Hello Neil, In response to your question regarding the use of tobacco as a medium of exchange, I offer the following from my own family history; PAYMENT FOR TRANSATLANTIC TRIP ABOARD THE SAILING SHIP "AGREEMENT" Be it known to all men by these present that I, John Faulkner of Hogg Pen Neck in the county of Kent in the province of Maryland, Cordwaynder, [A person who makes shoes from Cordovan leather or a shoe maker] in consideration of three-hundred pounds of tobacco, well and truly paid to me by Richard Fitzallen, the receipt whereof I do acknowledge by these present, have assigned unto Mr. Daniel Jennifer of St. Maries all my right title, interest claim and demands of and to all those lands and rights to land which are become due unto me for or by reason of the condition of Plan Facon [A french word - fashion, manner, style] of the right Honorable Ceceleus Baltimore, Lord Proprietary Of the province of Maryland, for the transportation of myself and Elizabeth, my wife, and Thomas, Francis, and John, my children, with Eliza Bloxom and Thomas Jones, my servants, into the said Province on or about the twenty-second day of January, 1665, And do hereby, for the considerations aforesaid, assign and make over all my rights, title, interest, claim and demands of, and to all the premises to the said Daniel Jennifer to the only proper use and behold of him, his heirs and assignees forever. As witness my hand and seal this nineteenth day of November, 1665. John Faulkner X /s/ Nicholas Pichard X /s/ Edmond Barton X =============================== macbd1 wrote: > Our ancestral Virginia frontiersmen and women in the mid-1700's were sometimes taxed in terms of 'pounds of tobacco.' I'm wondering whether our ancestors actually paid 'in tobacco' (barter) or whether they paid 'in cash' after they marketed their tobacco. If 'in cash' this payment was likely made in Spanish milled dollars (coins) from my study. > > I note within Chalkey's Chronicles many court entries of "Hemp Certificates: (then a list of names.)" Does anyone know what these entries mean? Were these possibly to certify certain ancestral farmers were qualified to market hemp, or did these 'certificates' possibly have something to do with the hemp quality or payments, I wonder. Hemp was used for manufacturing rope, was it used for other purposes such as for bags (like burlap) or other products in those days? > > Many court entries simply state: "Liquors rated." (No names.) I doubt the court was conducting anything like today's wine-tasting (rating) parties.... or, did this more likely have something to do with setting the 'tax-rate,' I wonder. Some of our frontier ancestors didn't like the government over-taxing liquor since this was a higher-priced 'value-added' product from corn -- which was much easier to transport to distant markets than grain or flour. There was a so-called 'Whiskey-Rebellion' in the early 1790's as many of you probably know. > > Can anyone shed more light on these topics? Understanding such entries helps us appreciate the lives and times of our ancestors, not just jotting down names. Responding to the list might be helpful to others but I welcome private responses as well. > > Neil McDonald > > ==== VABOTETO Mailing List ==== > PLEASE do not send MIME/Base 64 "encoded" attachments to the list.