Thomas Jefferson to Reuben Perry, 2 September 1812
To Reuben Perry
Poplar forest Sep. 2. 12.
Sir
I wrote to you from Albemarle on the subject of putting up the grounds of my work here; while I should be here. I arrived yesterday and shall make rather a short stay; so should be glad you could come immediately. I also wish to talk with you about my barn in Albemarle of which I wrote to you and a further job of covering a new warehouse I have buil[t] at Milton, 300.f. long, & 12.f. wide, of stone. the stuff all ready. I hope therefore I shall see you immediately. Accept my best wishes.
Th: Jefferson
PoC (ViW: TC-JP); one word faint; at foot of text: “Mr Reuben Perry”; endorsed by TJ.
Perry managed to come immediately. He agreed on 3 Sept. 1812 to transfer his remaining obligations to work for TJ from Poplar Forest to Monticello in return for a $50 reduction in the price he was to pay for TJ’s slave James Hubbard. On 11 Jan. 1812 TJ had agreed to pay £20 for stone to be hauled to the site of his tobacco warehouse, which he later described as a stone shed forming “3 sides of a square of about 100.f. each” (Conveyance of James Hubbard to Reuben Perry, Feb. 1811; , 2:1135, 1273; TJ to James Rawlings, 14 May 1820).