Documents
These rare Kentucky documents bring forward many of the traditions of the past. Much like the early Kentucky silversmith and engraver, David Humphries, who designed the first Kentucky state seal–which is still the seal today, we pour ourselves into the fine bourbons that we produce.
1st Published Cocktail Definition, 1806
From the 15 Star flag era, the earliest reference and first cocktail recipe.
Gallery
1st Published Cocktail Definition, 1806
The first printed Cocktail definition comes from the 15 star flag era in 1806. Likely under 5 copies exists of the May 13, 1806 edition of “The Balance and Columbian Repository.”
Exceedingly scarce first printing of the May 13th 1806 issue of “The Balance and Columbian Repository”, in which we find the first published definition of the word cocktail, and the earliest reference of the word “cocktail” as we know it. This seminal issue of the now rather obscure paper constitutes the most important event in cocktail history. It is here we find the earliest definition of the word cocktail, and also here that we find the first cocktail recipe: “a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water and bitters…”
“Rum! Rum! Rum!” read the headline in this paper. “It is conjectured, that the price of this precious liquor will soon rise at Claverack,” the Balance wrote, given that a candidate there for the state Legislature must have used up the town’s stocks of alcohol in a frenzy of boozy vote-buying. According to the Balance, the candidate had served up 720 rum-grogs, 17 dozen brandies, 32 gin-slings, 411 glasses of bitters and 25 dozen “cock-tails.” But all this generosity with refreshment was for naught, the newspaper teased, as the candidate lost. No description of those 300 cocktails are there. But then a reader of the paper inquired, writing that he had heard of a “phlegm-cutter and fog driver, of wetting the whistle, of moistening the clay, of a fillip, a spur in the head, quenching a spark in the throat,” but “never did I hear of cock tail before.” On May 13, the editor of the Balance responded that he made “it a point, never to publish anything (under my editorial head) but which I can explain.” A cocktail is “vulgarly called a bittered sling,” he explained to his readers. That is, the drink is “a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water and bitters.” (Eric Felten: The Cocktail Bicentennial. In: The Wall Street Journal May 13th, 2006).
“The very first published definition of the word “cock-tail” appeared on 13th May 1806 in The Balance and Columbian Repository in 1806 and this historic event is now commemorated every year by World Cocktail Day.”(31 Dover – History of the Cocktail Blog)
“…the Balance article is the earliest written record that not only mentions the word “cock-tail” and also gives the recipe, so it’s appropriate that theirs is the piece we celebrate on World Cocktail Day.” (saveur.com, How the Cocktail got its Name).
“World Cocktail Day is a celebration of cocktails around the globe, marking the publication date of the first definition of a cocktail on May 13th in 1806…
New York tabloid ‘The Balance and Columbian Repository’ defined a cocktail as “a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water and bitters…” in response to a reader’s question. A cocktail, as we know it, is used to refer to a drink that contains two or more ingredients with at least one of the ingredients alcohol. The word ‘cocktail’ has now become embedded in our drinking vocabulary as the drinks are widely accessible with their ingredients easy to adapt to suit every taste.” (worldcocktailday . co . uk)
“No one knows when or where the first drink called a cocktail was mixed. But 200 years ago today a full-blown description of a “cock-tail” first made it into print, an anniversary being commemorated by the Museum of the American Cocktail with events in Las Vegas and New York. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word “cocktail” first appeared in 1803 in a publication called the Farmer’s Cabinet, but there was no explanation of what sort of drink this cocktail was, other than that it was “excellent for the head.” On May 6, 1806, the word turned up again — this time in hyphenated form — in the Balance and Columbian Repository, a Federalist newspaper in Hudson, N.Y., where it figured in one of the paper’s regular jibes at the party of President Thomas Jefferson.
This copy includes the entire May 13, 1806-issue of the Balance and Columbian Repository No. 19, Vol. V. Hudson, (New York), 1806. Small folio (30,4 x 23,7 cm).
Kentucky Land Grant, 1794
This rare 1794 Kentucky Land Grant of 10,000 acres is signed by Isaac Shelby, the First Governor of Kentucky.
GalleryKentucky Land Grant, 1794
This rare 1794 Kentucky Land Grant of 10,000 acres is signed by Isaac Shelby, the First Governor of Kentucky.
Isaac Shelby was both the first and the fifth Governor of Kentucky. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and in the War of 1812. Shelby was also an early Kentucky distiller. He led the implementation of the Kentucky state motto “United We Stand, Divided We Fall,” and also commissioned Lexington silversmith David Humphries to produce the Seal of the State of Kentucky in 1793.
