I don't recall how much it was, that seems improbable an amount though, and JQA did take several loans out. John Adams was however, very thrifty in his spending (thanks mainly to Abigail) in his spending. It wasn't until after the Presidency that big changes occurred to the family homestead over time, and never anything on the scale of Washington or Jefferson's estate building in either size of property or in scale of house building. Adams did have three farms, which were used to subdivide to his children and heirs. Adams never made a lot of money as a lawyer, and it wasn't as a lawyer that he became nationally well-known; even his defense of the British Massacre did him more economic harm than it helped his reputation. It was perseverance in caring about the American Revolution and writing profusely that earned him a reputation among the elites. It's important to remember he was well-known among the elites, not so much the common person; at that point in American history elections were more about the electors appointed by the state government and not so much the popularity contest of today (Federalists losing a state legislature like NY's in control to the Democrat-Republicans was considered the reason Aaron Burr and Jefferson carried that state in 1800).
You're right. It was 13,000 in cash reserves, not land. Though JQA did buy some properties from his father to cover that loss to about the same tune.
EDIT: 13,000 dollars then is 270,000 dollars now! Holy cow!
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