Flagon and Trencher
Flagon and Trencher is an hereditary society composed of men and women who can trace ancestry to one or more licensed operators of an ordinary, tavern, inn, public house, or hostel, prior to July 4, 1776, in the area that became the original thirteen states.
History
During a speech on "Genealogical Sources of the Philadelphia Area" delivered at the National Genealogical Society in March 1962, Walter Lee Sheppard, Jr., remarked parenthetically that there seemed to be lineage societies for all kinds of ancestors except tavern keepers. Suggested Kenn Stryker-Rodda from the audience, "let's found one." Enough persons heard of the idea to prompt Kenn's sending a letter dated 1 September 1963 suggesting "an annual dinner at an old inn, with colonial menu (solid and liquid) spiced with learned and witty addresses on suitable topics, as the focus for the Society." It was Lee who dubbed the organization "Flagon and Trencher."
Shepard and Stryker-Rodda were surprised by the response, but saw the feasibility of creating an organization that would not be bound by the usual rigid rules and regulations of other organizations, but would make it possible for interested persons to establish their ancestry from a tavern- inn- or ordinary-keeper who was in business during the colonial period.
The December 1963 issue of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly carried an announcement stating the requirements for membership. In the two years that followed, many applications were received. Although it was suspected by Shepard and Stryker-Rodda that membership would probably be small, by early 1965 it became evident to them that there was more interest in the Society than initially anticipated.
Membership now exceeds 1,000. Over 1,300 individuals have become members during the organization's history, representing over 700 colonial taverners.
Research and Publications
The society has published a number of biographical anthologies, documenting the lives of select colonial taverners.
A record extraction project is presently underway. The objective is to eventually identify every colonial taverner for whom evidence survives.