Sunday, December 4, 2016

Rules of Precedency in late Colonial Maryland...

Something which can take most modern Americans off guard is the formality of 18th century colonial America. Within that culture were established rules for the ranking of individuals in society and the associated titles and forms of address given to each.

On May 26, 1774, Purdie and Dixon published in their Virginia Gazette the Rules of Precedency of Men and Women in America, which had been prepared by Joseph Edmonson, Mowbray Herald.

This set the official hierarchy in the American colonies ranking the Gentlemen of the Province and the wives.

At the top of the rankings was the Governor of the Colony or Province, and his wife. He was typically addressed as "His Excellency."

Next in line was the President of the Council and his wife followed by the Counselors and their wives. These gentlemen were typically addressed as "the Honourable."

The Speaker of the Commons House of Assembly, or in Maryland the House of Delegates, and his wife came next.

This was followed by the Chief Justice and his wife, the Treasurer and his wife and the Associate Justices and their wives.

Next in line were Baronets and their wives, of which none were present in Maryland during the period of Provincial rule, Robert Eden receiving his after his return to England on October 19, 1776, but when present were addressed as Sir, in the case of the Baronet of Maryland. A Baron ranked higher than a Baronet, in the case of the Baronet of Botetourt, and ranked above all others in Colonial America except an Earl, and was addressed as "Lord." Lord Dunmore, being an Earl, ranked above all others in Colonial America including Barons and was addressed as "Lord" as well.

The Attorney General and his wife ranked next followed by the Judge of the Admiralty and his wife.

The Secretary of the Colony or Province and his wife ranked next followed by the Gentlemen of the Assembly, or in the case of Maryland, the House of Delegates, and their wives.

The Mayor and his wife, followed by the Aldermen and their wives ranked next (in Maryland this applied only to Annapolis, the only city in the Province) followed by members of the Corporation and their wives.

These ranks stood only in the Colony or Province in which there were granted and the rank did not carry into other Provinces, except for the rank held in private life, such as Esquire. For those not familiar, Esquire is a title given, which ranks below a Knight and above a Gentlemen and has no connection to the legal profession, though in Modern America lawyers had adopted this title somehow appointing themselves to lower nobility in only a way a lawyer can.

Rank for women of government officials was dependent on their husband holding the office and did not continue after his death.

Military officers holding the rank of Captain held the social rank of an Esquire. Esquire was simply denoted as Esq. following the name and was used in conjunction with titles such as His Excellency and The Honorable.


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Thursday, August 25, 2016

A Taste for Imported Food Items...

Outside paintings, diaries, letters and newspaper advertisements, there is one very good source which provides some insight into the variety of Dry Saltery, Groceries, Sugar and Lemons which were imported into Annapolis, Maryland in the late Colonial period.

In the years before Charles Wallace of Annapolis became partner in Wallace, Davidson and Johnson in 1771, he imported Lisbon lemons, muscovado sugar from Barbados, salt from the Isle of May, among other items.

From 1771 to 1775, the Annapolis merchant firm of Wallace, Davidson & Johnson imported Dry Saltery, Groceries, Sugar and Lemons not only for their own store on the city dock in Annapolis, but also for individual customers special orders as well as other merchants doing business in other parts of the Province and Wallace, Davidson & Johnson's own stores in Nottingham, Queen Anne and Pig Point.

 Maryland Gazette, March 5, 1775

Below is a partial transcription of their order books, showing the Dry Saltery, Groceries, Sugar and Lemons as well as when and for whom they were being ordered.

It is interesting to note that the orders for tea placed by Wallace, Davidson & Johnson for others continued after the burning of the Peggy Stewart in October 1774. Charles Carroll of Carrollton, a signed of the Declaration of Independence for Maryland was one of those ordering the importation of tea for his personal use.

Also, some items, like vermicelli, are extreme luxury items going to only a few people. Charles Carroll of Carrolton ordered this from Wallace, Davidson and Johnson in 1773. And Governor Eden had vermicelli in his house inventory when he left Annapolis in June 1776.

It is hoped that this will provide some interesting information for other researchers as well as reenactors.

