Bartholomew Kindred (? - 1805) was a free white craftsman who worked as head weaver at Monticello for Thomas Jefferson from 1776 to 1778. He and his wife, Mary, and son, Thomas (who was a waterman) may have lived at Shadwell, the probable location of the textile shop. Kindred arrived at Monticello in the midst of the American Revolution, which had caused a shortage of cloth normally imported from Britain. Kindred compensated for this scarcity by producing wool, hemp, and flax cloth for Jefferson’s plantation and neighbors. Jefferson’s wife, Martha, recorded the kinds of cloth Kindred produced.[1] For the white members of Jefferson’s household, Kindred wove "fine cotton for the children," and "very fine linen shirts for Mr. Jefferson." For enslaved people, Kindred made “good linen for house servants” and coarser “hemp linen” or "yarne cloth" for "out negroes," meaning field slaves or artisans. In exchange for his work, Kindred received a percentage of the profits. In 1782, Jefferson agreed that Kindred should receive “half the earnings of the shop.”
Bartholomew Kindred is mentioned a number of times in Jefferson's memorandum books. Some entries deal with supplies Jefferson provided to Kindred while he worked at Monticello between 1776 and 1782 (beef, bacon, corn, wheat); other entries refer to what Kindred owed at Jefferson's blacksmith shop.
There are also three references to Thomas Kindred: payments for fish and for transporting molasses, brandy, and furniture up from Richmond. Bartholomew Kindred's will was proved October 7, 1805, meaning he died (probably shortly) before that date.[2] The will mentions his wife Mary, son Thomas (and Thomas's wife Mary), son William, a "Miland Powers," wife of Norborne Powers (possibly a daughter Melinda), grandsons Edward and Josiah, and about 180 acres of land that seems to be near Monticello. Weaving apparatus appears in the inventory.
- Lucia Stanton, 9/23/97; updated with text from 2012 by the Monticello curatorial staff
1776 April 3. "Sent Kindred 22 lb. of beef."[3]
1776 April 26. "Sent (as we guess) 20 lb. bacon 8 lb. beef to Kindred."[4]
1777 March 10. "Gave Barth. Kindred order on Mr. Cox, for 5. barrels corn @ market price & 120. bushels wheat @ 2/6, the latter being instead of the former order for 80. bushels."[5]
1777 March 25. "Charge Kindred the 5. Barr. corn ordered Mar. 10 @ 12/6 by lre. from Mr. Cox."[6]
1779 February 8. "I am to stop 10/ in my hands due from Isaac Jackson to B. Kindred."[7]
1782 January 12. "Charge T. Garth £150 paper he recd. in Sep. 1781. of Kindred & omitted to credit."[8]
1782 September 18. "B. Kindred's tax (the whole) paiable in tobo. @25/ [ = £ ] 16."[9]
1782 October 25. "Agreed with B. Kindred to continue another year without his son. I am to give him 500 lb. meat, 5 Barr. corn, 1/2 bush. salt & fodder as usual. he is to have half the earnings of the shop. For the last year he is to have 5/8 & I 3/8 of the earnings."[10]
1783 August 16. "Barth. Kindred. 1782 March [ £ ] 13-9."[11]
1794 December 11. "Pd. Kindred for fish furnished last spring 3/."[12]
1796 March 22. "Gave T. Kindred ord. on Flem. & Mclan. for 35/ out of my nail money for bringing up a hhd. molasses wt. 14. C @ 2/6."[13]
1797 October 9. "Directed him to pay Bart. Kindred 31.67 for 2 beeves. (part for Davenpt.)."[14]
1797 October 27. (Statement of Account with William Davenport, December 10, 1798). "to 425 ¾ lb. beef from Kindred (part of 820. lb.) 4-18-8."[15]
1797 October 27. "Charge W. Davenport £4-18-8 of the £9-10 pd. to Kindred Oct. 9."[16]
1801 August 24. (George Jefferson to Thomas Jefferson). "I sent you a few days ago by Thomas Kindred the articles contained in the memorandum which I brought down with me—together with 4 dozen chairs which came from Philadelphia."[17]
1801 August 29. "Paid Thos. Kindred for water carriage 14.75."[18]
1805 March 21. "Gave note to B. Kindred for 50.D. in charity."[19]
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