List of Illustrations

Travel in the South in the Thirties.
From painting by Edward Lamson Henry, N.A.		[Frontispiece]
Page
Ordinary at Duxbury, Mass. [3]
Taproom Furnishings of an Old Ordinary.
Owned by Miss Elizabeth Nicholson, Providence, R. I.		 [7]
Oldest House in Easton, Mass.; once an Ordinary [10]
Leather Black-jack [14]
Tavern Bill against East Church, Salem, Mass.
Owned by Essex Institute		 [16]
Taproom of Wayside Inn, Sudbury, Mass. [19]
Buckman Tavern, 1690, Lexington, Mass. [23]
Hound-handle Tavern Pitcher [26]
Sign-board of Hayden Tavern, Essex, Conn.
Owned by Connecticut Historical Society		 [28]
Indian Queen Tavern, Bladensburg, Md.
From painting by Edward Lamson Henry, N.A.		facing[32]
Old Road House, Md. [34]
Plate, City Hotel, N. Y., Staffordshire Ware [38]
Cato’s House, N. Y. From an old print [41]
Washington Tavern, Westfield, Mass. [43]
Door Latch, Washington Tavern, Westfield, Mass. [45]
Wadsworth Inn, Hartford, Conn.
Photographed by Mr. George C. Atwell, Hartford, Conn.		 [47]
Taproom, Wadsworth Inn, Hartford, Conn. [51]
Fountain Inn, Medford, Mass. [54]
Sign-board of N. Mowry’s Inn, Lime Rock, R. I.
Owned by Miss Elizabeth Nicholson, Providence, R. I.		 [57]
Pine-tree Tavern and Eagle Tavern, East Poultney, Vt. [59]
Sign-board of Washington Hotel, Salem, Mass.
Owned by Essex Institute		 [63]
Sign-board of Hays’ Tavern, West Brattleboro, Vt. [65]
Cooper Tavern, Arlington, Mass. [68]
Travellers’ Rest, Shelbyville, Ky., 1783 [71]
Miller’s Tavern, Lancaster, Penn. [73]
Ellery Tavern, front, Gloucester, Mass. [79]
Ellery Tavern, lean-to, Gloucester, Mass. [83]
Bill of Cromwell’s Head Tavern, Boston, Mass.
Owned by Mrs. H. M. Hunt, Kingston, R. I.		facing[86]
Bill of Fare of City Hotel, Hartford, Conn.
Owned by Mr. George F. Ives, Danbury, Conn.		 [89]
Platter, Mendenhall Ferry and Tavern, Schuylkill River, Penn.
Owned by Miss Frances C. Morse, Worcester, Mass.		 [93]
Collin’s Tavern, Naugatuck, Conn.
Photographed by Mr. George C. Atwell, Hartford, Conn.		 [97]
Old Rum Bottles [102]
Burgoyne Tavern, Westfield, Mass. [106]
Tavern Pitcher, Happy Farmer, Crouch Ware [109]
Flip Glasses, Loggerhead and Toddy Stick.
Owned by Pocumtuck Valley Historical Association		 [110]
Porcelain Monteith Bowl, 1700 [115]
Punch Bowl, bearing Insignia of Order of the Cincinnati, Chinese Ware [117]
Sign-board of Amherst Hotel, Amherst, Mass.
From History of Amherst		 [123]
Eagle Tavern and Sign-board, Newton, N. H. [126]
Cider Pitcher and Cups, Copper Lustre Ware [129]
Parsons’ Tavern, Springfield, Mass. [131]
Toby Fillpots, Staffordshire Ware.
Owned by Miss Frances C. Morse, Worcester, Mass.		 [134]
Flip Glasses and Nutmeg Holders.
Owned by Miss Frances C. Morse, Worcester, Mass.		 [136]
Sign-board, Stratton Tavern, Northfield Farms, Mass.
Owned by Pocumtuck Valley Historical Association		 [140]
Sign-board, Three Crowns Tavern, Salisbury, Lancaster County, Penn.
Painted by Benjamin West		 [143]
Browne’s Hall, Danvers, Mass. [145]
Hat Tavern and Sign-board, Leacock Township, Lancaster County, Penn.
Sign-board painted by Benjamin West		 [147]
Sign-board, Bissell’s Tavern, East Windsor, Conn.
Owned by Miss Emma B. King, Indianapolis, Ind.		 [151]
Sign-board, Reverse Side, Bissell’s Tavern, East Windsor, Conn.
Owned by Miss Emma B. King, Indianapolis, Ind.		 [153]
Sign-board of William Pitt Tavern, Lancaster, Penn. [156]
Sign-board, Doolittle Tavern [158]
Sign-board, “A Man loaded with Mischief,” London, Eng.
Painted by Hogarth		facing[160]
Sign-board of Walker’s Tavern, Charlestown, N. H.
Owned by Worcester Society of Antiquity		 [162]
Drawing for Ames Sign-board, Dedham, Mass. [165]
Buck Horn Tavern, N. Y., 1812. From an old print [168]
Old North Bridge, Concord, Mass.facing[172]
Boston Liberty Tree and Tavern. From an old print [174]