(from Maryland State Archives, Chancery Court (Chancery Papers, Exhibits) Wallace, Davidson Johnson, Order Books, 1771/4/25-1775/11/16. MSA S 528-27/28)

Order Books
25 April 1771
For Wallace Davidson and Johnson 

 Dry Saltery
20 tt alum 24/
12 tt sago 2/
28 tt anchovies in 1 tt bottles 1/8
28 tt olives 28/
1 doz pints fine sallad oil 15/
1/2 chest florence sallad oil 40/
12 tt bottles mustard
24 1/2 tt bottles of mustard
48 1/4 tt bottles of mustard

Grocery
2 tt sugar candy 10d
100 tt ground ginger 60/
12 tt Race ginger 60/
25 tt Pimento 10d
10 tt Hartshorn shavings 1/4
1 1/2 ct sun rasins
1 1/2 ct currants
1/4 ct hul'd almonds
1 ct salt petre
3 tt nutmegs
1 tt cloves
1 tt mace
1 tt cinamon
100 tt pepper
1/2 chest hyson tea 11/
1/2 chest congo tea 5/6
1 chest bohea tea 2/

 Sugar
3 ct double refined sugar 
30 ct single refined sugar

Order Books
4 August 1771
For Wallace Davidson and Johnson

Dry Saltery
28 tt alum
28 tt anchovies in 1 tt bottles
28 tt olives
1 doz pints fine sallad oil
1/2 chest florence sallad oil
12 tt sago

 Grocery
24 tt sugar candy
6 doz sugar plumbs for worms
4 tt hartshorn chips
25 tt hul'd almonds
     tt rasins
     tt currants
1/4 chest hyson tea
1/4 congo tea
1 chest bohea tea
3 tt nutmegs
1 tt cloves
1 tt mace
1 tt cinnamon

Sugars
3 ct double refined sugar
30 ct single refined sugar

Lemons
6 half chests lemons
6 1/4 chests lemons
Order Books
26 November 1771
For Wallace Davidson and Johnson 

 Dry Saltery
50 tt sago
30 tt anchovies
50 pint bottles capers
24 1/2 pint bottles of soy
30 quarts French olives in pint bottles
10 quarts Spanish olives in pint bottles
6 tt bottles mustard
12 1/2 tt bottles mustard
14 1/4 tt bottles mustard
24 pints sallad oil

 Grocery
100 tt pepper
30 tt sugar candy
50 tt ground ginger
12 tt race ginger
20 tt hartshorn shavings
200 tt sun raisins
50 tt jar raisins
50 tt hul'd almonds
6 tt nutmegs
2 tt cloves
2 tt mace
2 tt cinnamon
1 chest best bohea tea
1 1/2 chest best congo tea
1 1/2 chest hyson tea

 Lemons
10 1/2 chests lemons
Order Books
3 December 1771
For Wallace Davidson and Johnson 

 Grocery
a hogshead almonds
100 tt currants
200 tt sun raisins
50 tt jar raisins
Order Books
20 March 1772
For Wallace Davidson and Johnson

Dry Saltery
200 tt mustard in tt 1/2 tt 1/4 tt bottles
30 tt sago
20 tt anchovies in small pots
20 quart bottles capers
30 quart bottles French olives
10 quart battles Spanish olives

Sugar
6000 single best
1000 double
some of the first sugar was indifferent

Grocery
2 casks pepper
100 brown sugar candy
50 white sugar candy
50 ground ginger
20 tt race ginger
50 tt pimento
30 tt hartshorn shavings
500 sun raisins
100 jar raisins
500 currants
1 hhd almonds
1 hhd walnuts
10 tt nutmegs
3 tt mace
3 tt cinnamon
100 salt petre
2 chests bohea tea very good
1 chest hyson tea very good
1 chest congo tea very good
3 pound cloves

Order Books
26 September 1772
For Wallace Davidson and Johnson
Lemons
20 half chests best lemons
Sugar
3000 tt single refined sugar
Order Books
24 October 1772
For Richard Tilghman Earle (merchant Chester Mill, Queen Anne's County)

 Grocery
1 ct black pepper
20 tt pimento
5 tt nutmegs
1 tt cloves
1 tt cinnamon
2 ct single refined sugar low priced or none
1 ct bohea tea @ 2/4
0.2 ct congo tea @5/
0.0.28 ct green tea @ 8/
1/2 doz bottles capers
1/2 doz bottles olives
1/2 doz bottles anchovies
2 doz 1/2 tt bottles mustard

