Daily AncestorOrdinary keeper
An ordinary keeper ran an ordinary, a colonial term for a tavern or inn that served meals at a fixed price.
In colonial America an ordinary was a licensed tavern that served a set meal at a set price and often offered lodging and drink. County courts licensed ordinary keepers and sometimes fixed their prices.
The term is common in Virginia and Maryland court records of the 1600s and 1700s. Later records use tavern keeper, innkeeper or hotel keeper for much the same business.
As seen in a recordColonial Virginia and Maryland county court orders
License granted to Jno. Blair to keep an ordinary at his house
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Daily Ancestor. "Ordinary keeper." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/occupations/ordinary-keeper. Last checked 2026-10-01.