Certainly the tavern accounts of a New Jersey County Inn, of over an hundred years old, would be a curiosity. The kindness of a friend has placed before us just such a document. It is a home-made book of the ancient ribbed and unruled fools-cap paper. The book is made by folding each leaf down the middle, lengthwise, so that each sheet makes four leaves or eight pages. The length is thirteen inches, and the width is nearly four and one-half inches. The cover is also home-made, being of a coarse, thin paste-board, made by pasting together several sheets of paper, and then pasting a strip of thin paper a quarter of an inch wide round the border. The opening is made on the inside of the cover, where the owner writes: "His Book of Tavern Accompts November 14 1766 the Money prock." The abbreviated word "prock" needs explanation, which has been kindly furnished by Mr. C. D. Deshler, of the New Brunswick Historical Club. It alludes to the official and legislative proclamations regulating the currency as to its value. The accounts, however, are kept (though not very artistically, yet with care,) in pounds, shillings and pence.
A private note accompanying the book informs us that it is "the account of a hotel in Somerset county." However that may be, the names found in the entries are the family names of nearly all the old families of Monmouth county, and the adjoining county of Middlesex. There are accounts with one hundred and forty persons. Very numerous among these are the Cowenhovens. Of these one is entered with strict formality as "Wm. Cowenhoven Pt S." and another as "Court house William Cowenhoven." We have also the Buckelews, Carliles, Combses, Claytons, Cassleers, Campbells, Clarks, Craigs, Millers, Coopers, Disborrows, Dorsets, Englishes, Emleys, Erricksons, Formans, Gastons, Pages, Herberts, Hagemans, Loyds, Lairds, Murrays, Moxols, Morfords, Newells, Perines, Patersons, Rue, Reed, Smalley, Smith, Scobey, Polhamicees, Tilton, Wooley, Winerite, White, &c. It is seen that these names are spelled differently now. And very curious are the entries in this old book. Doubtless the following customer was a hard working, sturdy woman of those times. We copy the whole entry:
1767. DOLLEY HAGEMAN, Dr.
January 2 To 1 mug of Cider & 1-2 Dram 6.
To 1 mug of Beer 6.
To 1-2 Dram 2.
To 2 mugs of Beer 1----.
April 8 To 1 Dram 4.
To 1-2 Dram 2.
--------
0. 2. 8.
So Dolley's "accompt" was 0£. 2s. 8d. She paid the account, as it is cancelled by two lines drawn diagonally across the page. She is the only lady customer this trusting publican had. A customer named Rogers has a 1ong and varied account "To 1 mug of Cider 4d" occurs often. We find him on New Year's day taking "1 mug of Cider at 4d.," and again on the same day indulging in two mugs, for which he is charged 8d. The next day we find him charged with "2 Pints of Cider 4d. (Query: did a mug of cider contain two pints, as it is charged 4d., also? If so, on New Year's he must have taken three quarts of apple juice.) This same day he is charged "to Victuals 5d. To 1 Dram 4d. To Supper 10d. To Hot Rum 1s. 2d." As a dram was a gill, and cost 4d., this hot rum at 14 pence must have been a pretty heavy night-cap after supper. But this customer was generous, as we find him charged "To liquor in Company (that is, to treating round) 1s. 7d." Other entries against him are in March, "1 mug of Beer 6d." Next month occurs an entry "2 mugs of beer 6d." (Query: did they have different sized mugs?) The entries occur "To Beer and egg rum 9d. To liquor & Bread & Cheese 1s. 11d. To Beer & Egg Rum 9d. April 9. To 1 Dram & Pint of Beer 7. To Cash 2s. To 1 Egg Dram 6. On this date is an entry to his favor: "Cr. By Cash 7s. 6d." Two days after, another fit of good nature comes on, so he is charged "To Dinner & Liquor in Comp. 1s. 8d," and the same day he borrows of the landlord 1s. On the 27th he stands charged "To 2 Drams 8d. To Egg Rum & Wine 1s. 4d."
