Liquidating a Land Grant

James M. Woods received a grant of land on Cedar Creek in Maury County, Tennessee. This was probably given for military service in the Revolutionary War.

In February of 1815 a parcel of 110 acres of that land was sold to Mills McAfee for $187. On the same date another sale of 80 acres was made by his agent, Daniel Killion, to John Fox ... for the exact same price paid for the 110 acres.

(An interesting footnote is that it was not until six months later, on August 22, that these deeds were recorded at the Maury County Courthouse.)

To get an understanding of the value of that sum, consider that in 1815 the U.S. Congress voted itself an annual salary of $1500. Using the rate of congressional salary inflation since then, the two pieces of land would fetch about $43,400 in 2011 dollars.

2011-12-12 14:21:35 RBaxter

See additional information on the Individual Data Info Page for James M. Woods.

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