Caldwell County, Kentucky Tavern and Liquor Licenses 1852

One of the responsibilities of the county court was to issue licenses to operate taverns within the county. The license was good for one year. The court also set the rates that could be charged by the taverns. Allowing patrons to "tipple" more than necessary or to be disorderly could result in the license being revoked. The following entries have been abstracted from Caldwell County Order Book H, Caldwell County Clerk’s Office, Princeton, Kentucky.

Thomas J. Johnson was granted a license for a tavern at the house now occupied by him in the town of Princeton, also known as the "Union House." 19 Jan 1852.

John H. Rackerby was granted alicense to keep a tavern at the house now occupied by him in Princeton, known as the "Centre House." 19 Jan 1852.

John Gray was granted a license to keep a tavern at the house now occupied by him in Princeton, known as the "Globe Tavern" and also a license to sell & retail spirituous liquors in less quantities than a quart. 19 Jan 1852.

F.H. Skinner was granted a license to keep a tavern at the house now occupied by him in Eddyville for one year. 19 Apr 1852.

R.B. Ratliff, as a merchant, was allowed to vend spirituous liquors for 12 months. 19 Apr 1852.

Thomas J. Flournoy was allowed to vend spirituous liquors in quantities not less than a quart. 19 Apr 1852.

N.T. Braswell was allowed to keep a tavern on his wharf boat now lying at Eddyville and occupied by him. 19 Apr 1852.

F.H. Skinner was granted a license to vend spirituous liquors at his Tavern House in Eddyville, known as the Eddyville. 19 Apr 1852.

James B. Rodgers was granted a license to vend spirituous liquors in quantities less than a quart. 19 Apr 1852.

Sandford Duncan Jr. of the firm of Duncan & Dickey, merchants, was granted a license to vend spirituous liquors. 20 Apr 1852.

Thomas J. Greer was granted a license to vend spirituous liquors. 21 Jun 1852.

James Lester, as a merchant, was granted a license to vend spirituous liquors not less than a quart. 21 Jun 1852.

Washington Johnson, as a merchant, was allowed a license to vend spirituous liquors of less than a quart. 21 Jun 1852.

M.K. Asbridge was granted a license to vend spirituous liquors in quantities less than a quart. 21 Jun 1852.

John Y. Chambers was allowed to vend spirituous liquors as a merchant. 21 Jun 1852.

William D. Franklin was allowed a license to vend spirituous liquors, being a merchant. 16 Aug 1852.

William D. Tinsley was granted a license to keep a tavern at the house now occupied by him in this county for the term of one year. 16 Aug 1852.

RATES - 16 August 1852
For single meal .25
Board & lodging per day .75
Lodging per night .25
Board for Single Week 2.50
If longer than a week 2.00
Stabling & 1 horse feed .25
Stabling & horse feed for 1 day .50
Horse per week 2.00
Pasturage per week 1.00
All kinds of drink .05
(except Cogniac, Champaigne, Brandy)
Extra Cogniac, Champaigne,
Brandy per drink .10
Common whiskey per qt. .10
Good Rye or Bourbon whiskey
per qt. .25
Same per gallon 1.00
Finest Brandy & wine per qt. 1.00
Same per gallon 4.00

Information has been given to the Judge of this Court, by James A. Carr, S. Duncan Jr., John Wheatly, H.W. Champion and William C. Morrin, Trustees of the Town of Princeton, that Thomas J. Johnson, keeper of the Tavern called the Union House in the town of Princeton, did on the 16th day of August 1852 permit more spirituous liquors to be drunk in sd. Tavern House than was necessary, and also did then and there keep a disorderly house, contrary to the law. A summons is to be issued against Johnson to appear before the Judge of Caldwell County Court to answer the charge & show cause, if any, he hath or can, why an order shall not be entered by the court, disabling him from keeping a tavern. [Caldwell County Court Order Book H, p. 143]

Miles Cato was granted a tavern license to keep a tavern and the privilege to vend spirituous liquors by wholesale or retail at the house now occupied by him. 20 Dec 1852.

Wm. H. Robertson was granted a license to vend spirituous liquors as a merchant in quantities less than a quart. 20 Dec 1852.