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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