For the Sake of Bread? The State of Main Street in the 1780s
By: Lisa Timmerman, Executive Director
On 11/19/1787, Prince William County men and women petitioned the Virginia General Assembly with a few key requests. Keep merchant activity limited to identified merchant houses on Main Street, condemn any unwholesome provisions, prevent nuisances and obstructions, and provide good quality bread.
“It is found that evils have arisen to the Town as well as the Country, from the Country people and Negroes being permitted to bring provisions and carry to private Houses or hawk about the Streets, and they conceive it would prevent frauds and secure better the health of the Inhabitants that the Market people should be confined to a certain House, which has lately been built for the purpose of a Market House – they likewise beg leave to represent, that they have been greatly imposed upon in the weight and quality of the bread made by the Bakers, and that whilst their Sister Towns are receiving twenty eight ounces of good bread for four pence they are paying the same price for Sixteen ounces, frequently of very indifferent bread – they likewise beg leave to represent the necessity of repairing and keeping in good order the Main Street in the Town of Dumfries (being the great road leading from North to South), of a night watch being established for the protection of the Inhabitants and the security of their property, and the prevention and removals of all obstructions and nuisances from the said Town & Streets – To the ends that such grievances be removed and regulations made, it is submitted to the wisdom and consideration of the House, either to reinvest the Trustees of the said Town or else to require a certain number of the Inhabitants to be chosen annually by the freeholders and Housekeepers, with power to Answer the above purposes, and that in either case they shall have powers to confine the market people to certain Market Houses and to consider all bad and unwholesome provisions, to regulate the above and quality of bread and condense the bad, to prevent and remove nuisances, and to make a reasonable and Small Assessment on property and by [poll] to make and keep the said Main Street in good Order and to establish and support a night Watch – It is judged best to vest such powers in the Trustees, it is submitted to the Wisdom of the House, whether in all cases of vacancies by Death or removal of any of the Trustees, such vacancies should not be filled up by the voice of a majority of the freeholders and Housekeepers of the said Town, and that only a freeholder or Housekeeper an Inhabitant of the said Town shall in any event be eligible – and Your petitioners shall ever pray–”
The original trustees of the Town in 1749 were John Graham, Peter Hedgeman, William Fitzhugh, George Mason, Joseph Blackwell, Richard Blackburn, and Thomas Harrison. By 1787, we find support for the trustees by over sixty men and one woman: William Carr, [A] Henderson, James Muschet, John Gibson, Philip Dawe, Sarah Williams, Richard Graham, William Linton, William McDaniel, Alexander Lithgory, John Linton, Timothy Brundige, Fran Ballendine, George Graham, to name a few.
(Behold this beautiful map drawn by Lee Lansing! This specific sheet is not on display, although you will see copies of this map on our walls!)
But how do we go from securing Main Street to “indifferent bread”? While the petitioners in Dumfries fixated on regulations, safety measures, and possible preventive actions for the merchants and their heavily traveled routes, they could look to their “sister town” of Alexandria to see how they addressed the problem of flour and bread regulation. One month prior, on 10/19/1787, merchants in Alexandria petitioned for a change in flour inspection laws. James Keith, John Murray, John Dunlop and 80 other merchants appeared with a request to make Virginia like Philadelphia, which, according to them, exported the best flour in America due to its’ rigid inspection. “That the city of Philadelphia has for a great Number of years carried on a very extensive Flour Trade and the Flour shipped from that Port has been generally held in higher Estimation in all foreign markets than the Flour shipped from any other part of the Continent…” They proposed granting an inspector the power to nominate and appoint deputies and inspector of bread. Interestingly, the petition from Alexandria includes the following reason for one inspector, “Whereas when there is but a single person to perform the Duties and becomes responsible for the [Inadversaries] or Frauds which may be committed, the Dread and Apprehension of a Detection will keep up an attention which will rarely be procured by any other means���”
Their different emphasis and approaches to quality assurance highlight the differing society and geography. The petitioners from Dumfries focused on their prejudices against “the Country people and Negroes,” who they blamed for lowering the reputation of merchants and ultimately jeopardizing the quality of the products. By trying to regulate the street itself, they acknowledged the importance of the thoroughfare, especially at a time when Quantico Creek was showing signs of strain. Alexandria’s petitioners also worried about the “evils” of society, but were more engrossed with the consequences of poor inspection and fraudulent workers. “It is unnecessary for your Petitioners to point out to the Honorable House the Benefits – which a County will enjoy or the Evils it will sustain from the good or ill Reports respecting the Quality of the Staple.” The following year, the merchants from Alexandria petitioned again noting potential dire consequences of the act approved on 11/23/1787. “That the good designs of the Legislature in passing the Act for Regulating the Inspection of Flour & Bread on the 23d of November will be entirely Defeated, without speedy remedy to the last paragraph of said Act for the recovery of the penalties and forfeitures. Particularly as respect deficient weight of flour & Bread brought to market to sale, an enormity common to at least one with part of all the flour brought to this market.”
