Bees and Honey From Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia Bees and honey
are only briefly mentioned by Thomas Jefferson. The Memorandum
Books reveal many purchases of beeswax between 1769 and 1783,
and two further purchases in 1791 and 1813. In October 1789,
Jefferson purchased 2 shillings' worth of honey on the Isle of
Wight in England before returning home from Europe. Edmund
Bacon, Jefferson's overseer (September 1806-October 1822) was a
bee keeper. He wrote, "I remember his [General Dearborne] coming
to my house once with Mr. Jefferson, to look at my bees. I had a
very large stand, more than forty hives." Jefferson briefly
discussed bees in his Notes on the State of Virginia: "The
honey-bee is not a native of our continent. Marcgraveindeed
mentions a species of honey-bee in Brasil. But this has no
sting, and is therefore different from the one we have, which
resembles perfectly that of Europe. The Indians concur with us
in the tradition that it was brought from Europe; but, when, and
by whom, we know not. The bee