May 20. 2014
200 years ago today, Adam Housh was taking stock of his
recently acquired inventory for the tavern that he had opened on his brother’s
land in the Knobs above the old ford of the Muscatatuk River. He had to pay a $2 annual licensing fee and
$1 in clerk’s fees for the issuing of the license by the Judges of the
Washington Circuit Court. With the Federal
Whiskey Excise Tax having been repealed in 1802, many distilleries cropped up
all over the Indiana Territory so an
ample supply of spirits should be readily available. The first distilleries near Housh were
operated by George Brock, William Gordon and John Fleenor. Since John Fleenor had given the surety bond
for the tavern license of Adam House, he expected Housh to be a ready market
for his liquor product. In April 1814,
the Washington Circuit Court had entered an order setting the maximum prices
that a tavern keeper could charge for his services and provender. These set
prices were as follows:
Bed, 6 ¼ cents
per night
Breakfast,
dinner and supper 25 cents per meal
Horse
to hay and fodder 12 ½ cents per
night
Rum,
peach brandy or wine 37 ½ cents per
half pint
All
other spirits 12 ½ cents
per half pint
“Cyder”
and beer 16 2/3 cents
per quart
Housh was unclear as to whether 6 ¼ cents bought a private
bed for the night or just 1 space in a bed as travelling men often had to sleep
2 to 3 to a bed. Housh was also glad to
be closer to Driftwood Township than other parts of the county as the Indiana Militia
was often called out to foray north in search of rogue Indian raiders. Each
Ranger was given a generous whiskey allowance while on duty.
Housh’s brother Andrew who owned the land where the tavern
was located was expecting a visit from the Washington County Lister, Alexander
Little. He was to keep property lists for
tax purposes and then file the list with Isaac Blackford as the Clerk of the
Court. Sheriff William Hoggatt then collected the taxes and reviewed compliance
with charges such as the tavern rates.
As Little had planted the first peach orchard in the county, he was
pleased with the rate set for peach brandy by Judges Jonathan Lindley, Simeon
Lamb, and Moses Hoggatt.
Thanks for doing this Drew. Is always interesting to look back at history. Of course it's also interesting to be making it as well!
ReplyDeleteWhat is the source of this info? I am a descendant of a relative, Barbara Housh Gullett
ReplyDelete