By 1787, we find the wealthy landowners in and around Dumfries actively seeking a solution to the silting creek. Cuthbert Bullitt and others petitioned for the “Town of Newport,” which would have occupied the Bullitt lands on Possum Point around the mouth of Quantico Creek. The idea was to help attract the river trade and lessen the economic impact from Quantico Creek. While Newport never materialized beyond documents, we can study the various ways the residents of Dumfries responded to perceived adversaries. As tobacco fell out of favor and other goods advanced, we find people in the 1780s petitioning the general assembly demanding delicious and competitive bread.
Note: On Monday, 02/20, our educators will host “The Cherry Tree & Me” program featuring the famous cherry tree folklore! Create a mask, think about your own family stories, and reenact the famed Weems’ tale as we commemorate Presidents Day. Masks and free tickets required, click here!
(Sources: Inhabitants of Dumfries: Petition, 1787, Merchants & Inhabitants of Alexandria: Petition, 1787, Merchants, Traders, & Other Inhabitants: Petition, 1788, LVA: Legislative Petitions Digital Collection; HDVI Archives)
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Their Secrets Shall Keep Close: The Indentured Orphans of Truro Parish
By: Lisa Timmerman, Executive Director
Created in 1732 by the Virginia General Assembly, Truro Parish served those living above the Occoquan river to the western frontier, “…by the River Occoquan, and Bull run (a branch thereof) and a course from thence to the Indian thoroughfare of the blew ridge of mountains. And that all that part that lies above said bounds should be called and known by the name of Truro.” Thanks to the dedicated Rector and Vestry of Pohick Church, historians can delve into the transcribed vestry minutes from 1732-1785. Men occupied these elected positions with substantial authority over the social, financial, religious, and political affairs of the counties they served until the end of the 18th century with the separation of church and state. At Truro, the men collected levies, arranged the construction of new chapels along with the maintenance of existing ones, took care of the sick and disadvantaged, checked property land boundaries, and acted as local representative for the people as they were often chosen as delegates to the House of Burgesses. These records contain amazing gems as they included information ranging from baptisms to burials along with very specific details when constructing new churches, down to the measurements and type of wood.
(1736-37 map of the Northern Neck Proprietary by John Warner, ca. 1747. Library of Congress: Geography & Map Division)
Orphans frequent vestry books across Virginia as churches strove to place children separated from their parents, whether through death or financial hardships, in settings where they could train and become productive members of their society – productive defined by Virginia’s male patriarchy. Both Dettingen and Truro Parish considered orphan’s needs to fall within the vestry’s capacity (you can read more here and here). In George Webb’s 1736 book, The Office and Authority of a Justice of the Peace, he stated the general practice for orphans in Virginia. “Churchwardens shall annually give an account to the Orphans’ Court, of all poor children in their Parish, whose parents are unable to bring them up; Such poor children may, by the county courts be bound apprentices the Males ‘til 21, and Female ‘til 18 years of age to Tradesmen, or any necessary Employment.”
