HENING'S STATUTES, VOLS. 5-13 (1738-1792)
WAREHOUSES
Most of the laws regarding warehouses are for tobacco and they are part of much larger acts that deal with tobacco inspection. These inspection laws include sections about warehouses, where they are to be kept, inspectors' salaries and so forth. Other warehouses were established for naval stores, hemp and flour. Only general laws and those relating specifically to the Potomac are noted.
Laws:
November 1738-12th George II, Chap. I, (H5:9-16).
An Act for further continuing and amending the Act, For amending the Staple of Tobacco; and for preventing frauds in his Majesty's Customs.
Art. XIII, pp. 14-15, sets the rents at warehouses already established-it lists them by name but does not indicate where they are located. It also creates new warehouses, none on the Potomac.
May 1742-15th George II, Chap. I, (H5:124-60)
An Act, for reducing the Laws made, for amending the Staple of Tobacco; and for preventing frauds in his Majesty's Customs, into one act of Assembly.
States where tobacco inspection warehouses are to be kept, including (p. 143) one in Fairfax County, "on the land of the Honourable Thomas Lee, Esquire, at the Falls of Patowmack," and in Stafford Co., "on Patowmack Creek, upon Cave's land" (pp. 141-43).
It also concerns funds needed to keep the warehouses in repair and for building, keeping and repairing wharves as necessary. It doesn't authorize building wharves, it just assumes they will be built where necessary. County courts are to have full power, to put in execution, as much of this act, as relates to the erecting and building of public warehouses; and to regulate all matters concerning the same, and to direct the building and repairing of such houses, wharfs, prizes, cranes, and other conveniencies, from time to time, as to them shall seem necessary and expedient.
September 1744-18th George II, chap. VII, (H5: 232-36)
Sets rates at warehouses, which are named but locations not specified. Also discontinues some warehouses and establishes others; none on Potomac.
February 1745-19th George II, Chap. V, (H5: 324-26)
Amends earlier act mainly re. rules for inspection of tobacco. It also creates new warehouses and discontinues others; none on Potomac.
October 1748-2d George II, Chap. LI, (H6: 154-93)
Art. XXXIV. states where tobacco inspection warehouses are to be kept, including one in Fairfax Co., "on the land of the Honorable Thomas Lee, esq. at the falls of Patowmack;"also one in Prince William co. "at Quantico," which was probably on the Potomac; others probably were as well but locations are not given by river.
February 1752-25th George II, Chap. III (H6:223-27)
An Act for amending the act, intituled, An act for amending the staple of tobacco, and preventing frauds in his majesty's customs.
Concerns rules for inspection, salaries and rents at specific warehouses (none on Potomac) and discontinues some warehouses and creates others; none on Potomac.
November 1753-27th George II, Chap. III, (H6: 351-53)
Supplemental act, concerns rules for inspection, salaries and rents at specific warehouses [none on Potomac] and discontinues some warehouses and creates others created; none on Potomac.
May 1755-28th George II, chap. V, (H6: 472-75)
Supplemental act, concerns rules for inspection, salaries and rents at specific warehouses [none on Potomac] and discontinues some warehouses and creates others; none on Potomac.
October 1755-29th George II, Chap. IV, (H6: 567-68)
An Act for settling the rents of the public warehouses and inspectors salaries, for this present year. A general act that doesn't specify or name particular warehouses.
September 1758-32d George II, Chap. X (H7:244-45)
An Act for settling the inspectors salaries and the rents of the public warehouses for the ensuing year.
This is a general act that does not mention any specific warehouses by name.
March 1761-1st George III, Chap. V (H7:387-92)
An Act for amending and further continuing the several acts of assembly of this colony for amending the staple of tobacco and preventing frauds in his majesty's customs.
Continues, with amendments earlier acts that are due to expire. Does not refer to or name specific warehouses. County courts are to oversee the maintenance, repair, and (if necessary) rebuilding of existing warehouses.
October 1765-5th George III, Chap. XVIII, (H8:69-111)
An act for amending the Staple of Tobacco, and for preventing frauds in his majesty's customs.
This act sets rates and rules for tobacco warehouses and states where they are to be kept. One is to be kept "on the land of Philip Ludwell Lee, esq; at the falls of Potomack" and one in Prince William Co. at Quantico. Others probably on Potomac but river locations are not given.
Oct. 1776-1st Commonwealth, Chap. I (H9:153-63.)
An Act for reviving several publick warehouses for the reception of Tobacco, and other purposes.
