niece of Mrs Jackson; that on the wedding day General Jackson did the handsome and dramatic thing; brought out Coffee's notes from his strong box, tore them in halves and presented the pieces to the bride with a magnificent bow." [Source]


Davidson Co., Tennessee - Superior Court of Law & Equity, Mero District Pleas 1805-1807
Pleas At The Courthouse In Nashville Before Etc. NOV. TERM 1806
JACKSON & HUTCHINGS )
vs. )
ROBERT TROUSDALE ) Debt Appeal
To the Sheriff of said County Greeting: You are hereby commanded to take the body of Robert Trousdale if to be found in your county & him safely keep so that you have him before the Justices of our County Court of pleas and quarter sessions, to be held for said County at the Court House in the Town of Gallatin on the third Monday in March next then and there to answer Andrew Jackson and John Hutchings, merchants ......with James Trousdale and John Orr, securities. 

Coincidentally(!), Robert Trousdale came to St. Mary Parish Louisiana, in 1806:

Source

Something else was keeping Andrew Jackson busy in November of 1806:

Source

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