Daily AncestorInnholder
An innholder kept an inn, giving travelers lodging, meals and stabling; it is an older word for innkeeper often seen in colonial records.
Inns sat on main roads and in town centers, and the innholder often needed a license from the town or county court to sell drink. Inns also served as meeting places for courts, militia and town business.
The innholder was often a respected figure. Look for license petitions and town meeting records, which can name the innholder and the building.
As seen in a recordColonial deeds, probate and court records
Eben. Willard, innholder, of Lancaster
Sources
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Innholder." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/occupations/innholder. Last checked 2026-10-01.