Fairfax County Ordinary Bond Book

Fairfax County Ordinary Bond Book

Fairfax County
Bond
Tavern
Ordinary
Inn

Bond taken out in 1820 by William Gooding, the proprietor of Gooding’s Tavern. It states that it is valid as long as William Gooding offers “clean” and “wholesome” lodging and diet for travelers and fodder and pasturage for their horses. It also prohibits gambling and drinking “more than is necessary” on the sabbath. One of the lines that has to be filled in is the gender pronoun one goes by before the word “house,” indicating that women could be the proprietors of taverns as well. This bond reveals that tavern owners had certain obligations to fulfill for travelers and their horses. It also reveals that gambling was frowned upon, and so was drinking in excess on a “holy day.”

Gooding, William

Fairfax County Courthouse

Fairfax County Historic Records Center

1820

Kira Stalker

Item out of copyright