TEACHER'S GUIDE TO
History and Folklife of the Kentucky Frontier
Lesson 12: County Government
| Kentucky statutes required county courts to meet monthly. Routine business included probating wills and overseeing the administration of estates, providing care for orphans, levying taxes, making appropriations, supervision the care of roads, overseeing county government, and distributing patronage. The following is a section from the Hopkins County Court Order Book. It lists the salaries paid out to various public officials as well as the costs of food and lodging in taverns. Such information can be useful in teaching students about the tasks of county government and the cost of travel during the period. |
from the Hopkins County Order Book, 1816-1818. County Clerk's Office.
[June 1816].... The court proceeded to fix the Tavern rates as follows: towit
For whiskey per half pint....................................................... .12 1/2
" peach or apple brandy per pint........................................ .12 1/2
" dinner................................................................................... .25
" Breakfast with tea or coffee.............................................. .25
" Breakfast without tea or coffee........................................ .25
" lodging per night................................................................ .08
" supper with tea or coffee................................................... .25
" Supper without tea or coffee............................................. .17 1/2
" corn or oats per gallon....................................................... .12 1/2
" Horse at hay 12 hours........................................................ .12 1/2
" Pasturage each horse 12 hours........................................ .08
[November 1816]....The court proceeded to settle the County Levy as follows: (to-wit) The County is made
debtor:
To Sam Downey, Capt. Patrollers, 156 hours per acct........... $8.66
To Charles Bradley for patrolling 108 hourse per
his acct.......................................................................................... 4.50
To Sam Woodson, Clerk of this Court, his ex-officio
services last 12 month period statement.................................. 40.00
To Sam Woodson for a well-bound Deed Book for use
of this Court per acct................................................................... 15.00
To Samuel Bourland for guarding Charles Redman,
a felon per order of Circuit Court............................................... 3.75
To Lewis Fugate for same per same.......................................... 1.50
To William Noel for care Court House and Stray Pound
last 12 months............................................................................... 12.00
To Isham Browder, late Sheriff, his ex-officio
services last 12 months............................................................... 40.00
To William Noel for the procurement of a lock for
the Stray Pound............................................................................ .50
To Abraham Landers, for the care and support of ____
McCoy, a deformed daughter of Elenor McCoy, the
ensuing year................................................................................. 15.00
To Henry Ashby, Esquire, Judge to last election at
Court House, three days at $1 per day..................................... 3.00
To William Wilson, Esquire, Clerk to last election at
Court House, three days at $1 per day..................................... 3.00
To Eliezer Givens, Esquire, Judge to last election at precinct,
three days each, $1 per day........................................................ 3.00
To Wright W. Willis, Esquire for same per day...................... 3.00
To William Gordon, Thomas G. Davis, and Baxter D. Townes,
Commissioners, for building the Court House in this county.... 1308.00
To William R. Weir for bringing from Frankfort, Lettells
Edition of the Kentucky Laws, for the use of this court........ 5.00
Using the selections from the Hopkins County Court
1. Compare the 1816 charges for food and lodging for a man with a horse with modern costs for a meal at a fast food restaurant and lodging at a local hotel chain.2. Write a story about the trials and tribulations of the early 19th century traveler.3. List the various services paid for by the Hopkins County in November 1816. After discussing the difference between public and private services and the purpose of taxation, have students research what services their county provides. You may want to have students find out the local property, school, and sales taxes. Invite a county official to discuss what county government does.
This lesson has been adapted by Jennifer Small from A Teacher's Guide to Pioneer Life in South Central Kentucky, by Nancy Disher Baird and Carol Crowe-Carraco.