Revolutionary War Era Tavernkeeper Robert White

In a series of letters between Robert White and his Philadelphia supplier, John Mitchell, we learn something about White’s family, the names of the waggoners who hauled his goods from Philadelphia to Carlisle, the kinds of food and liquors he ordered, and the way business was conducted.

John Pollock, who kept the “Sign of the Turk” tavern on East High Street in Carlisle,¹ was in debt to his Philadelphia creditors. As a result, in June 1773, he advertised the sale of the tavern in Philadelphia’s Pennsylvania Gazette.² He was able to stave off the sale when Robert White took a five-year lease on the tavern. On November 3, 1774, Robert White sat at a table in the tavern and wrote the following letter to Philadelphia merchant John Mitchell.

Sir, I called at your house about a fortnight since but had not the pleasure of seeing you when in Town as I left [the] same day. My business with you was to know if you would supply me with liquors & wait a little time for yr. money. I trust you have confidence that I will act an honorable part tho I have been unfortunate, notwithstanding I hope I never will deviate from the paths of honor & virtue. I intend removing my family here next week to the house kept per John Pollock & to keep tavern which I have leas’d for 5 years & expects to have a good run of business of the genteeler sort. If you send me the wines & [ ] I beg you’ll be particular & carefull to choose the best kind, for if they are not, as I am beginning the business it will be a great loss.³

On Christmas Eve, 1774 White wrote to Mitchell informing him that his letter would be handed to him by Hamilton Shaw. He ordered quantities of sugar, coffee, Hyson tea, Porter, and Tenerife wine “of the best quality.” White asked Mitchell to “deliver the enclosed to my son, you’ll know of him by Jno. Bayard, [a Philadelphia auctioneer] as he is a stranger there & his uncle gone, if you can render him any service, [I] will take it as done to myself. He is young & unexperienced in the world. Advise & adjust him for his good & future conduct which will be gratefully acknowledged by Sir, yr, mo; hu; servt. Robert White”
White added the following items that he wanted at the bottom of his letter: a bbl best scotch herring, a cag [sic] scotch barley & a cag [sic] milk biscuit, a gallon of best vinegar, and 18 Buck handle knives & forks at about 12/ pr. doz. & a castor.”⁴

In April 1775, he asked Mitchell to send him a bbl of lemons if “they are to be got good & cheap,” if not he wanted “a box of lemons if not high.” He ordered scotch barley and milk biscuit “& a good cheese if any of the country make send one, but if not send me a Cheshire.” White sent £5 with Mr. Miller and said that it was “all the cash I have at present—I expect after the court [I] will remit you the balance.”⁵ White was obviously suing someone for an unpaid debt, and expected to receive payment at the next Court session.

White wrote to John Mitchell on November 6, 1775, letting him know that he was sending £40 with William Hunter, and he would have paid before “but owing to the times, very little money circulates here.” Then he asked Mitchell if he would “be so kind to send me per him [William Hunter] a quarter cask best Madeira, 15 gal. of old brandy. a bbl. best old spirits, 100 wt. Lf. Sugar, 3 or 4 loaves loaf sugar & bag coffee…you’ll please send my looking glass which my bearer left with you.”⁶ White had not received the goods he requested in his November 6 letter, and on November 30, 1775, he wrote that he expected to pay the whole amount “in a little time….” and that he would have discharged his whole debt “but the courts has [sic] been very trifling.” He asked Mitchell to “please send the looking glass that was left with you per my brother.”⁷

Shopkeepers’ and merchants’ ledgers and account books are also sources of information about a person. The Cumberland County Historical Society has several 18th century record books, as well as those in the James Hamilton Collection. Robert White’s account with Carlisle store keeper William Lyon covers the years 1775 and 1776. On January 24, 1775 it records that Robert White charged a pair of snuffers and sundries, and on February 1, one pair of shoe buckles. In May 1775, he charged Calico and a white wash brush. On August 10, Jamey charged a half ounce of thread. Was Jamey his son or a servant? On September 1, 1775 Mrs. White paid Lyon’s wife 11 shillings and 3 pence in cash toward their bill. On September 8, 1775, “Larry” charged a half bushel of salt to White’s account.⁸

Shopkeepers' ledgers include interesting information about how customers paid their accounts; cash was the preferred way, but often it was with goods related to their occupations. In 1776, White occasionally paid his account with William Lyon in cash, but also with bushels of wheat, and once with 4 ¼ yds. of red flannel. Several times in 1777 Lyon was in White’s tavern because White’s account with Lyon was credited for clubs of toddy (several men sharing a bowl of toddy) and a supper. On August 25, 1779 his account was credited “by pailing the fence 1778 & 1779 between you and me. Mr. Pollock agreeing that the half of the fence shall be mine henceforth he being present this day on the above settlement.” John Pollock owned the tavern White was leasing on East High Street, and William Lyon owned the house next door.

Robert White needed servants to help run his tavern. William Lyon’s account book recorded that on September 8, 1775, “Larry” charged a half bushel of salt to White’s account. Was Larry White’s son, was he someone who had done work for White and White paid him by letting him charge salt at Lyon’s store, or was he White’s servant?

Servants were frequently jailed. Samuel Postlethwaite, who kept a tavern and a store in Carlisle, was the jailer for several years. By searching his jail records, we learn who “Larry” was. His name was Lawrence Kerry, servant to Robert White, who was committed to jail on August 12 1776. White was charged a turnkey fee of five shillings, and two shillings for subsistence for four days for his servant.⁹

Robert White left Carlisle when his lease was up in 1779. John Pollock sold the tavern to James Davis who operated it until 1791. Although altered somewhat in the nineteenth century, the stone tavern still stands on East High Street.