Taverns
Muhlenberg County, KY, April 13, 1812; December 12, 1814
War of 1812 Era Tavern Bonds from Kentucky
Partially printed DS

[TAVERNS.] William Campbell and Solomon Rhoads, Partially Printed Document Signed, Bond for Tavern License, April 13, 1812, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. Also signed by County Clerk Charles F. Wing. 1 p., 7.5" x 6". Expected folds; one separation on fold repaired with cellophane tape; general toning; very good.
With: Colston O. Wallis, William Cross, Lewis Reno, Partially Printed Document Signed, Bond for Tavern License, December 12, 1814, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. 1 p., 7.5" x 6.375".

This pair of tavern bonds were signed during the War of 1812 for taverns in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. The purpose of the bond was to prevent taverns from becoming centers of gambling (?unlawful gaming?), drunkenness (?suffer any person to tipple or drink more than is necessary?), and prostitution (?disorderly or scandalous behaviour?)

Muhlenberg County, formed in western Kentucky in 1798, was bordered on the northeast by the Green River and Ohio County.

Complete Transcript (Campbell Bond)
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that we William Campbell & Solomon Rhoads are held and firmly bound unto the Commonwealth of Kentucky, in the sum of one hundred pounds current money; for the payment of which to be made good to our said governor and his successors, we the said William Campbell & Solomon Rhoads do bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators, jointly and severally by these presents; as witness our hands and seals this 13h day of April 1812.
THE CONDITION of the above obligation is such, that whereas the above bound William Campbell hath obtained a license to keep tavern at his house in the county of Muhlenberg now should the said William Campbell constantly find and provide in his said tavern, good, wholesome, cleanly lodging and diet for travellers, and stablage, provender or pasturage for horses, for the term of one year from the date hereof; and shall not suffer or permit any unlawful gaming in his house; nor suffer any person to tipple or drink more than is necessary, or, at any time suffer any disorderly or scandalous behaviour to be practiced in his house, with his privity or consent: then this obligation to be void, else remain in full force and virtue.
Wm Campbell {LS}
Solomon Rhoads {LS}
Teste
Ch F Wing

The Wallis bond has the same printed text with different dates and signers for a tavern in Lewisbourg in Muhlenberg County.

Historical Background
Formerly a county and then a district of Virginia, Kentucky became a state in June 1792, and it largely adopted the statute law of Virginia. Among those laws was an ?An Act for Regulating Ordinaries, and Restraint of Tippling Houses,? and an act to amend that act, passed by the Virginia legislature in 1779. Finding those laws insufficient, the Kentucky legislature in December 1793 passed ?An Act to Regulate Taverns, and Restrain Tippling Houses.? According to the provisions of this act, persons who wanted to keep a tavern had to petition the county court and obtain an annual license at a cost of five shillings. The statute also provided the language of the bond printed in these examples. The justices of the county court were also directed to fix the rates for ?liquors, lodging, diet, stablage, provender and pasturage? for all taverns within their county. An additional statute approved in December 1799 changed the annual fee for a license to keep a tavern to $10.

At least five men named William Campbell were associated with the early history of Muhlenberg County, four of whom were in the county in 1812.

Colston O. Wallis/Wallace (ca. 1780-1832) was born in Virginia. In 1802, he married Polly Lamb in Sussex County, Virginia, and they moved to Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, around 1808. By 1810, he lived in Greenville with his wife, three children, and three enslaved persons. In 1820, he lived in Lewisburg in Muhlenberg County and owned three slaves.

Charles Fox Wing (1780-1861) was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, the son of a shipbuilder. He moved to Kentucky with his family around 1790. Wing became the Muhlenberg County Clerk in 1799 and clerk of the circuit court when it was established in 1803. He married Anna Steel ?Nancy? Campbell (1788-1863), a daughter of Colonel William Campbell (1759-1800), in 1806, and they had eight children. Wing continued to serve as clerk of both courts until 1850, when the offices were divided and became elective. He was elected circuit clerk, and his son was elected county clerk.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.
7.5" x 6"; 7.5" x 6.375"