This rare 1794 land grant of 10,000 acres in Lincoln County Kentucky to Samuel Overton, contains a very early use of the paper and wax Kentucky State Seal, along with the signature of Kentucky’s first Governor, Isaac Shelby. Humphries’ design for the Seal remains the official Seal of the Commonwealth of Kentucky to this day.
1799 Kentucky Tavern Bonds
Rare, handwritten license to operate a tavern in Muhlenberg County.
Gallery1799 Kentucky Tavern Bonds
This rare handwritten tavern bond issued on December 24, 1799 was an early license to operate a tavern in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.
This extremely rare tavern bond from December 24, 1799, permitted Samuel Russell to operate the Russell House tavern, a two-story log house built on Main Street in Greenville 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”), or engage in “disorderly or scandalous behavior”. The bond is signed by Samuel Russell and Isaac Davis, and County Clerk Charles F. Wing, with the document being two pages at 7.5″ x 12.875″. Muhlenberg County was formed in western Kentucky on December 14, 1798, a year before this document was created.
The complete transcript reads:
Know all men by these presents that we Saml Russell & Isaac Davis are held and firmly bound unto James Garrard esq. Governor of Kentucky, in the penal sum of Fifty pounds current money the payment of which well and truly to be made to the said Governor & his successors. We bind ourselves our heirs &c. jointly & severally firmly by these presents sealed with our seals and dated this 24 day of Decr 1799.
The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the above bound hath obtained a License to keep a Tavern at his house in Muhlenberg County. Now should the said Samuel constantly find & provide in his said Tavern good wholesome cleanly lodging & diet for travelers & stableage, provinder or pasturage for horses for the term of one year from the date hereof & shall not suffer or permit any unlawful gaming in his House nor suffer any person to tipple or drink more than is necessary nor at any time suffer any disorderly or scandalous behavior to be practiced in his house with his privity or consent then the above Obligation to be Void Else remain in full force & Virtue.
Saml Russell {seal}
Isaac Davis {seal}
Teste
C Wing
Some 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. 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.
Samuel Russell (1763-1835) was born in Virginia as the son of a Revolutionary War general and state senator. In 1794, he married Lucy Roberts (1769-1851), and they had at least eight children. He established the Russell House Tavern in Greenville in 1799 and operated it until his death. His widow then continued its operation, followed by their son, who kept it in operation until 1861. Samuel Russell was also Greenville’s first postmaster from 1801 to 1809.
Isaac Davis (1782-1858) was born in Virginia and moved to Kentucky with his family as a child. In 1806, he married Mary Kincheloe Wickliffe (1785-1870), and they had seven children. He was an officer in a company of Muhlenberg County militiamen who fought at the Battle of New Orleans. He operated a farm on which he raised corn, wheat, and livestock. He also served as a justice of the peace.
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.
1812, 1814 Kentucky Tavern Bonds
Partially printed with the advance of print technology, signed during the War of 1812.
Gallery1812, 1814 Kentucky Tavern Bonds
This rare pair of tavern bonds from Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, license the operation of two taverns in the county.
Signed in Muhlenberg County, KY on April 13, 1812, and on December 12, 1814, these rare tavern bonds are partially printed showing the advance of printing capability in the area.
The first document from April 13, 1812, allows William Campbell and Solomon Rhoads to operate a tavern from their house, and is signed by County Clerk Charles F. Wing. It is sized at 7.5″ x 6″.
The second, to operate a tavern in Lewisburg in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, is dated December 12, 1814, and is signed by Colston O. Wallis, William Cross, and Lewis Reno. It is sized 7.5″ x 6.375″.
Muhlenberg County was formed in western Kentucky in 1798. This pair of tavern bonds was signed during the War of 1812 for taverns in Muhlenberg County. The purpose of a 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 “disorderly or scandalous behavior.”
The complete transcript of the 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 Lewisburg 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. In 1820, he lived in Lewisburg in Muhlenberg County.
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.
1795 Kentucky Summons
Original 1795 Hardin County Kentucky Court Summons to Cornelius Mony regarding a debt owed to early Kentucky distiller Evan Williams.
Gallery1795 Kentucky Summons
Original 1795 Hardin County Kentucky Court Summons to Cornelius Mony regarding a debt owed to early Kentucky distiller Evan Williams.
This extremely rare court summons from the 28th of May in 1795 begins with, “The Commonwealth of Kentucky – To the Sheriff of Hardin County” and then states, “we summon you that you take Cornelius Mony if he be found in your bailiwick and him safely keep so that you have his body before the justices of our court… at the courthouse thereof to answer Evan Williams of a plea of debt of 13 pounds 6 shillings damage.”
Act Creating Kentucky, 1791
A rare 1791 printing of the Act of Congress signed by George Washington.
GalleryAct Creating Kentucky, 1791
Rare original 1791 newspaper printing of the entire Act of Congress signed by George Washington creating the State of Kentucky.
