SALT LISTS
Resource Book: Georgia Salt Lists by Sherry Harris, (1993)
(Also available at GA Archives; LDS microfilm SL#1,704,744)
Around the time of the Civil War, salt was a necessity for curing
meat
(since there was no refrigeration) This was important not only
for
individual families, but for their abilities to sell their meat.
Their farm
animals (as well as the CSA ones) needed salt to survive. It was
used as
well in setting dyes and in curing leather for shoes. Most of
the salt had
previously come from Europe and with the war blockade, salt had
to be found
in: 1) salt springs 2)mines of rock salt Gov. Brown offered $5,000
reward
for the discovery of salt springs that could produce 300 bushels
daily. To
assure a just distribution of the valuable salt, Gov. Brown instructed
the
Justices of the Inferior Courts of each county to create lists
of those
eligible (these men also had to advance the $ to pay for it!)
Distribution
was by 1/2 bushel to:
Widows of soldiers (free)
Families of serving soldiers & widowed mother of soldier ($1)
Heads of families ($4.50)
Careful use of the lists may reveal the change of status from
wife to widow.
Lists are arranged alphabetical by county; then by category of
need. They
contain name of woman, county of residence.