In the early nineteenth century jury duty had perks that are not included today. The jurors’ board and lodging, it appears, also included an open bar.

While processing the Commissioners’ Orders collection—these are reimbursement requests submitted to the county—eight documents have appeared so far that itemize juries’ expenses in 1821–1823. Two of them do not break down the “Wine, Brandy, Gin, Whiskey and Seegars got by said Jurors.” Two were bills for a single midday meal, and the rest were for one or more full days.

At the first midday dinner each of the twelve jurymen and two constables drank a ten-ounce beer, plus one ounce each of brandy and gin. The second group of diners did the same but had 12-ounce beers and also added a glass of wine. (These are averaged amounts, not actual drink orders. We only know the total for the group.) After dinner, we assume, they reeled back to work.