Tax Day is a thing of the past -- at least for another year -- so it will perhaps now cause less anxiety and pain to post a United States Internal Revenue License from May 1, 1864 than it would have just a week ago.
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License No. 3162 shown above is the one issued to Mason Freeman of the Town of Smithfield, Rhode Island. It was in force from May 1, 1864 until its expiration on May 1st, 1865 -- essentially encompassing the last year of the Civil War. Mason was the proprietor of a general store in Albion, Rhode Island. This license was issued, as stated, for Mason Freeman to "carry on the business or occupation of a Retail Dealer at Albion . . . he having paid the tax of Ten Dollars therefor, conformably to the provisions of an Act entitled 'An Act to provide Internal Revenue to support the Government, and to pay interest on the public debt,' approved July 1, 1862, and the amendments and supplements thereto."
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| Mason Freeman (1820 - 1898) |
According to the obituary for Mason in the April 11, 1898 Pawtucket Times:
Mr. Freeman was one of the best known residents of the Blackstone Valley. * * * Mr. Freeman, while a resident of Lincoln, did not take any very prominent part in the public affairs, but his reputation among his fellow was such as to make many of those who were active in politics seek him for advice when questions affecting the interests and welfare of the people were being considered.
Mason is my 2x great grandfather and the father of Sarah Etta (Freeman) Carpenter, my great grandmother. He was born on June 14, 1820 in Massachusetts and he died at home (193 High Street, Lonsdale, Rhode Island) on April 10, 1898.
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Photographs from original documents in the collection of the author.
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Copyright 2013, John D. Tew
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