Stavers Inn, Portsmouth, N. H. [176]
Handbill of Wolfe Tavern, Newburyport, Mass.facing[178]
Sign-board of Wolfe Tavern, Newburyport, Mass. [180]
Hancock Tavern, Boston, Mass. [182]
Sam Fraunces. From original drawing.
Owned by Mrs. A. Livingstone Mason, Newport, R. I.		 [184]
Green Dragon Tavern, Boston, Mass.
From an old print		 [187]
Conkey Tavern, Pelham, Mass.
From History of Pelham		facing[188]
Sign-board of Conkey Tavern.
From History of Pelham		 [190]
Naval Pitcher, Liverpool Ware [192]
Washington Tavern, North Wilbraham, Mass. [196]
Black Horse Tavern, Salem, Mass. [199]
Sign-board, Stickney Tavern, Concord, N. H.
Owned by New Hampshire Historical Society		 [203]
Sign-board of Keeler’s Tavern, Ridgefield, Conn. [205]
Plate, Nahant Hotel, Staffordshire Ware [206]
Sign-board of Wolfe Tavern, Brooklyn, Conn.
Owned by Connecticut Historical Society		 [211]
Postlethwaite’s Tavern, Lancaster County, Penn. [214]
Sign-board of Pembroke Tavern, Plymouth Turnpike, Mass.
Owned by Bostonian Society		 [217]
Map Pitcher, Liverpool Ware [220]
Waiting at the Ferry.
Painted by Edward Lamson Henry, N.A.		facing[226]
Old Chain Bridge, Newburyport, Mass.facing[230]
Bridge Toll-board.
Owned by Mr. A. G. Richmond, Canajoharie, N. Y.		 [233]
Megunticook Turnpike [235]
Advertisement of Mail-stage [236]
Bridge Sign-board.
Owned by Bucks County Historical Society		 [239]
A Wayside Friend, North Conway, N. H.
From photograph by T. E. M. and G. H. White		facing[242]
Conestoga Wagon.
Photographed from an old wagon		facing[246]
Stage Wagons.
From print in an old English story book		 [251]
English Coach, 1747.
From a painting by Hogarth		 [254]
Quicksilver Royal Mail, 1835, London, Eng.
From an old print		facing[256]
“One Hoss Shay”facing[258]
“Washington” Chariot.
Owned by Misses Francis, Spring Green Farm, Warwick, R. I.		 [259]
Advertisement of Stage Lines.
From first issue of New York Commercial Advertiser, 1797		 [261]
Stage-coach of 1818.
From an old print		 [264]
Stage-coach of 1828.
From an old print		 [265]
Concord Coach, built in 1863.
Owned by “Buffalo Bill”		 [266]
Concord Coach at Toll-gate.
From photograph owned by Major Lewis Downing, Jr., Concord, N. H.		facing[268]
Advertisement of Pioneer Line Stage-coaches [270]
The Omnibus “Accommodation” between Springfield and Chicopee Falls, 1843 [273]
Notice of Post-rider, 1799 [276]
Old Mail-coach and Sign-board, Barre, Mass., 1840 [280]
Pitcher, Quincy Railway, Staffordshire Ware [284]
Veazie Railway, Bangor, Me. From an old print [286]
The Arrival of the Train.
From a painting by Edward Lamson Henry, N.A.		facing[288]
Uncle Ame Morris’s Oxen serving as Locomotive.
From an old print		 [289]
Pease Tavern, Shrewsbury, Mass. [292]
Old Arcade, Shrewsbury, Mass. [294]
Harrington Tavern, Shrewsbury, Mass. [299]
Balch Tavern, Shrewsbury, Mass. [301]
Advertisement of Ginery Twichell’s Stage Lines.
Owned by American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Mass.		facing[304]
Ginery Twichell’s Ride.
From drawing owned by Mr. Frederick A. Currier, Fitchburg, Mass.		 [306]
Sign-board of Tarleton Inn, Piermont, Cohos Turnpike, N. H.
Owned by Mr. Amos Tarleton, Haverhill, N. H.		 [310]
Sign-board, Reverse, of Tarleton Inn, Piermont, N. H.
Owned by Mr. Amos Tarleton, Haverhill, N. H.		 [312]
Bliss’s Tavern, Haverhill, N. H. [314]
Old Sleigh with Double Dashboard [316]
Old Passenger Pung [318]
Relay House, Dorchester, Mass. [321]
The Relay.
From painting by Edward Lamson Henry, N.A.		facing[324]
View of Middletown, Conn. From an old print [327]
Deerhide and Pigskin Trunks [331]
Old Carpet Bag.
Owned by Mrs. Voice Adams Beecher, Brooklyn, N. Y.		 [333]
Sign-board of David Reed’s Tavern, Bedford, Mass.
Owned by Concord Antiquarian Society		 [337]
Midsummer along the Pikefacing[344]
