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Saturday, October 5, 2024

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Colonial Tavern License Presented, Dates to 1772

By Herald Staff

CAPE MAY – On Wednesday, Dec. 3 County Clerk Rita Marie Fulginiti presented the Greater Cape May Historical Society with a copy of the 1772 tavern license for Memucan Hughes, Revolutionary War patriot and former Inn Keeper of the building which is now the society’s headquarters and operated as the Colonial House Museum at 653 ∏ Washington St., next to City Hall.
Fulginiti explained that she had the opportunity to visit the museum over the summer and returned to the County Clerk’s Archives to enlist the help of volunteers and staff to research the 18th century court records for evidence of the tavern license needed to operate a tavern and public house.
Volunteer Susan Armour and County Clerk Archivist Diana Hevener located the original document filed in the Court of Quarter Sessions on Oct. 28, 1772 which grants Memucan Hughes a license for the sum of 20 pounds.
The license entitled Hughes to operate as a Public House Keeper and bound Hughes to conditions that he “shall not game himself or suffer any person to game in his house for money or the value of money…and maintain good order and rule, and find and provide good and sufficient entertainment for man and provision for horse…”
Fulginiti explained that the original document is maintained in the County Clerk’s Archives and presented the copy to President Harry Bellangy and Curator Maureen Savage. The presentation was made during the Society’s Holiday Party held at Alexander’s Restaurant.

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