In September 1815, Kendall agreed to purchase a half-interest in the "Georgetown Minerva". Johnson allowed him to pay the purchase price of $1,000 in equal installments over the next five years, without interest. Kendall also agreed to buy the position of postmaster of the town from its current office-holder for $720 over four years (hoping that this position would give him access to news first). He briefly committed to teaching and investing in land speculation before backing out of both proposals. He quickly learned that Johnson had mortgaged his half of the business to a brother-in-law, Robert Ward, and sold $800 of Kendall's promissory note to his brother, James Johnson. After an exchange of angry letters, James Johnson cancelled Kendall's debt, took possession of the "Minerva", and agreed to let Kendall edit a new newspaper he was founding (the "Georgetown Patriot").