Tax records

Among the residences of Union (later Unison) were a number of individuals that plied either a trade, a business, or some other services to the locals and the surrounding citizens. In the slower days of travel by carriage or horseback, it was common to find “Ordinaries” – later known as Taverns – in every town or village, on conveniently set along the main thoroughfares. Early Ordinaries were often merely residences that were large enough to accommodate travelers needing food and drink, and a bed for the evening. They also were used as local meeting halls for village, local, and district matters.

The county took great care in ensuring that Ordinaries were properly licensed, and that the prospective inn-keeper was of good repute. It wasn’t uncommon to see a petition to the county to deny a prospective applicant the right to a license – this being similar to the case of Robert Adams of Middleburg when it was recorded in the court records there was a ..“Petition signed by Middleburg residents requesting the court to deny Robert Adams his ordinary License as being “unfit” to keep a tavern.”

Below are the Loudoun County Archives records (alphabetical order) for the following prospective Ordinary applicants of Union/Unison. Apparently all appeared to be all of upstanding virtue, and their licenses approved by the county.