As noted in the previous article, a law passed in 1873 required individuals who wanted to operate a tavern to apply to the Clerk of the Peace for the license. In addition, they had to advertise their plan in the local newspaper and file a “certificate containing the signatures of twelve respectable citizens who affirmed that the applicant was of good character, that he owned a suitable house, and that a tavern was needed”.1
This 1873 application2 from Thomas Toy shows the form and format of these requests.
If you read enough of these applications, you will see that Henry Clay is a close community. Tavern operators are not afraid of competition from each other. This application includes the names of Thomas Lawless, Peter Collins, Owen McCallion, Henry Doran, James Blessington and William Fleming, all of whom operated taverns in Henry Clay at one time or another. There was enough business to go around!
You also notice that friends and family will always vouch for you. James Toy is the father of Thomas, Paul Bogan is his cousin, Henry Doran is the father-in Law of Thomas’s sister, and Owen McCallion is James Toy’s father-in-law. It’s likely that there are other relationships that are less obvious.
The version of the application advertised in the newspaper is much less impressive than the original, but contains all the essential information. This application notice seven years after the first3 contains names of many of the same people giving Thomas Toy their support. New for this application are James and John McKenna, cousins of Thomas whose father, also named James, married Thomas’ aunt Mary Toy.
These license applications are an important tool for uncovering the history of the Henry Clay taverns and will feature prominently in subsequent articles.
- https://archives.delaware.gov/delaware-agency-histories/court-of-general-sessions/ ↩
- Delaware Public Archives, New Castle County Tavern Petitions, 1873 ↩
- The Morning News (Wilmington, Delaware) · 23 Apr 1880, Fri · Page 4 ↩
Brandywine Banks 