In Their Own Words
February 08, 1738
Rum Dealer Captured
William Stephens wrote of the capture and imprisonment of a rum dealer, and of wishing the same for others:
“…One Scott, a Gunsmith, a notorious Dealer in Rum, was this Day charged upon two Affidavits with retailing that Liquor, and bound over to the Court in order to be prosecuted for two Offences, as well as for sell- ing Rum, as for selling it without being a licensed Victu- aller. Happy were it for the Town, if all Delinquents of the same Kind were discovered, and severely pun- ished ; which certainly would appear to be a greater Number than can be easily imagined ; and not only tends to destroy the Peoples Health, but debauches the labouring People and Servants, being Places of Nursery for all Vices ; and it is observable, that Thieving begins to grow very fast, robbing of Gardens and such like of late being frequent. …”
Source: Allen D. Candler, ed. The Colonial Records of the State of Georgia, Vol. IV, Stephens’ Journal 1737-1740, Atlanta, GA, 1906, p. 78.
