The store of Edward Lockey contained, in addition to the usual quantity of cloths and clothing, brass coat-buttons, a paper of hooks and eyes, andirons, sheep-shears, plough-chains, brass scales, and reap-hooks. Among the articles in the Foison store in Henrico were holland nightcaps, muslin neck-cloths, silk-fringed gloves, silver shoebuckles, embroidered holland waistcoats, two dozen pairs of white gloves, one lace cap, seven lace shirts, nine lace ruffles, holster caps of scarlet embroidered with silver and gold, gold and silver hat-bands, a parcel of silver lace, three yards of gold lace, and a feathered velvet cap. This storekeeper possessed at the time of his death eight buckskins and sixty-five doeskins. In the inventory of Edward Lockey, there were also three tanned doeskins.[1] There were few storekeepers in the Colony who were not engaged in the Indian trade, the exchange of merchandise for furs, skins, and other goods being attended with large profits. Guns, ammunition, rum, blankets, knives, end hatchets were the articles in greatest demand among the tribes. It will be interesting to make some examination of the various regulations which were from the earliest period adopted to control this trade. In the session of 1631-32 all traffic with the aborigines was prohibited, whether carried on by public or private enterprise.
- ↑ Records of York County, vol. 1664-1672, p. 260, Va. State Library. Additional instances of stores and their contents will be found in the inventories of Robert Beckingham of Lancaster (Records, original vol. 1674-1687, p. 33) and Robert Hodges of Lower Norfolk (original vol. 1675-1686, f. p. 116). It may be mentioned as an evidence of the extent to which business was at this time conducted on credit, that the debts due Beckingham amounted to 193,420 lbs. of tobacco, and to William Travers to 151,072 lbs. Records of Rappahannock County, 1677-1682, p. 73. An interesting invoice of goods, that of Captain Robert Ranson, will be found in Records of York County, vol. 1694-1697, p. 368, Va. State Library.