This act revives an Act for amending the staple of tobacco which expired Oct. 1, 1775 and warehouses are to be "revived or established" at several places, including in Fairfax co. at the falls of Potowmack. Others may be on the Potomac as well; it lists them by name and county, but does not give the river where located. Act establishes rules, rents, appointment of inspectors and so forth. Act in force for one year and from thence to end of the next session of assembly.
Oct. 1776-1st Commonwealth, Chap. XXXIII (H9:235-36)
An act to establish publick storehouses, at the had of Potowmack creek, for the reception of naval stores.
At Cave's warehouse, in Stafford Co.
Oct. 1778-3d Commonwealth, Chap. X (H9:482-521)
An act for reviving several Publick Warehouses for the inspection of Tobacco.
General law regarding tobacco inspection. Lists where warehouses are to be kept, again by name and county, not by river; one is in Fairfax Co. "at the falls of Potowmack."
May 1780-4th Commonwealth, Chap. XVI (H10:272-76)
An act to amend the several acts of assembly respecting the inspection of tobacco.
Sets salaries for inspectors, including at Alexandria and "at the falls of Potowmack."
Nov. 1781-6th Commonwealth, Chap. XXIII (H10: 474-78)
An act to continue and amend the several acts of assembly respecting the inspection of tobacco and for other purposes.
Continues previous act for 12 months. Establishes some new warehouses and discontinues others [none on Potomac]. Sets inspectors' salaries, including for warehouses "at Alexandria," and "at the falls of Potowmack."
Nov. 1781-6th Commonwealth, Chap. XL (H10:501-17)
An act for ascertaining certain taxes and duties, and for establishing a permanent revenue.
Art. IV establishes warehouses for flour and hemp in Alexandria, Fredericksburg, Richmond, Petersburg and West-Point; the one in Alexandria may have been on the Potomac.
May 1783-7th Commonwealth, Chap. X (H11:205-46)
An act to amend and reduce the several acts of assembly for the inspection of tobacco, into one act.
The act directs [pp.210-11] where public warehouses are to be kept; they are listed by county and name rather than river, but those in Fairfax County are probably on the Potomac; they are: "at Colchester, at Alexandria, and at the falls of Potowmack." Likewise those "in the county of Prince William, at Quantico and at Dumfries." Others undoubtedly are as well, can't determine from the list [some counties border more than one river].
May 1784-8th Commonwalth, Chap. XXXVII (H11:412-5)
An act for establishing an inspection of hemp.
Establishes warehouses for inspection of hemp at Alexandria and Fredericksburg.
October 1785-10th Commonwealth, Chap. XX (H12:61- 64)
An act establishing inspection of tobacco at Crow's ferry, in the county of Botetourt, and on the lands of Thomas Cresap, in the county of Hampshire, and for other purposes.
Warehouse on Thomas Cresap's land was "at the confluence of the North and South branches of Potowmack, in the forks of the said river" [above tidewater].
October 1787-12th Commonwealth, Chap. XXX (H1:515-20)
An act to regulate the inspection of flour and bread.
Inspectors of flour to be appointed at several places, including Alexandria. Doesn't actually mention warehouses.
October 1788-13th Commonwealth, Chap. LIX (H12:717-18)
An act for establishing an inspection of tobacco on the lands of Abraham Shepherd, in the county of Berkeley.
Warehouse to be established on Shepherd's land "on Potowmack river in the county of Berkeley" [above tidewater].
October 1790-15th Commonwealth, Chap. XXXVI (H13:155-56)
An act for establishing several inspections of tobacco, and finishing Trent's warehouses.
Inspections of tobacco shall be and are hereby established a the following places: . . . at the Great Falls of Patowmack in the county of Loudoun, to be called and known by the name of Great Falls warehouse.
October 1790-15th Commonwealth, Chap. XLIV (H13:167-70)
An act to regulate the inspection of Hemp.
Establishes warehouses at Alexandria, Fredericksburg, Manchester and Petersburg . . . and "at the Great Falls in the county of Loudoun."
October 11792-17th Commonwealth, Chap. XVIII (H13:479-517)
An act for reducing into one, the several acts of Assembly, for the inspection of Tobacco.
Public warehouses are to be kept at several places, including "in the county of Fairfax, at Colchester, Alexandria, and the Falls of Patowmac," in Prince William Co. at Quantico, and in the county of Hampshire "at the confluence of the north and south branches of the river Patowmac."
October 1792-17th Commonwealth, Chap. XIX (H13:517-524)
An act reducing into one, the several acts for regulating the inspection of Flour and Bread.
Inspectors to be appointed in several places, including Alexandria; does not actually mention warehouses.