Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826) to Jeremiah A. Goodman re: worthless bank note accepted by Jefferson's slave

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

A high-resolution version of this object is available for registered users. LOG IN

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07512 Author/Creator: Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826) Place Written: Major Flood's [Plantation] Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 14 November 1814 Pagination: 1 p. ; 20 x 16.1 cm. Order a Copy

The worthless South Carolina note was accepted as change of a $5 bill by Jefferson's slave Burwell: "...just throw it in the fire... the sum is too insignificant... only that one does not like to give five dollars for three."

Major Flood's
Nov. 14, 1814

Dear Sir,

I forgot to take a note of the debt due for corn about Christmas; also the debts for the two horses; be so good as to let me know by mail, how much they are, to who due, & when to be paid. I forgot also to devise a clover lot to be made at Bearcreek where we proposed. With respect to the asparagus bed of which we spoke to Mr. Goodman, make them mow off the stalks and lay them on one side then cover the bed with two inches of dung, and then lay on the stalks again to shade the manure from the sum.
Burwell (slave] went to Lynchburg on Friday and I gave him a 5 dollar note to get changed that I might have it on the road. He bought 2 ½ dollars worth of something in Mr. Benjamin Perkin's store and the young gentleman in the store gave him a silver half dollar and the Two Dollar bill now enclosed, which Burwell gave me with other change for my five dollars. I never looked at the bill till I went to pay for some oats at Hunters, & found it to be a South Carolina bill which nobody will receive. I suppose it has been given by the young gentleman thro' here. I presume it will be taken back on your application, but if there is any hesitation, just throw in the fire, as the sum is too insignificant to make any fuss about, only that one does not like to give five dollars for three. Accept my best wishes.
Th: Jefferson

Mr. Jeremiah A. Goodman

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources