A Colonial Merchant: The Ledger of William Ramsay

Alexandria, VA 1753-1756

Artifact: Ginger Root

Ginger (Root)

Materials: Ginger Root

Dimensions:

Date:

Origin:

Collection: Lucyin via WikiMedia Commons

License: CC BY-SA 4.0

Ledger Entry: Ginger (Root)

Ginger (Root)

Department: Grocery

Customer: Vorlinda Wade

Ledger Page: 125

Imported From: Ginger came from South Asia when William Ramsay sold it in his shop.

Product Description

Ginger was frequently used as an ingredient for cakes and was especially associated with the cookie that it gave its name to, gingerbread. It was also used in pickling.

Citation: Katharine E. Harbury, Colonial Virginia's Cooking Dynasty (Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 2004); Andrew F. Smith, ed., The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink (New York: Oxford University Press, 2007)

Historical Price: 7 pence per 1/2 lb.; Modern USD: $6.54

Product Variations

The databases record seven purchases of ginger. There were no qualifiers used to indicate different types or qualities. Ginger was sold in increments from half of a pound to two pounds. In price, these ranged from seven pence for half a pound to ten pence for two pounds.