Indenture Date: 08/25/1737
Recorded & Examined: 10/26/1737
Witnesseth That the said Jeremiah Bronaugh and Thomas Lewis in obedience to an order of the Court of the County of Prince William aforesaid dated the twenty third day of October MDCCXXXVii do bind & put William Gowen am Orphan child aged ten years a Servant and Apprentice unto the said John Straughan, to serve him the said John Straughan his Heirs Exrs. or Admrs. in all such Lawfull business as he or they shall have occasion to employ gim about, from the day of the date of these presents until he shall arrive to the age of twenty one years. He the said John Straughan his Heirs etc. finding and providing for the said William Gowen during the term aforesaid such convenient Meat Drink Apparell Washing and Lodging as is Suitable and necessary for a person of his condition. And using his or their best endeavour to learn him the Art and Mistery of a Tanner, and also to read English, and to pay and allow him at the expiration of the said Term such freedom Dues as by the Laws of this Colony is allowed to Servants imported here without wages.
Indenture Date: 03/28/1737
Recroded & Examined: 04/13/1739
Witnesseth That the said Thomas Lewis and Edward Barry in obedience to an Order of the Said County Court dated the twenty seventh day of June MDCCXXXV do bind and put Joseph Housley an Orphan child an apprentice unto the Said Michael Reagan his Heirs or Assignees to Serve the Said Michael Regan his Heirs or Assignees in all such Lawfull business as he or they shall have occasion to employ him in or about from the day of the date of these presents, until he shall arrive to the ahe of twenty one years, he the said Michael Reagan his heirs, etc., finding and providing for the said Joseph Housley for and during the term aforesaid such convenient meat drink apparel washing and Lodging as is Suitable and necessary for a person in English and to learn him the trade of a Carpenter, and paying and allowing to him at the expiration of the said term such freedom Dues as by law is allowed to Male Servants imported into this Colony without wages.
The following indentures are for two siblings, the orphan son and daughter of Margaret Piper. Margaret Piper appeared only one other time in the vestry records, recording her on the Truro parish levy “for keeping a poor child five months” in 10/1734.
Indenture Date: 04/25/1737
Recorded & Examined: 04/13/1739
Witnesseth that Edward Barry and Thos. Lewis Church Wardens for the time being for the Parish of Truro in the County of Prince William by the direction and order of the Court of the said County dated the XXV day of Aprill MDCCXXXVII do by these presents put John Piper an orphan Son of Margaret Piper Apprentice to Garrard Trammell & his heirs the Science or trade of a Shoemaker to be learnt, and with them after the manner of an Apprentice to dwell and Serve from the time aforesaid until the he shall attain the age of twenty one years, by all which term the said shall serve, their Secrets shall keep Close, their Commands Lawfull & honestly everywhere he shall gladly do, Hurt to them he shall not do, or Suffer to be done, but Shall immediately admonish them thereof; The Goods of them he Shall not inordinately waste, not them to any body lend, at Dice or any other unlawful game he shall not play, whereby they may incur any hurt; Fornication in the houses of them or elsewhere he shall not commit, Matrimony he shall not contract, Ordinary’s he shall not frequent with his own proper goods or any others During the Said Term without their Special License, he shall not Merhchandize, from the Services of them Day or Night he shall not absent or prolong himself, but in all things as a good and faithful Apprentice he shall bear & behave himself towards them during the term aforesaid. And they to the said Apprentice the Science or art of a Shoemaker shall teach & inform, or cause to be taught and informed. And also shall find the said Apprentice Apparell Meat Drink and Lodging and all other necessaries meet and convenient for and during the term aforesaid.
