Historical note:

            Rum produced for the African slave trade had fueled Rhode Island's economic expansion before the Revolution. Though it gradually declined in importance after the war, it was still the exclusive domain of the state's leading merchants. When the United States Congress declared an excise tax on distilled spirits in 1791, this had the dramatic result of inspiring the Whiskey Rebellion in western Pennsylvania, but was met more peacefully in Rhode Island. While western distilleries were often small operations run by backwoods farmers to supplement their meager incomes, the Rhode Island rum distilleries were a major industry, and the excise tax was just another business expense.

Return to top

Scope and content:

            These two volumes were kept by federal Treasury collectors appointed to collect the excise tax. They seem to have monitored every distillery in the state, giving a rare comprehensive look at an entire industry. The volumes are arranged into accounts by distillers, and give weekly tallies of gallons distilled and removed, with a running tally of stock on hand. The weekly duties on spirits shipped are given, including the abatement for leakage. They also describe whether the rum was of domestic or foreign material, and whether it was first or second proof. The volumes cover from 1791 through 1799, with a few entries for 1800. There are also a few loose quarterly reports giving less detailed information through 1802.

            The distilleries taxed in this volume were almost all in Providence or Newport, with the major exception of Bourn & Wardwell in Bristol. The distillers were among the state's merchant elite, and include John Brown (1736-1803), Welcome Arnold (1745-1798) and the Clark & Nightingale firm. Distilling made sense for merchants involved in the slave trade, who had easy access to molasses and needed rum to ship to Africa. Distilling their own rum cut out a middle man. Some distillers, including John Brown, also expanded beyond rum into gin production.

            The excise collectors remained constant through both volumes. Daniel S. Dexter and Paul Allen were the collectors for Providence distilleries, George Sears was the collector in Newport, and Samuel Bosworth handled the one distillery in Bristol.

            An item at the R.I.H.S. closely related to this collection is an account book filed under "Bourn & Wardwell", dated 1796-1798. It is apparently the record book kept by the distillery to settle their accounts with the excise collector, and includes much of the same information as this collection, plus data on where their rum was shipped.

Return to top

Provenance:

            The provenance of this collection is unknown. It was not listed in a 1938 federal inventory of Rhode Island treasury records that identified other R.I.H.S. material. The volumes were definitely here by the 1970s, when Jay Coughtry used them for research on his Notorious Triangle.

Return to top

Processing note:

            The volumes are not in good condition. Though the pages are still for the most part strong, they are coming detached from the binding. The volumes have been boxed in archival flat boxes and should be handled with care.

Return to top

Inventory:

Volume 1. Accounts with distillers, 1791-1795

Volume 2. Accounts with distillers, 1794-1800

Folder 1. Loose papers found in volume 2.

                        Includes quarterly reports arranged by distiller, 1799-1802.

Return to top

Subjects:

Allen, Zachariah Sr. (1740-1801)

Arnold, Welcome (1745-1798)

Bourn & Wardwell

Brown, John (-1802)

Clarke & Nightingale

Excise tax - Rhode Island

Rum industry - Rhode Island - Taxation

Taxation - United States

Tillinghast, Daniel (1732- )

United States. Department of the Treasury.

Index of Distillers:

Allen (Zachariah; succeeded by Ann in 1802). Providence.

            Vol. 2, p. 124-145.

            Loose papers.

Allen & Allen (Phillip and Zachariah). Providence.

            Vol. 1, p. 69-85.

Arnold (Welcome). Providence.

            Vol. 1, 1-12 (as a partner in Brown, Benson & Ives)

            Vol.. 2, p. 22-36

Auchmuty (Robert N.). Newport.

            Vol. 2, p. 188-195

            Loose papers.

Bourn & Wardwell (Shearjashub Bourne and ___ Wardwell). Bristol.

            Vol. 1, p. 187-193.

            Vol. 2, p. 1-21.

Brinley & Littlefield. Newport.

            Vol. 1, p. 137-153

Brown, Benson & Ives. Early partner was Welcome Arnold. Providence.

            Vol. 1, p. 1-17, 137

Brown & Francis. Became just John Brown. Providence.

            Vol. 2, p. 42-58

            Loose papers.

Clark (John Innes)

            Loose papers. 

Clarke (Peleg). Newport.

            Vol. 1, p. 154-170

            Vol. 2, p. 172-179

Clark & Nightingale. Providence.

            Vol. 1, p. 34-51.

            Vol. 2, p. 92-101

Clarke, Nightingale & E. Bowen. Providence.

            Vol. 1, p. 18-33

            Vol. 2, p. 76-85

Crary (Archibald & Co.). Newport.

            Vol. 2, p. 112-115

            Loose papers.

Gibbs & Channing. Newport.

            Vol. 2, p. 199-204

            Loose papers.

Hunter (Henry). Newport.

            Vol. 1, p. 171-186

Martin (Simeon)

            A single entry dated August 1, 1801 in the loose papers.

Mason (Daniel). Newport.

            Vol. 1, p. 103-119.

            Vol. 2, p. 112. Mentioned stock as being transferred to Archibald Crary's account.

Overing (Henry). Newport.

            Vol. 1, p. 120-127

Smith (Henry, succeeded by Benjamin in 1794). Providence.

            Vol. 1, p. 86-102

            Loose papers, 1802.

Sterry (Cyprian). Providence.

            Vol. 2, p. 60-69.

Tillinghast (Daniel). Providence. Apparently rented from John Brown.

            Vol. 1, p. 52-68

            Vol. 2, p. 108-111

Tillinghast (Robert G.)

            Loose papers.

Whitehorn (John). Newport.

            Vol. 1, p. 184-185

Whitehorn (Samuel, then John G. after 1796). Newport.

            Vol. 1, p. 128-136

            Vol. 2, p. 156-167

            Loose papers.

End of finding aid - return to top

RIHS1822