Working for a Living

SALT ! SALT ! SALT !

If any of you are Jimmy Buffett fans, you might know that this is the common audience participation refrain when he performed his famous song Margaritaville in concerts. But in this case, that same refrain might have been heard well over 230 years ago by settlers in the county of Kentucky, which was still part of Virginia around 1775.

You see, salt was a necessity for survival back then. It was used to preserve meat and fish, it was a much needed dietary nutrient, and was so valuable it was used as currency. Early Kentucky explorers found many natural mineral springs that were rich in salt content. One of these areas was named Bullitt’s Lick, and it is the focus of this post.

Bullitt's Lick historical marker

I have been researching my 3x great grandfather, John Hinch (1804-1862), and am attempting to prove his lineage back to Capt John Hinch (b. about 1745), so two generations back. I will refer to him as Capt John. I know that he married Hannah DeWitt before 1773.  He fought in the Revolutionary war, with his last battle in the Battle of Blue Licks (Kentucky), and survived. However many did not, including one of Daniel Boone’s sons, Israel. 

Sadly, even though Capt John survived the Battle of Blue Lick, four years later he did not survive his Bullitt’s Lick job of running the salt production for owner Col. William Christian. He drowned in a salt well on the property July 6, 1786, leaving his wife Hannah and 6 children (3 boys and 3 girls. He was about 42 years old. 

In researching Bullitt’s Lick saltworks, and Capt. John, I uncovered information about his wife Hannah that I never would have ever considered. I found a book “Home Rule” by Honor Sachs. A simple Google search led me to her book, where she unearthed fascinating details about how Hannah “took up the reins” and managed the saltworks after her husband Capt John’s death. Not only that, but she worked with another widow, Annie Christian, whose husband William owned the saltworks. Together these two woman kept this saltworks running.

Annie lived just outside Louisville Ky, about 22 miles from Bullitt's Lick. She originally started corresponding with Capt John after her own husband died in January. Then, when Capt John drowned 6 months later, Annie wrote to Hannah and asked if she would manage the saltworks, under Annie’s direction. And so they did. 

Here are these two fairly young widows, both with young children at home, probably in their late 30’s, managing this business by means of small notes sent back and forth by messengers, through sometimes dangerous areas. Even more amazing is that many of these short notes to each other survived, so we can see how they worked together. The two notes below are samples. There are more. Below are two short sections from “Home Rule,” which say it best: 

“These small, scrawled notations conveyed important messages about how to pay workers, fill orders, and settle debts. They reported how many bushels of salt changed hands, who received salt orders, and what constituted a daily wage. (pg 61, “Home Rule”, by Honor Sachs)

Transcription of first note: "Madam, Please to let Mr. Daniel Workman 16 bushels of salt. I am your humble servant. Signed Annie Christian, July 27, 1786. To Mrs. Hannah Hinch. (this was just 3 weeks after Hannah's husband, Capt John Hinch, drowned in the salt well. )

Note from Annie Christian to Hannah Hinch July 27, 1786.

Transcription of back of note: R'cd 30th July 1786 of the within order Eight Bushels and four quarts of salt of the within order by me. Daniel Workman.

Receipt of goods, signed by Daniel Workman

“The presence of Hannah Hinch in the salt storeroom, carefully weighing and measuring out wages in bushels of salt, most likely created a far more lasting impression on the saltworkers than the distant contractual owner of Bullitt’s Lick. Such a physical presence gave Hannah Hinch a real form of economic power. Although denied the legal and political benefits of ownership, Hannah controlled the wages of male saltworkers.”  (pg 63, “Home Rule” by Honor Sachs)

In closing, I feel so very fortunate to have found this book and the information it contains. So many times, information like this goes either undiscovered or simply discarded as inconsequential. So even if Hannah might not turn out not to be my 5x great-grandmother, I feel so very fortunate to know a little of her story. (But I'm pretty sure she is!)

Addendum: Salt production: Around 1775 in Kentucky, salt was “made” by boiling the salty water from a salt lick in a large (like 30 gallon) kettle over an open flame for many hours, until the water was evaporated, leaving behind salt crystals. It took approximately 40 or more gallons of water to produce one bushel of salt, but this depended on the salt content of the water. This process was enhanced and enlarged over the next 10 years or so. Trenches were dug, fires built, and kettles were suspended over the fires. It was hot, back-breaking, long hours, and dangerous work. The saltworks at Bullitt’s Lick operation was eventually enclosed by a fort to protect both the operation and the workers. This fort was referred to as Saltsburg. 

Bullitt county area circled - this map from 1780 - only 3 counties then.