In an account running against one William Orchard through several months, we find among many entries for drinks certain items that would indicate him to be a peddler, and which afford some insight into traveling expenses: "To Victual & mug of Cider 1s. 6d. To Lodging 4d. To hay & oats for horses 1s. To breakfast and dram 1s. To hay 1 day & 1 Night 1s. To 2 Quarts of oats 4d. To Breakfast & mug Cider 1s. 2d. To Dinner 1s. To hay for your horse 1s." &c.
A curious account is one that shows a bad debt brought from the day book, and the landlord's shrewdness in his further dealing. The account is as follows:
1766. Matthew Rue, Blacksmith Dr. Dec 16. Brought from the Day Book 4. 6. Jan 30. To mug of Beer on a ship in pawn 6.
So the poor blacksmith had to pawn a miniature ship in order to get his drink. As to how the affair ended, there is no clue.
Among a good many entries, William Carlile is charged "To 1 Sling 6d. To 1-2 Bowle of Punch 9. To 1 Pint of Beer 3d. To 1 mug of Beer 6d." It would seem, then, that the mug was of the capacity of a quart.
In the account of David Welch, January 12, 1767, is the entry: "To mug of Beer Wagered on Carlisles Wedding 6." The same day Welch is charged "To Stewed & Rum 5d." What cookery may be implied in the word "stewed" is not clear, as the price does not permit the following to explain it: "To Cider, Quaker & Beer 1s. 3d. To mug of Stewed Quaker 1s." This "Stewed Quaker" consisted of cider with some cider oil in it, and a hot roasted apple floating on top. This whim of the frequenters of our ancient American Tavern was really only a refinement on the luxury indulged in by the evening patrons of the old English hostelry, when a roasted or wild apple was floated on the mugs of ale. David Welch's account runs through four months, and foots up 0 15s. 2d. At the bottom is written: "The above acc. is paid."
One Peter Yatsman runs an account in the years 1766-67-68. From the nature of the entries it would seem that he is a traveler- likely a peddler- as among similar entries is found this one: "To hay Stabling, Supper, Lodging & Rum 2s. 8d." The heaviest single entry in the book occurs in his account. "To liquor & Victuals in Com. 6s. 3d." He is also charged "To 1 Bole of Toddy 1s.," and to "a pound and a half of Tobacco 11d." We suspect a half pound was meant. Peter is credited by "31s. york," which is entered as "1£. 9s. 6d.," and finally (a rare case, certainly), the landlord makes a closing entry of 7s. 2d. in Yatsman's favor.
One David Wilson seems remarkably free, as in a short account he is charged seven times liquoring and victualing the company. This Mr. Wilson stands, in one entry, credited with "two turkeys, total 5s. 6d."
A John Cowenhoven stands charged "To 1 mug of Swezel."What that is, does not appear; but it cost 10d., and as a mug of cider cost but 4, and a mug of beer but 6, it was rather costly.
Charles Scobey gets credit "By soaling 2 pairs of Shoes, 4s."
Jonathan Forman gets credit for "two bushels of Corn, 6s."
In settling one account certain differences are struck between York money and Prock (proclamation) money, and an allowance is made for what is called "light money."
This short sketch from this curious old book, is given to show the prices of some things at that time. It would be interesting to get at the old time talks, when the old folks gathered at this hostelry to hear the news and discuss the scandals. The book shows vividly the social status of the alcohol question then. Among the names is one Gilbert Tennent- we dare not say it was the minister, because we are not sure. But this is certain, that since then the change in sentiment has been stupendous. It was then no disgrace to sit in the tavern and indulge- the wedding, the funeral, the ministers' gathering, all saw the social cup pass freely. Verily, temperance men have wrought wonders; and the world moves for the better, as is testified to by this old witness of the days of 1766.