Daily Republican., 1889-11-25
ANCIENT LICENSES.
OLD RECORDS EXAMINED AT
THE COURT HOUSE.
How Our Forefathers Petitioned fol-
Licenses 75 Years Ago--Some Old
Recognized Family
Names.

A. q. Brlnton In looking among some
old musty Court House records the other
day came across an old-time petition for
tavern license, which, besides showing
the primitive way of doing business In
those days, contains the names of the
heads oil many families well known at
the present day. Mr.. Brinton has kindly
handed the REPUBLICAN COPY for
publication. Here 1t is:
To the Honorable, the Judges Of the
Court OF Ccmmon Pleas in and for
New Castle County:
The petition Of James Russell respect
fully showeth that your petitioner has
| rented the public house on the Kennett
township road, in ChIistisna hundred,
late known by the name Of the Museum
Tavern (now the Cross Keys), which
was lately licensed to and kept by John
Peterson, who 1t appears by keeping a
dieorderly house induced sundry citizens
to petition fef disconiin uance of license
10 said hofise, who no doubt were infu-
enced by proper motives at that time.
Your petitioner has occupied said house
in the capacity OF q public housekeeper
since the 25th day Of March last past, and
he hatters himself that no person may chal-
lengoN any to accuse him of suffering q
breach ofHdecoIpm or good order in his
house. He would tey leave to suggest
that the present proprietor lately pur
/ chased saidtsproperty at an enhanced
value on account Of 1t being q public
house of entertainment, and your peti-
| toner has rented the same ut an ad-
vanced price and been at very considera-
bic expense TO furnish said house aud put
1t in condition for the accommodation
and comfort OF travellers and others who
please to favor him with their custom.
Your Honors having thought proper to
continue it az public house for many
i years paetait itswould be peculiarly hard
4 ts1if <l,sadysD Dtageous that If by the i'm
t06ner c6ptpet OF, the lato occupant Oh
~ plhdtE Fho no doubt have abused
your trihsx Mdn) gence, your petitioner
should be d8pf1xnd OF the benefit of Q
license. He would also take the libert
farther to suggest that the moneys due
, the United States as we'll as the State o
Delaware, have been punctually paid b.
,, your petitioner for the ensuing year.
Your petitioner therefore most respect
fully and earnestly solicits that you viii
be pleased to recommend him to the Gov
ernor, for continuance of license t.
said house and he, as In duty ought, will
hold the same in grateful recollection
: and ever pray, etc.
JAMES RUSSELL, Junior.
: June 26, 1915.
We, the subscribers, have for mum
Der OF years past and now are acquainte,
with the petitioner, James Russell, an
: do certify that his conduct has been RI
: gular and orderly for anything known t
: us to the contrary.
e We have been, plumbers Of us, at h
r tavern, and 1t tppears to be orderly KEEP
y and are of opinion that his house, as
Q public house, If regularly kept, will /
d very useful, particularly 10 a great nun
:, Der Of repute 6fe farmers who are in q
10 practice OF attending Wilmington mark,
u In the night season, and cannot procu
at all times accommodations In Whining
10 ton, which, particularly in the wlnt,
season, 10 ncLmfortable and troubl
d some, said house being at conveniei
distance from said market for accomm
dalton. We therefore take the liberi
Z respectfully to recommend the petition,
to your Honors as person In our opinlO
suitable to keep a public house as afor
said, and fully trust and hope your col
fldonce in him as public housekeep,
J. will not be abused.
}, Isaac G. Gip!n, Thomas Burnett, job
Crossgrove, Isaac Pierson, Willlal
's Twaddel, William Walton, VILLA
$ Boyd, Benjamin Chandler, JacC
9 Graves, Jr., Thomas g. Gable, W.
: Weaver, Peter Hendrlckson, Jam
e Day, John Beck, Benjamin Holling
y worth, Joseph Ilollingsworth, Jol
\ Hirons, Jr., Joseph Heaid, Archibal
! Armstrong, john Fleming, d. Kirl
patrick, Thomas Speakman, Thom:
u Reardon, Paul McGinn, Charles Twa,
Q dell, Joseph Seeds, John Wier, job
Sellers, James Hamilton, Samuel Greg
IL James McThean, James Gardner, wi
liam Sharpless, Caleb Harlan, jam
Booth, Bennett Jeiieris, Evan Thoma
J. P. Fairlamb, Ell Lamborn, PathC
l Brady.