Ok, people. I have a question which is kind of silly, but... In reading old court records (mid 1700's - early 1800's), I often see where someone is asking for reimbursements of the court/people for a fine "Christian-like" burial. These expenses listed include taking care of the sick person, a pine box, white linen/cloth, but the one expense I don't understand is the request for reimbursement of liquor. So, the question is this...What did these people do with the liquor? Did the living drink it while mourning for the lost? Did they use it like an embalment type fluid? Did they pour it over the body in hopes the animals wouldn't dig up the dead? Does anyone really know the answer to this question? Thanks! Brenda