Resurrecting the First American West

In a letter I received some time agoe from you in which you mentioned that an offer of two hundred dollars had been made for about thirty nine acres of land belonging to the Grantees, lying in Berkley and joining John Rees Levington Daniel &c I have always asked [pound symbol]80. for the land, but the persons from whom I expected to get it, I believe is too poor to raise the money. I think if the person who wants the land will lodge $200 dollars in your hands, I will on your giving me such notice send the deed. it is but an indifferent stony piece with no fence or timber, and joins no person that is able to pay, except Adam Livingston - In your last letter you inform me that you had been make purchases of land joining you, and that the use of the money in your hands would be convenient to you for a while, you may rest assured that I was pleased to hear that you had made the purchase, as I suppose it was very convenient to you to own the land, and as to the use of the money, it is very conve= =nient to me to let it remain in your hands, and it give me real pleasure to have it in my power to do so - perhaps some other money may be collected. please make use of any money belonging to me which may come to your hands. I do not think3 I shall want it before you will be ready to replace it - There are some bonds in your hands which if not paid I think suit had best be brought directly to November Court - to wit Thomas Williams, [words cut off]] William Vanaught- Larimore- Hedge and and one Johnston who was a tenant in Hampshire about two years agoe. unless he is still a tenant and make some payment, as to James W Danold I suppose I have waited with him untill I shall loose the debt, I would sue him if I thought I could get any thing by doing so, I wish you would ask Major Holmes if their would be any chance of his securing it by giving time. I think if it could be done the Major would undertake to do it for me ~ among the bonds sent you is one of Cap^t Songs he has promised to pay this fall. I have likewise sent an order from Colonel Booth on his son William which has not been paid. indeed I never asked William as I knew he got a very little money on the southern expedition, and the money was to be paid on his return the Colonel intended to have paid himself before I left Virginia, but met with a desappointment in gitting money this was for grant money which he received for me. I had the money to pay the grantees, the colonel must pay Interest - I have annexed

A list of the bonds sent by Captain Hite ~ we have been very sickly this Fall on Bear Grass - several of my famiy are now very unwell - as to crops wheat there was very little seeded last year, and I believe that was not very good - those who planted tobacco must have made very fine crops. I made a little which was excellent - I believe there are very great crops of corn - the squrrells take a good part. I do not expect more than 6/ P[er] barrel will be had the next year - your Sc[cut off] and all the children have been sick - but are all about again - they present their love to you and the children, which they are joined by your most

Sincere friend

Jona: Clark

Bear Grass

Octo. 9. 1809.

Bonds sent by Captain Hite Ulreck Tillar & John Black Bond [pound symbol] 75.0.0 pay^d 1 Mar 1803 Jos Huddle & Jacob Huddle D^o [pound symbol] 50.0.0 pay^d 1 Nov 1802 Cap: Nimrod Song D^o $200 pay^d 18. June 1803 Col Booth order [pound symbol] 20.18.6 pay^d 6. Ap^l 1799 [cut off] [cut off] P. S. Since writing I find a few charges made by M^r Hite since 1789 which I have added to the account -

In a letter I received some time agoe from you in which you mentioned that an offer of two hundred dollars had been made for about thirty nine acres of land belonging to the Grantees, lying in Berkley and joining John Rees Levington Daniel &c I have always asked [pound symbol]80. for the land, but the persons from whom I expected to get it, I believe is too poor to raise the money. I think if the person who wants the land will lodge $200 dollars in your hands, I will on your giving me such notice send the deed. it is but an indifferent stony piece with no fence or timber, and joins no person that is able to pay, except Adam Livingston - In your last letter you inform me that you had been make purchases of land joining you, and that the use of the money in your hands would be convenient to you for a while, you may rest assured that I was pleased to hear that you had made the purchase, as I suppose it was very convenient to you to own the land, and as to the use of the money, it is very conve= =nient to me to let it remain in your hands, and it give me real pleasure to have it in my power to do so - perhaps some other money may be collected. please make use of any money belonging to me which may come to your hands. I do not think3 I shall want it before you will be ready to replace it - There are some bonds in your hands which if not paid I think suit had best be brought directly to November Court - to wit Thomas Williams, [words cut off]] William Vanaught- Larimore- Hedge and and one Johnston who was a tenant in Hampshire about two years agoe. unless he is still a tenant and make some payment, as to James W Danold I suppose I have waited with him untill I shall loose the debt, I would sue him if I thought I could get any thing by doing so, I wish you would ask Major Holmes if their would be any chance of his securing it by giving time. I think if it could be done the Major would undertake to do it for me ~ among the bonds sent you is one of Cap^t Songs he has promised to pay this fall. I have likewise sent an order from Colonel Booth on his son William which has not been paid. indeed I never asked William as I knew he got a very little money on the southern expedition, and the money was to be paid on his return the Colonel intended to have paid himself before I left Virginia, but met with a desappointment in gitting money this was for grant money which he received for me. I had the money to pay the grantees, the colonel must pay Interest - I have annexed

A list of the bonds sent by Captain Hite ~ we have been very sickly this Fall on Bear Grass - several of my famiy are now very unwell - as to crops wheat there was very little seeded last year, and I believe that was not very good - those who planted tobacco must have made very fine crops. I made a little which was excellent - I believe there are very great crops of corn - the squrrells take a good part. I do not expect more than 6/ P[er] barrel will be had the next year - your Sc[cut off] and all the children have been sick - but are all about again - they present their love to you and the children, which they are joined by your most

Sincere friend

Jona: Clark

Bear Grass

Octo. 9. 1809.

Bonds sent by Captain Hite Ulreck Tillar & John Black Bond [pound symbol] 75.0.0 pay^d 1 Mar 1803 Jos Huddle & Jacob Huddle D^o [pound symbol] 50.0.0 pay^d 1 Nov 1802 Cap: Nimrod Song D^o $200 pay^d 18. June 1803 Col Booth order [pound symbol] 20.18.6 pay^d 6. Ap^l 1799 [cut off] [cut off] P. S. Since writing I find a few charges made by M^r Hite since 1789 which I have added to the account -