Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.
Snuff
James Gallatian (Gillation) purchased one-quarter pound of snuff on this day, 250 years-ago. Snuff was a pulverized tobacco that was inserted or inhaled into the nostrils. Sometimes it was scented with plant oils. Persons with somewhat of an addiction to the practice, inhaled the snuff a few times an hour, making a portable container a necessity. (see Snuff Box below).
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| Snuff Box. Image courtesy of The Manual of Arms |
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This article is one in a series of a daily accountings of Colden Store transactions. Be sure you read the first installment for an introduction to the store. You should also read this article which appeared in the Journal of the Orange County Historical Society.
The practice of "snuffing" was not just for men. The women of the day engaged also. It is told that Martha Washington was a user of snuff.
The process for making snuff from tobacco was carried out in England where its usage was very popular in the 18th century. However, Virginia, and some of the other colonies, were exporting large amounts of tobacco and also had snufferies. In 1772, Virginia exported 70 million pounds of raw leaf tobacco!
In the prior six months, the Colden store sold 35 pounds of snuff in 70 purchases. The store sold four snuff boxes.
On June 20th, Colden purchased 18 1/2 pounds of snuff from a man named Hugh Calhoon. Calhoon must have been a merchant as he is only listed twice in the DayBook. Both times Colden made large purchases of fabric from him.
Colden's purchase of snuff was recorded as "2 Bladers [Bladders] Snuff W^t 18 1/2." Indeed, snuff was packaged and shipped in dried animal bladders to preserve its freshness.
There is some indication that the use of animal bladders was unique to Pierre Lorrillard, who started a New York City snufferie in 1760. Could it be that the snuff in Colden's store was from the Lorillard snuff factory?
Colden purchased the snuff from Calhoon at three shillings per pound and sold it for four and one-half shillings. Perhaps it bore the Lorillard trademark shown below.
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| Lorillard Tradmark. Courtesy of BoweryBoysHistory.com |
The community also smoked tobacco in pipes. That will be the subject of a future blog.
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