Order Books
18 November 1772
For Wallace Davidson and Johnson

Dry Saltery
50 tt raisin

 Grocery
1 chest congo tea
1 chest hyson tea
10 tt nutmegs
6 jars of jar raisins

Order Books
19 February 1773
For Wallace Davidson and Johnson

Grocery
3 tt virmacelle
1 chest bohea tea
Order Books
24 May 1773
For Wallace Davidson and Johnson

Sugar
1000 tt single refined sugar

Grocery
2 casks of pepper if to be had reasonable otherwise 1 only
50 lb white & brown candy
2 lb race ginger
30 lb hartshorn shavings
10 lb nutmegs
3 lb mace
3 lb cinnamon
3 lb cloves
6 jars raisins
100 lbs currants
1 barrel salt petre
50 lbs pimento

Tea
2 chests bohea tea
1 chest hyson
1 chest congo

Dry Saltery
3 doz pint bottles best salad oil
3 doz lb bottles Durham mustard
6 doz 1/2 lb bottles Durham mustard
12 doz 1/4 lb bottles Durham mustard
20 lbs rock alum
20 lbs sago
56 lbs pearl barley

Order Books
16 October 1773
For Wallace Davidson and Johnson

Grocery
2000 lbs single sugar
1 chest hyson tea
1 chest congo
1 chest bohea

Order Books
17 October 1773
For Charles Carroll of Carrolton

Grocery
50 lbs best Turkey coffee
10 lbs alum
1 lb pimento
1 lb cloves
1 lb nutmegs
1 cwt & 1/2 best double refined sugar
2 cwt lump sugar 9 1/2 d per lb
12 lbs best hyson tea
12 lbs best congo
6 lbs best plain chocolate
6 lbs Venello chocolate
1 small jar of raisins of 25 lbs the best sort
1 bushel almonds in shell
6 lbs vermicelli

Oil Vinegar etc
12 flasks of the best new salad oil
30 gallons best white wine vinegar
Order Books
17 October 1773
For Charles Carroll of Carrolton - Elk Ridge

Oils Pickles etc
12 flasks of the best new salad oil
4 quarts of the best anchovies
4 quarts best French olives
1 pint of best soy
30 gallons of best white wine vinegar

Grocery
1 small jar best blue(sp?) raisins about 25 lbs
1 bushel of sweet almonds in shell
2 lbs cinnamon
2 lbs nutmegs
4 lbs sago
10 lbs black pepper
10 lbs salt petre
10 lbs ginger
10 lbs hartshorn shavings
200 cwt of good lump sugar at about 9 1/2 d per lb
150 wt of best double refined sugar
12 lbs best hyson tea
12 lbs best congo tea
60 lbs best Turkey coffee
4 lbs best plain chocolate

Order Books
11 October 1773
For Robert Tyler

Sugar
60 wt single refined loaf sugar
1 large loaf of double refined

Order Books
16 October 1773
For Wallace Davidson and Johnson

Tea
1 chest hyson tea
1 chest congou tea
Order Books
No Date [1773?]
For Use of the Ship Kitty & Nelly

one hundred of loaf sugar
one jar of raisins
one [        ] of raisins
twelve pounds of almonds
three pounds of green tea
three boxes of lemons
Order Books
14 December 1773
For William Bond (merchant of Baltimore Town)

Dry Saltery
2 doz bottles mustard

Order Books
24 November 1773
For Hall, Gilbert & Hall 

Grocery
1 jar currants
2 jars raisins
1 jar almonds
12 lb ginger
1 small chest good bohea tea
6 pots green sweet meats & citron

Order Books
24 November 1773
For Buchanan & Cowen 

Dry Saltery
4 small pots anchovies
6 bottles capers
4 bottles olives
5 doz bottles mustard 5/
20 lbs salt petre 1/
25 lbs alum 10/

 Grocery
100 lbs pepper 13d
1 lb cinnamon 16/
1/4 lb mace 18/
3 lbs nutmegs 9/
1200 lbs single refined sugar in loaves packed in small casks 68/
200 lbs double refined sugar 90/
1 chest bohea tea
1/4 chest hyson tea

Order Books
No Date [1774]
For Archibald Buchanan (merchant of Baltimore Town)

 Grocery
1 chest good bohea tea
1/2 chest good hyson
6 lbs choushong in canisters
6 lbs congo in canisters
500 single loaf sugar
100 double refined sugar
3 lbs nutmegs
1/2 lb mace
1/2 lb cloves

