Castle Duty

Point Comfort, Virginia

Every vessel arriving in the colony was compelled to show a cocquet upon pain of confiscation. It also had to pay certain duties imposed by law. This was known as "castle duty", which was established in 1631 at the time that Point Comfort was being erected.  This tax consisted of one barrel of powder and ten iron shot.  When the fort was completed, the provision was renewed as to the amount of powder and shot to be delivered by every ship upon its arrival.  Three years later, the duty was placed at 50 pds. of powder for every vessel.

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