New Hampshire State Liquor Stores

During the Revolutionary War, the biggest root of domestic conflicts was probably high prices for the necessities of life. American society hadn’t embraced the market system fully, so both people and governmental authorities objected when merchants raised their prices or kept goods off the market, waiting for demand to rise further.

On 27 Feb 1777, the New Hampshire Committee of Safety issued the following order to the sheriff of Rockingham County:

Whereas George Gains of Portsmouth, Esqr. (who was employed by this Committee to procure Rum for the American Army) has inform’d the Committee That Robert Parker, Thomas Martin, Neal McIntire, Mark Hunking Wentworth, Jonathan Warner, Benjamin Austin, George King, Nathaniel Folsom, George Turner, Jacob Treadwell, Ammi Ruhamah Cutter, Robert Furnass, John Hart, Tertius, Daniel & Samuel Sherburne, merchants, each of them, have West India Rum in their possession more than sufficient for their own use and consumption, which they refuse to sell him for the use of said American Army at a Reasonable rate:

Therefore you are hereby required in the name of the Government & the people of the State of New Hampshire (taking with you sufficient assistance) to break open any stores, Warehouses, or other places, where such Rum may be deposited, belonging to the above named persons, or in their possession, and take from thence the following Quantities of Rum: viz. from

• Robert Parker, four Hogsheads;
• Thomas Martin, Three Hogsheads;
• Neal Mclntire, one Hogshead;
• Jonathan Warner, two Hogsheads;
• Benjamin Austin, one Hogshead;
• George King, two Hogsheads;
• Nathaniel Folsom, three Hogsheads;
• George Turner, three Hogsheads,
• Jacob Treadwell, one Hogshead,
• Ammi Ruhamah Cutter, one Hogshead,
• Robert Furness, one Hogshead,
• John Hart Tertius, one Hogshead,
• Daniel and Saml. Sherburne, four Hogsheads

(if the same may be found as aforesaid) and deliver the same to the said George Gains. You are also to cause all Rum taken as aforesaid to be Gaged by a sworn Gager & make return hereof (as soon as may be) with your doings herein, to the Committee of Safety.

(I reformatted that text to make it easier to read on the internet. Here’s the original transcription.)

The sheriff carried out the order as best he could, collecting fifteen hogsheads. But he reported that eight of those men did not have “more rum than they wanted for their own use.”