A Vista of White Birches [346]
The Hollyhock’s Promise [348]
The Cool Depths of the Pine Woods.
From photograph by T. E. M. and G. H. White		facing[348]
Taylor’s Tavern, 1777, Danbury, Conn. [350]
M. M. Taylor’s Milestone, Danbury, Conn. [351]
Peleg Arnold’s Milestone, Woonsocket, R. I.
From photograph by Mr. Edward Field, Providence, R. I.		 [352]
The Watering Trough [355]
Topsfield Bridge, 1760. Ipswich River, Mass. [357]
The Shadowy Water under the Arches.
From photograph by T. E. M. and G. H. White		facing[358]
Winter Stage, Dalton, Mass.facing[362]
Winter Stage, Chepachet.
From photograph by Mr. Edward Field, Providence, R. I.		 [364]
Advertisements of Carriages and Wagons.
From Connecticut Journal, July 3, 1815		facing[368]
A Wet Start at Daybreak.
From a painting by Edward Lamson Henry, N.A.		facing[370]
The Wayside Inn, Sudbury, Mass.facing[372]
Sign-board, Perkins Inn, Hopkinton, N. H.
Owned by Mr. E. R. Guerin, Hopkinton, N. H.		 [375]
Russel Tavern, Arlington, Mass. [379]
Sign-board of Gifford’s Tavern, Barrington, R. I.
Owned by Mrs. Gifford, Bristol, R. I.		 [381]
Sign-board of Wells Tavern, Greenfield Meadows, Mass.
Owned by Pocumtuck Valley Historical Association		 [382]
Mattapan Tavern, Relay House [389]
Wilde Tavern, Milton, Mass., 1770 [391]
Ashburnham Thief Detecting Society. Handbill Heading [393]
Sign-board of Humphrey Williams Tavern, Centrebrook, Conn.
Owned by Mr. George F. Ives, Danbury, Conn.		 [396]
Sign-board, Reverse, of Humphrey Williams Tavern, Centrebrook, Conn.
Owned by Mr. George F. Ives, Danbury, Conn.		 [400]
Poor Tavern and Sign-board, Newburyport, Mass. [405]
Monroe Tavern, Lexington, Mass.facing[406]
Sign-board, Dewey Tavern [411]
Sign-board, Cutter’s Tavern, Jaffray, N. H.
Owned by Mrs. Anna Cutter Roberts, Roxbury, Mass.		 [412]
Banjo Clock, with Painting of Pahquoique House on Glass Door.
Owned by Mr. George F. Ives, Danbury, Conn.		 [414]
Wright Tavern, Concord, Mass. [417]
Sign-board of Moses Hill’s Inn, Douglas, Mass. [419]
Sign-board of John Nash’s Tavern, Amherst, Mass.
From History of Amherst		 [421]
Montague City Tavern [425]
Old Abbey, Bloomingdale Road, New York [428]
After the Shower.
From painting by Edward Lamson Henry, N. A.		facing[430]
Tavern Pitcher, Apotheosis of Washington. Liverpool Ware [430]
Sign-board of Grosvenor Inn, Pomfret, Conn. [432]
The Parting of the Ways, Dublin, N. H.facing[434]

Stage-coach and Tavern Days

CHAPTER I

THE PURITAN ORDINARY

In reverent and affectionate retrospective view of the influences and conditions which had power and made mark upon the settlement of New England, we are apt to affirm with earnest sentiment that religion was the one force, the one aim, the one thought, of the lives of our forbears. It was indeed an ever present thought and influence in their lives; but they possessed another trait which is as evident in their records as their piety, and which adds an element of human interest to their story which their stern Puritanism never could have done; with them their neighborliness, was as ever present and as sincere as their godliness. Hence the establishment of an hostelry,—an ordinary it was usually called,—for the entertainment of travellers and for the mutual comfort of the settlers, was scarcely second to their providing a gathering-place for the church.

The General Court of Massachusetts at an early date took decisive measures with regard to houses of common entertainment. No one was permitted to keep without license “a common victuallyng house,” under a penalty of twenty shillings a week. Soon the power of granting licenses was transferred to the County Courts, as the constant increase in the number of ordinaries made too constant detailed work for so important a body as the General Court.