John S. Major Arithmetic Book, 1800-1803.

Access and use

Location of collection:
Colonial Williamsburg
John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
P.O. Box 1776
Williamsburg, VA 23187
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Douglas Mayo
Phone: (757) 565-8521
Phone: (757) 565-8520
Fax: (757) 565-8528

Summary

Creator:
John S. Major, b. 1787.
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Arithmetic exercise book. Includes questions and answers, exercises, examples, case or story questions, and a multiplication table. Major's tutors were Gilbert Christian and Edward Wall. Includes several personal comments or signatures. Lessons worked on range from elementary addition to more complex banking and mercantile concepts. Lessons include addition and subtraction of dry measure, wine measure, cloth measure, time, motion and apothecaries weight; compound multiplication; short, simple, long and compound division; reduction in money; tare and tret, rule of three; simple and compound interest; brokerage; rebate or discount; equation of payments; barter; loss & gain; simple and compound fellowship; exchange (with some examples of bill of exchange with European firms); comparison of weights and measures; media and alternate alligation; comparative arithmetic; arithmetical progression; geometrical progression; vulgar fractions; decimal fractions; square roots; the cube; biquadrate; sursolid; annuities or pensions in arrears and other subjects.

Biographical / historical:

John Sleet Major was a resident of Culpeper County, Virginia.

Acquisition information:
Purchase, 1992.
Physical description:
1 item (396 p.)