Lucius R. Paige, History of Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1630-1877, with a genealogical register

“ [223] of xxs. a week.” ¹ The power of granting licenses “to keep houses of common entertainment, and to retail wine, beer, &c.” was transferred to the County Courts, May 26, 1647, “so as this Court may not be thereby hindered in their more weighty affairs.” ² Various laws were enacted, regulating such houses, notably in 1645;³ yet so necessary were they considered, that the town of Concord was presented by the grand jury, June 19, 1660, “for not having a common house of entertainment,” and was “enjoined to present a meet person to be allowed at the next Court at Cambridge for that employment, on penalty of 5l., and to pay costs of Court, 2s and 6d.”

Great caution was manifested in the appointment of grave and respectable citizens to keep ordinaries and to sell intoxicating drinks. The first person licensed by the General Court, Sept. 8, 1636, “to keepe a house of intertainment at Newe Towne,” was Thomas Chesholme⁴ a deacon of the church, and afterwards Steward of Harvard College. He was also licensed “to draw wine at Cambridge,” May 13, 1640.⁵ His dwelling-house was on a lot at the northwest corner of Dunster and Winthrop streets, adjoining the lot on which the first meeting-house was erected; so that the first church edifice and the first tavern in Cambridge stood side by side; and from all which is known of Deacon Chesholme's character, it may be confidently believed that he permitted nothing to be done in the one which could bring disgrace upon the other. The first person “allowed to sell wine and strong water” in Cambridge, March 12, 1637-8,⁶ was Mr. Nicholas Danforth, a selectman, a representative in the General Court, and one of the most active and honored citizens. He resided on the northerly side of Bow Street, near Plympton Street, but died about a month after the date of his license. The next year, May 22, 1639, “Mr. Nathaniell Sparhawke was permitted to drawe wine and strong water for Cambridge.” ⁷ He also was