The times., 1901-05-26
TAVERNS OF FORMER DAYS
Old Time Dispensers of Hospitality
and Good Cheer.
The Part Played by the Ancient Hos
telries in the Revolutionary Per-
iod-Lundlords Both Patriots and
POIiticinns-Fcyv Now in Existence


POIiticinns-Few Now in Existence
1t is customary to think of the tavern
of stagecoach days in its relations to the
townspeople as somewhat similar to the
hotel of modern times-a convenience and
necessity to travellers. So it was primari-
ly, but its connection with the life of the
community was of far more intimate
character Not only did the stranger find
his lodging and 'entertainment''- use
the quaint word of the times-under it's
roof but 1t served also for the comfort of
the villagers themselves. 1t was place
for sociability, and in those days of slow
communication, for the interchange of
news and opinions. Here the churchgoer
after the sermons OF the long -winded Pu-
ritan divines, sought consolation in the
creaming flip" and comforting sack
posset." Suppers and society meetings
were held in the long tap room, and often
under its low rafters was pronounced the
marriage vow. Here, too-as the old tav
ern bills, with their frequent repetition of
two mugs tody.'' three boles punch"
five mugs flip" etc, would clearly indi-
cate-was held many Il carousal, but with
ever an eye for the prowling deacon or
bumptious tithing man. Indeed, the tav-
=
called-came to be quite as much a neces-
Sity to the community as the meeting
house. Perhaps the only feature of mod
ern life analogous to 1t is the country
store of rural districts with its nightly
group given to the discussion of local
gossip and the news of the day.
Being. as 1t was, the nerve centre of
town life, the tavern performed more than
its duties as a dispenser of hospitality
and good cheer. During the long periods
of the French AMI Indian wars it was Of
ten the place of refuge for the fleeing viii
layers About its ample fireplace were
discussed the tecrorS of Indian warfare
and the glorious. captures of Louisburg
and Quebec Rec ruiting officers frequent
ly made use of t. and an advertisement
dated 1859 states that all able-bodied men,
by repairing to the Sign of the Bear in
King street. EOst0n, and to Mr.. COrne-
Bus Crocker, snnholder, in Barnstable,
may hear the . .rticular Encoura cement
and many ADV ntageS, accrutng to
Soldier etc. J. &c war of 1744 between
England and Flssrce the taverns of the
seaport towns were used shipping Of
fees for the enlistment of privateersmen
and marines and here, too. the returning
crews, with their pockets filed with prize
money, made merry after the custom Of
Jack Tar.
But quite the most important part that
the tavern played in the Fascinating
drama of Colonial days was during the pc
riod of suspense and dissatisfaction lead
ing up to the Revolution. The Sons of
Liberty made II their headquarters on
many an occasion. In the long room of
the Province Arms in New York 200 mef-
chants signed the famous non-importa-
tion act, and stirring. meetings were held
there concerning the odious Stamp Act.
An old bill of the Wolfe tavern of New
huryport is headed as follows: DIR.
Messrs. Joseph Stanwood.& Others of the
Town of Newburyport for Sunday eX-
pences at Ny House on Thursday, Septr.
26th, A. d. l7G5 at the Crate Uneasiness
and Tumult. on Occasion of the Stamp
Act &c Eip nj T- q
eaSineSs' that the items, which are most
ly double" and '-thribble' bowls of
punch, foot up to e57.1L3. The London
Coffee House Of Philadelphia is described
as the headquarters Of life and action;
the pulsating heart of excitement, enter
prise, and patriotism In the garden of
Liberty was killed while resisting the at
tempts of the British soldiers to cut down
the liberty pole One of the most famous
of historic taverns was the Green Dragon
Inn of Boston Warren made it his head
quarters and held conferences with other
patriots there Paul Revere speaks of it
as the meeting place in IVA and 1fi3 of
committee formed for the purpose OF
watching the movements of the British
soldiers and gaining every intelligence of
the movements of the Tories Daniel |
Webster termed it the headquarters OF (
the Revolution" Perhaps the most vivid I
and typical tavern scene of pre-Revolu- |
tionary days is that given by John Ad- |
ans. II runs as follows:
within the course Of the year, before |
the meeting Of Congress in 1I74, on jour |
ney to some of our circuit courts in Mass I
lchusetts / stopped one night at tavern I
in Shrewsbury about forty miles from 1
Boston, and as 1 was cold and wet, l sat
down to dry my great-coat and saddle I
bags. till d fire could be made in my /
chamber. There presently came in, one /
after another, half dozen or half score |
yeOmen of the neighbOrhOOd I
who, sitting down by the fire after light |
ing their pipes, began a lively cOnVersa- |
lion on politics. As l believed l was un- |
known to all of them, sat in total silence /
to hear them. One said, The people of |
Boston are distracted Another answered, |
No wonder the people of Boston are dis !
racted. Oppression Will make wise men (
mad third said, What would you say !
t a fellow should come TO your house and |
tell you he was come TO take a list of |
your cattle that Parliament might tax |
you for them at SO much head? And |
now should you feel If he was to go and |
break open your barn or take down your |
)Xen, cows, horses, and sheep? What |
should say?' replied the first. / would |
mock him in the head Well said a |
ourth, if Parliament can take away Mr.. |
Iancock's wharf and Mr.. Rowe's wharf |
hey can take away your barn and my |
house. After much more reasoning in |
his style a fifth, who had as yet been |
iilent, broke out, Well, it's high time for
IS to rebel; we must rebel some time or
,ther, and we had better rebel now than
It any time to come. If we put IL off ten
Dr twenty years, and let them go on as
hey have begun, they will get a strong
,arty among us. and plague us a great
leal more than they can now "
The landlords of the taverns were often
politicians and patriots themselves. One
If them IN York. Me, boldly set up
ignboard with the portrait of Pitt and
he words, Entertainment for Sons of
liberty" After the Revolution broke out
here was an amusing change of signs;
he Kings Arms" Kings Head" and
milar English symbols giving way to
portraits of Pitt, Lafayette, and Wash
ngton. American eagles, and other pa
riotic designs. AS the war progressed
he taverns were frequently used as bar
acks, prisons, officers quarters. and as
ospitals Many were fired upon and
aZed. The BUckman tavern Of LeS-
ngton was the rallying place for the
linute Men and contains still the bullets
f the British soldiers
AS meeting place for patriots, or serv-
ng yet more directly as fortresses, bar
aclSs, or hospitals, the taverns played no
light part in the making of the cOuntry's
history. A few of them still stand in
uiet New England towns and in the vii
ages of the narrow border of States that
yon independence--Silen reminders of the
tirring times that gave the nation birth.
City Star.