Thomas Jefferson Papers

Thomas Jefferson: Notes on Value of Lots in Beverley Town (Westham), [ca. 22 May 1817]

Notes on Value of Lots in Beverley Town (Westham)

[ca. 22 May 1817]

my lots in Beverly town Nos 57. 107. 108. 1511

1751. June 5. cost 86/ each

what worth at 6. p.c. compd int. 1817. June 3

formula l = arn 1


Log. 1.06 = r 0.0253059
Log. 1.06 × 65 (= n 1) 1.6448835
Log. 86. = a 1.9344985
No 3796.5 s = Log.  3.5793820
   D.632.72

the same at 5. p.c. comp. int. to 1797. May 1.
and then at 6. p.c. to 1817. May 1.

Log. 1.05 = r 0.0211893
Log. 1.05 × 45 (= n 1) 0.9535185
Log. 86 = a 1.9344985
No 772.71 s = Log.  2.8880170
D 128.80

2d opern from 1797. to 1817. 20.y. @ 6. p.c.

Log. 1.06 = r 0.0253059
Log. 1.06 × 19 (n 1) 0.4808121
Log. 128.80 = a 2.8880170
No 2337.9 = Log. 3.3688291
Dol. 390.

128.80 D + 390 D = 518. D 80 c for each lot


the lots generally are 2 ch–24 l = 215.84 f square

containing half an acre each.3

streets 3. po. wide = 49½ f

but No 151. the ferry lot is 431.68 f4 = 431 f–8 I extent on the river.

MS (DLC: TJ Papers, 232:41549); written entirely in TJ’s hand on one side of a narrow scrap; undated.

TJ presumably calculated these values for his lots in Beverley Town (Westham) after receipt on 22 May 1817 of David Higginbotham’s letter of 20 May 1817.

The maximum allowable interest rate in Virginia was increased from 5. p.c. to 6 percent in November 1796. The change took effect on 1 May 1797 (Acts of Assembly description begins Acts of the General Assembly of Virginia (cited by session; title varies over time) description ends [1796 sess.], 16–7).

1Lot numbers added in a different ink from remainder of manuscript.

2Reworked from “D.622.7.”

3Preceding five words interlined.

4Reworked from “331.68 f.”

Index Entries

  • interest; rate limits in Va. search
  • interest; TJ’s calculations of search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Business & Financial Affairs; sale of Westham lots proposed search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Writings; Notes on Value of Lots in Beverley Town (Westham) search
  • mathematics; logarithms search
  • Westham, Va.; TJ’s lots in search