Dry Saltery
2 doz mustard 5/
8 lbs anchovies in quart bottles
6 quarts capers
6 quarts Spanish olives
1/2 chest sweet oil 80/
Order Books
No Date [1774]
For Wallace Davidson and Johnson 
Dry Saltery
25 lbs sago
25 lbs anchovies
6 doz best capers

Order Books
No Date [1774]
For Wallace Davidson and Johnson - For the Nottingham Store

Dry Saltery
6 doz barrels mustard in small bottles 5/
25 lbs salt petre

Grocery
100 loaves single refined sugar
1/2 lb mace
1/2 lb cloves
1/2 lb cinnamon bark 
50 lbs black pepper 1/
1 lb nutmegs

Order Books
No Date [1774]
For Aquila Hall

Grocery
1/2 lb nutmegs
1/4 lb cloves
1/4 mace
1/4 lb cinnamon
6 lbs pepper

Order Books
1 October 1770
For Reuben Merriwether

Pepper
6 lbs black pepper 1/1

Dry Saltery
6 lbs salt petre 

Order Books
19 March 1774
For Wallace Davidson and Johnson

Grocery
2000 lbs single refined sugar if good & cheap
200 lbs double refined sugar
1 cask pepper
50 lbs hartshorn shavings
5 lbs nutmegs
1 lb mace
1 lb cinnamon
1 lb cloves
2 chest bohea tea
2 chests hyson
2 chests congou
50 lbs prunes
20 lbs sago

Dry Saltery
1 cask salt petre
3 doz lb bottles Durham mustard
6 doz 1/2 lb bottles Durham mustard
12 doz 1/4 lb bottles Durham mustard

Order Books
19 March 1774
For Wallace Davidson and Johnson - For the Nottingham Store

Grocery
1/2 chest bohea tea containing 150 lbs
6 lbs green tea in pound canisters 12/
6 lbs hyson tea in pound canisters
50 loaves single refined sugar
1 jar currants
1 jar raisins

Order Books
20 March 1774
For Archibald Buchanan (merchant of Baltimore Town)

 Grocery
1000 lbs single refined loaf sugar

Order Books
20 March 1774
For Buchanan & Cowan

 Grocery
1 chest bohea tea
1000 lbs single refined sugar
Order Books
9 April 1774
For Hall, Gilbert & Hall

Dry Saltery
20 lbs salt petre 12d

 Grocery
1000 lbs single loaf sugar
1 lb nutmegs 9/6
1 lb cinnamon 17/
Order Books
No Date [1774]
For Charles Carroll Barrister

Grocery
1/4 C best Tribble refined sugar
1 C double refined sugar
1 C single refined sugar
Order Books
27 June 1774
For Lux & Bowly

 Grocery
4 C pepper
Order Books
24 April 1774
For Clement Brooke

 Dry Saltery
10 lbs salt petre

 Grocery
20 lbs pepper
1/4 lb cinnamon
1/4 lb mace
2 lbs green tea
Order Books
1 May 1774
For Henry Brookes
£4 worth single refined loaf sugar
On June 4, 1774, a body of the inhabitants of Annapolis and Anne Arundel county, agreed to stop the importation of goods from Great Britain not already ordered and of those goods already ordered that shall not have been shipped by July 20th. Despite the political leanings of many in Maryland, the orders for good from London, to include tea for a future signer of the Declaration of Independence, directed to Joshua Johnson, partner of the firm of Wallace, Davidson & Johnson in London, continued as seen below.
Order Books
10 June 1774
For Aquila Hall

 Dry Saltery
10 lbs good salt petre
Order Books
25 July 1774
For Thomas Ringgold

 Grocery
500 lbs of the best single loaf sugar
300 lbs best double refined sugar
Order Books
20 August 1774
For Isaac Hall

 Grocery
70 lbs single refined sugar
8 lbs currants
Order Books
12 August 1774
For Benjamin Hall

 Grocery
2 loaves single refined sugar
15 lbs raisins in a butter pot

Order Books
29 August 1774
For Robert Tyler (May be Robert Tyler of Prince Georges County born 5 November 1727 and died 8 August 1778)

 Grocery
100 lbs single refined sugar

Order Books
20 August 1774
For Jacob Green

 Sugar
100 lbs single refined sugar

Order Books
29 September 1774
For William Bond (merchant of Baltimore Town)

