August 1 Monday – Sam wrote from Elmira to Orion. Even though Sam had washed his hands and renounced any share in the Tennessee Land, he helped pay the taxes when due. Here was the final straw—Orion asking for $200 for taxes.

 You can draw on me for two or three hundred dollars, but only on one condition, viz: that you consider yourself under oath to either sell at some price or other, or give away, one full half of the Tennessee land within 4 months from date—but it must be honestly parted with, & forever.

The family has been bled for 40 years to keep that cursed land on their hands & perpetuate our father’s well intended folly in buying it [MTL 4: 177; bold is Sam’s emphasis].