An Old Frederick County FEE BOOK lists 338 families living in the County during the year 1744. The rare book, not in circulation at this time, lists fees (in pounds of tobacco) that are owed by each of the families. The Clerk's (Col. James Wood's) notes were given to the sheriff, Thomas Rutherford, to collect from the 338 families a total of 55,018 pounds of tobacco for that year. Tobacco was a medium of exchange. Where did they find that much tobacco? It's as easy to grow money on trees as it is to grow tobacco in most parts of Old Frederick County. What surprises me is the number of women (widows) who headed households during that early year of the County. Here are some of them: Deborah Borden Easther Blackburn Mary Carrington Mary Clark Catherine DeMoss Mary Dunkham Rachel Hood Eliza Hardin Mary Johnson Mary Lum Elizabeth Milbourne Elizabeth Pearson Ann Purteet Mary Ross Catherine Rogers Elizabeth Seamon