Protecting Lewis’ Possessions Inventory near Nashville and Washington, D.C.

Lewis had packed his possessions for traveling in two (2), small trunks, including the rejected Bills of Exchange and the expedition journals. After Lewis’ death and hasty burial, James Neeley and John Pernier took the trunks to the vicinity of Nashville. On 18 October James Neeley wrote Thomas Jefferson describing Lewis’ death.⁽¹⁾ 

On 23 November 1809, Memorandum of Lewis’ Personal Effects was recorded in the presence of Capt. Boote, Capt. Brahan, Thomas Freeman, and William P. Anderson.⁽²⁾⁽³⁾ After the inventory, Thomas Freeman, Federal Surveyor, and leader of the Freeman-Custis Exploration on the Red River of the South, took charge of the possessions to assure their safe conveyance to Washington. James Neeley’s letter of the 18th was received by Thomas Jefferson, who redirected the letter to President James Madison. James Madison advised James Neeley to see that the possessions were transported to the White House for further examination and appropriate distribution of the contents. There is a lack of certainty how the trunks were sent to Washington but Thomas Jefferson recommended to President Madison that the two trunks be transported to Washington “by stage and if possible, under the care of some person coming on.” ⁽⁴⁾ On 5 January 1810, Isaac Coles, Secretary for President Madison, and William Clark, who had arrived in Washington on 18 December 1809, separated the contents of the trunks. Clark, with permission of William D. Meriwether executor of Lewis’ estate, took charge of the Lewis and Clark Journals but did not find the botanical notes, celestial observation, or calculations which he hoped Lewis had left in Philadelphia.⁽⁵⁾ Other documents were sent to the various government departments. The personal papers and items were sent to Thomas Jefferson for future delivery to William D. Meriwether, estate executor. The personal possessions were conveyed to Lucy Meriwether Lewis Marks, Meriwether Lewis’ mother. The second inventory by Coles and Clark further revealed that there was a “Little Memorandum Book” with some money and Lewis’ Will”. ⁽⁶⁾