1Thomas Jefferson to William Shirman, 16 April 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I have about 80. or 100. perch of stone work to be laid at Poplar Forest in Bedford , 10. miles from Lynchburg ; and also from one to two hundred perch to lay at this place; in all of which I should be willing to employ you. the work in Bedford might be done by the perch; but for that here I would rather pay you a reasonable monthly hire, because difficulties & delays in hauling materials...
2Thomas Jefferson to William Shirman, 1 July 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of Apr. 30. arrived here after my departure for Bedford , from which place I returned but three days ago. not meeting you there I was obliged to have that job done by the Bricklayer who went to do the brick work. we are now engaged in our harvest which will employ us to in cutting & getting out the grain till the middle of next month, before which time therefore I could not find...