 Grocery
2 ct weight of bohea tea
4 ct weight of single refined loaf sugar

Order books
No Date [1774]
For Wallace Davidson and Johnson 

Grocery
3000 lbs single refined sugar
500 lbs double refined sugar

 Grocery
2 chests good bohea tea
2 chests best hyson tea
2 chests good congou tea
100 lbs black pepper
3 lbs nutmegs
1 lb cinnamon
1 lb cloves
1 lb mace
50 lbs race ginger
20 lbs pimento
20 lbs sago

Dry Saltery
40 lbs anchovies
2 doz bottles capers
doz pints fine Florence oil
20 lbs alum
3 doz lb best Durham mustard
6 doz 1/2 lb best Durham mustard
12 doz 1/4 lb best Durham mustard

Order books
17 November 1774
For Edward Botelar - For the Wallace Davidson & Johnson Store in Nottingham
 
 Grocery
1 [m?] weight single refined sugar
1/2 lb mace
1/2 lb nutmegs
1/2 lb cloves
1/2 lb cinnamon
50 lbs black pepper
25 lbs ginger
25 lbs pimento

Dry Saltery
50 lbs salt petre
2 doz bottles mustard
1 doz quart capers
1 doz flasks sweet oil
Order books
No Date [1774]
For Wallace Davidson and Johnson - For the Queen Anne Store


 Grocery
12 C loaf sugar single refined 66/
50 lbs pepper 1/1
1 lb nutmegs 9/
1/2 lb cinnamon 16/
1/2 lb mace 18/
1/2 lb cloves 11/
1/4 C ginger 70/
1/2 C raisins 38/
1/4 C almonds in shells 35/

Order books
No Date [1774]
For Wallace Davidson and Johnson - For the Pig Point Store

Dry Saltery
6 doz bottles mustard
25 lbs salt petre

 Grocery
10 Ct single sugar
2 lb nutmegs
1 lb cinnamon
1 lb cloves
1 lb mace
1/2 ct ginger
50 lbs pepper
10 lbs pimento
Order Books
8 January 1775
For Charles Carroll of Carrolton

 Grocery &ct
56 lbs best Turkey coffee
1 lb pimento
1 lb mace
1 lb cloves
2 lbs nutmegs
6 lb ginger
10 lbs pearl barley
10 lbs black pepper
4 lbs sago
12 lbs best plain chocolate
6 lbs venello chocolate
12 lbs best congou tea
1 small chest of bets hyson tea about 70 lbs
1 cwt 1/2 best trebble refined sugar
1 cwt 1/2 lump sugar at about 9d per lb
2 small jars of best raisins
1 small jar of best currants
2 bushels of sweet almonds in shell

Dry Saltery
12 quart flasks of best new sallad oil
30 gallons of best white wine vinegar
2 quarts of best anchovies
2 quarts of best French olives
1 small bottle of Cayan pepper
1 small bottle of best soy
24 small bottles best mustard
10 lbs salt petre

Order Books
8 January 1775
For Charles Carroll of Carrolton - For Elk Ridge

 Grocery
2 lbs nutmegs
2 lbs mace
6 lbs ginger
8 lbs black pepper
10 lbs salt petre
12 lbs of best congou tes
50 lbs of best Turkey coffee
12 lbs of best chocolate plain
1 1/2 cwt of best trebble refined sugar
1 1/2 cwt of best lump sugar at about 9d per lb
1 bushel & 1/2 of almonds in shell
2 small jars of the best raisins
1 small jar of the best currants
1 perk of pearl barley

 Dry Saltery
12 qt flasks of best new sallad oil
3 bottles of best anchovies
3 bottles of capers
3 bottles of white mangoes
3 bottles of French olives
All [except the sallad oil] put into a case & the case filled up with small bottles of best mustard. The bottles of pickles to be about 5 1/2 pints each or near it.
30 gallons best white wine vinegar


Order Books
30 May 1775
For Ruth Hall

 Grocery
12 lbs currants
70 lbs single refined sugar

 Dry Saltery
3 lbs salt petre

Order Books
1 August 1775
For Alexander Ogg (merchant of Huntingtown, Calvert County)

Grocery
1/2 chest tea
20 lbs green tea
100 lbs pepper
500 lbs loaf sugar
50 lbs ginger
20 lbs nutmegs

 Lemons
3 chests lemons
Order Books
10 September 1775
For Edward Abell
Grocery
1/2 lb nutmegs 9/
1/2 cinnamon 16/
30 lbs pepper 1/2
10 lbs pimento 10d

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