Massachusetts. Office of the Secretary of State

St 1832, c 166 authorized county commissioners in Massachusetts to grant liquor licenses to innholders and retailers. St 1852, c 322 (revised by St 1855, c 215) established state-wide prohibition, forbidding the sale of all liquor except for medicinal, chemical, or mechanical purposes. This was changed by St 1868, c 141, passed in April of that year, which authorized county commissioners (in Suffolk County specially-elected license commissioners) to issue licenses for the sale of liquor in their respective counties. Commissioners were required by the act to issue bimonthly returns to the state secretary, indicating name, residence, type of license issued and fee paid. St 1869, c 191 (Apr. 24) repealed such licensing. St 1869, c 415 (June 19) again severely limited liquor sales, but St 1875, c 99 reinstated the sale of liquor and the license system, with responsibility for issuing licenses given to municipal authorities.

From the description of Returns of liquor licenses granted, 1868-1869. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 169983049

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