Thomas S. Taylor owned a general store in Kingston, Rhode Island, during the first half of the nineteenth century. One of his account books was used solely for his transactions with Mary Barber. The accounts were kept between 1824 and 1829 and reveal that she ran a tavern and boarding house.

Most of her debits were for alcohol (gin, brandy, wine, and cherry rum). Other debits were for knives, forks, tumblers, playing cards, cigars, coffee, tea, eggs, butter, cheese, corn, plaid flannel, bed cord, brooms, bellows, and candles. When the book is turned over, it lists her credits. In most cases she paid Taylor in cash, but she also received credits for calf skin, fish, veal, fowl, killing a hog, board for Hannah Gordon, and for boarding carpenters, masons, and other laborers.

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