Bruce, the prolific writer and authority on 17th Century VA uses the terms "rolling house" and "warehouse" synonymously, and describes the activities and Crown appointed record and tax rolls keepers of those designated locations in considerable and interesting detail in Philip Bruce, "Economic History of VA in the 17th-Century" (McMillan & Co., 1896), vol. i, pp. 440 et seq.    

Incidentally, "rolling" of the hogsheads (from 480 to 1000+ lbs.) by the use of an axle through the center pulled by animals  was not practiced until well into the 18th century, those having been moved prior to then by pushing such from the warehouses (located at rivers and seaports) to the boats by which transportation was accomplished.  Then too, and interestingly, the VA Council determined even the thickness (1/3") of the oak or hickory staves to used in the tobacco bbls. (and those to be of "well cured" wood) in order that such not collapse from the weight after leaving the govt. warehouses.  

So strictly was tobacco and its value regulated that any of that commodity yet found in the barns of planters after Dec. 31 was confiscated.  The licenses to build such warehouses were eagerly sought since those operations were very profitable, the keepers having been paid a sum for every hogshead there handled.      Paul Drake

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