I made this friday from the same log that I have been using which was cut about 1819 and counting the tree rings it was an acorn in 1667. This is a nice large-size tankard. I have not treated the inside for use. It will need to be lined in epoxy or beeswax or something for it to be used to drink. The last two photos are the house as it was when I first visited in 2014 (it's much worse now) and back in the 1920s when it was still lived in. The owners moved out in the 1940s because there was no access to the property and they were having to use a row boat to cross the river because the old road washed out. I worked for years to save the property because it has a nice history and though it was not saveable (7 of the 9 heirs were onboard with the project and two we could find no way to contact whatsoever) I have permission to salvage what I want and in that way the house will keep living for a long time in bits and pieces. The people who built the house in the late 1810s and early 20s were James and Samuel Merry who bought 340 acres on the Jackson River in Alleghany County VA and they took the land and divided it into lots and created the Town of Covington (1822). This building is out in the country and had slaves working the farm. The Merrys had probably the coolest economic system I have ever heard of. They would cut down the virgin forest and saw the boards on site then build batteau boats and fill it with other merchandise and send it down the Jackson and James River to Richmond where they would sell the goods and sell the lumber (There are buildings called batteau houses that you can tell were boats based on the holes, etc) and then catch a wagon ride home and do it again. Thought you all might enjoy a bit more background. I would sell this tankard for $50 it being the larger size, plus shipping. I have a lot more pictures I can add of the old house if you want to see more.