Indenture Date: 04/25/1737
Recorded & Examined: 04/13/1739
This Indenture witnesseth that Edward Barry and Thos. Lewis Church Wardens for the time being for the Parish of Truro in the County of Prince William by the direction and order of the Court of ye said County dated the XXV day of Aprill MDCCXXXVII do by these presents put Sarah Piper an orphan, daughter of Margaret Piper Apprentice to Garrard Trammell and his heirs, with them after the manner of an Apprentice & Servant to dwell and serve from the time aforesaid until she shall attain the age of twenty one years by all which term the Said Sarah Piper the Said Garrard Trammell and his heirs well and truly shall serve, their Secretts shall keep close, their Commands Lawfull and honest everywhere She shall gladly do. Hurt to them she shall not do, or suffer to be done, but shall immediately admonish them thereof, the goods of them shall not inordinately waste nor them to anybody lend, at Dice or any other unlawfull game she shall not play whereby they may incurr any hurt. Fornication in houses of them or elsewhere she shall not commit, Matrimony she shall not Contract, Ordinarys she shall not frequent, from the Service of them day or night She shall not absent or prolong herself, but in all things as a good & faithfull Apprentice & Servant shall bear and behave herself towards them during the aforesaid. And they shall find the Said Servant Apparell Meat Drink and Lodging & all other necessaries meet & convenient for and during the term aforesaid.
Garrard Trammell provided specifics in his indentured contract in terms of their behavior. Virginia’s General Assembly continually passed acts against fornication, swearing, religious profaning, “Sabbath abusing,” drunkenness, and adultery. Controlling the sexual lives of indentured servants was a concern for Virginia’s patriarchy if the woman became pregnant, potentially costing labor, time, and resources. The contracts also specified dice, referring to Virginia’s fond pastime of gambling. Located even at historic Jamestown, gambling in forms of dice and cards became common features at parties and ordinaries. Captain John Smith bemoaned gambling and even though the Virginia Colony passed strict ordinances for this behavior in 1610, we find Virginia’s General Assembly still preoccupied with this in 1691. Passed in 04/1691, “An act for the more effectuall suppressing the severall sins and offences of swaring, cursing, profaineing Gods holy name, Sabbath abuseing, drunkenness, ffornication, and adultery,” punished offenders with fines, time in the stock, public lashings, and imprisonment. The General Assembly acknowledged the role of the vestry in this as well.
“That every person and persons who shall so harbour, entertaine or provide for the maintenance of such women or women, or frequent her or their company, or the company of any other lewd, after publique admonition to avoid the same, given by the minister and Church wardens, by and with the consent of the vestrey and vestryes of the parish or parishes wherein such person or persons shall dwel, and in case there be no minister then the Church wardens of the same, by the consent aforesaid, shall forfeit and pay for every time it shall be proved, that he or they have been in company of such woman or women after such admonition as aforesaid, as if he or they had really been convicted of adultery, and every woman or women guilty of the same offence shall receive the like punishment. And be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, and it is hereby enacted, That the grand juries of every respective county within this dominion do twice yearly make presentments against the offenders of this law, to the court of the county where the offence shall be committed, and that the justices of the same punish the offenders according to this act, all which said forfeiture shall be divided into three equall parts, one third thereof towards the building and repairing the Church or Chappel of ease in the parish where the said offence shall be committed one third towards the maintenance of the minister of the same, and the other third for him or them that will sue or informe for the same by bill, plaint, or information, or action of debt in any court of record within this dominion, in which no essoign, protection or wager of law shall be allowed.”
Of course, the term indentured servants was extremely complex depending upon the year (”freedom dues” changed), the parties involved, the region of Virginia, and the ages of those in the contract. At least for Dettingen and Truro Parish, the orphans did not become lost members of society, instead earning a place in history as we continue uncovering the stories of all people living in early Virginia.
Special thanks to the Pohick Church Docent Guild for donating their research to The Lee Lansing Research Library!
(Sources: Pohick Church. Minutes of the Vestry: Truro Parish, Virginia, 1732-1785. Baltimore: Gateway Press, Inc., 1995; Thomas, Evelyn McNeill, "Orphans' Courts in Colonial Virginia" (1964). Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects. Paper 1539624555; General Assembly. "“An act for the more effectuall suppressing the severall sins and offences of swaring, cursing, profaineing Gods holy name, Sabbath abuseing, drunkenness, ffornication, and adultery” (1691)" Encyclopedia Virginia. Virginia Humanities, (07 Dec. 2020). Web. 11 Jan. 2023)
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