The Congress of the United States in its third session approved “An Act declaring the consent of Congress, that a new state be formed within the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and admitted into this Union, by the name of the STATE of KENTUCKY”.
This rare printing of the Act from the Columbian Centinel on Wednesday February 23, 1791 is the lead item in the news for that issue. Beginning in the top left corner of the newspaper with an image of the great seal of the United States is a complete printing of the Act, including the script-type signature of President George Washington and the block-type signatures of Vice-President John Adams and Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson. Washington signed and approved the act, making it official, on February 4, 1791, admitting Kentucky as a state on June 1 of the following year, 1792. The condition of this original newspaper, complete in four pages, is excellent in part due to the materials like the rag paper on which it was printed being largely made of cotton. The full text of the Act is below:
CONGRESS of the UNITED STATES: AT THE THIRD SESSION,
Begun and held at the City of Philadelphia, on Monday the sixth of December, one thousand seven hundred and ninety.
An ACT declaring the Consent of Congress, that a new State be formed within the Jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and admitted into this Union, by the Name of the STATE of KENTUCKY.
WHEREAS the Legislature of the Commonwealth of VirginIa, by and Act entitled, “An Act concerning the erection of the district of Kentucky into an independent state,” passed the 18th day of December, one thousand seven hundred eighty-nine, have consented, that the district of Kentucky, within the jurisdiction of the said Commonwealth, and according to its actual boundaries at the time of passing the Act aforesaid, should be formed into a new State: And whereas a convention of delegates, chosen by the people of the said district of Kentucky, have petitioned Congress to consent, that, on the first day of June, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two, the said district should be formed into a new State, and received into the Union, by the name of “ the State of Kentucky.”
Be it enacted by the SENATE and the HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES of the United States of America in Congress assembled, and it is hereby enacted and declared, That the Congress doeth consent, that the said district of Kentucky within the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and according to its actual boundaries, on the eighteenth day of December one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine, shall, upon the first day of June, one thousand seven hundred and ninety two, be formed into a new State, separate from, and independent of, the said Commonwealth of Virginia.
And be it further enacted and declared, That upon the aforesaid first day of June, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two, the said new State, by the name and stile of the State of Kentucky, shall be received and admitted into this Union, as a new and entire member of the United States of America.
Frederic Augustus Muhlenberg, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
JOHN ADAMS, Vice-President of the United States and President of the Senate.
Approved, February the Fourth, 1791.
George Washington, President of the United States.
(True copy) THOMAS JEFFERSON, Secretary of State.
15 Star Ship’s License
A rare 1793 Vessel’s Enrollment Form featuring the 15 Star and Stripe Great Seal.
Gallery15 Star Ship’s License
This rare shipping vessel licensing form displays an impressive official “15 Star and 15 Stripe American Eagle Great Seal” supporting the Coastal Trade Act of 1793.
A rare, blank un-accomplished Official Federal Vessel’s Enrollment Form is ready to be completed for enrolling a specific sailing ship. This printed form was to be completed in manuscript and signed to certify that the ship was conforming to the Coastal Trade Act of 1793, which was passed just one year after Kentucky became a state. The act was titled, “An act for enrolling and licensing ships or vessels to be employed in the coasting trade or fisheries, and for regulating the same.”
The great seal on the front is a rare surviving example from the time period. As would be customary for a licensing act passed in 1973, the great seal displays 15 stars above the eagle for the 15 states at the time, as well as 15 stripes on the shield to mark the same. This great seal matched with the current US flag that carried 15 stars and 15 stripes recognizing Kentucky as the 15th state.
An official Act of Congress directly referred to in this rare form, was approved by members of the Second U.S. Congress (convened March 1791 – March 1793) on February 18, 1793. The majority of the Act’s 37 Sections pertain to the Regulation and Standardization of Maritime Trade. A critical method of commerce until the development of turnpikes, canals, and railroads, it was the primary means of transporting goods. Such regulation entailed the Registering, Enrolling, and Licensing of Vessels (then called “Vessel Documents”,) and the regulated collection of trade manifests, customs, and duties on vessels.
The participants were cod and Whalers and Fishermen, or those involved in the “Coasting Trade,” meaning short-distance trade conducted between ports or navigable rivers on the same coast. The Act is an important early law protecting the American maritime trade from foreign competitors. Protectionist measures included a licensing system ensuring that only American vessels, “shall be… entitled to the privileges of ships or vessels employed in the coasting trade or fisheries.”
This special Licensing, for which a fee was levied, was limited to “Citizens of the United States.” It thus promoted the American Whaling and Cod fisheries, while providing additional protection to American shipping, which was increasingly harassed by French and British naval vessels and privateers.
