Henderson County, Kentucky

 

QUEER RECEIPTS

At that time what is known as Henderson County, was called the “Big Barrens,” from the fact that little timbers grew over the county, save along the water courses.

Owing to the scarcity of salt, that necessary commodity sold at an enormously high price, ten dollars per bushel being the regular price, while in many cases as high as fifteen and twenty dollars was paid.

People had a curious way of writing receipts. Here is a specimen:

“Receipt from John McCALLISTER ,
8 bu salt on account of John DUNN ,
I say receipt by me this Jany 7, 1796.

Robert LANE

Most all receipts at that time were written in the same peculiar phraseology.

Much of the country immediately around Henderson was low and marshy, and stagnant water stood in ponds and low places, consequently the whole settlement suffered from ague and fever.

History of Henderson County, Kentucky by Edmund L. Starling, pg 98

 


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Contributed by Netta Mullin, HCH&GS
Copyright 2005 HCH&GS