Receipts of Contributions, Smith’s Wharf, 1832 March 20

Until 1865, any losses that could not be paid comfortably from the surplus were met by levying a contribution on the Society’s membership. The small, frequent contributions of the Society’s early days are documented in the first two volumes, covering the years 1794-1832. Beginning in 1822, a distinct contribution book and accompanying receipt book were created for each contribution levied as the result of a larger loss. By 1832, the Society’s surplus was such that contributions were levied only in the event of such larger losses, at which point smaller losses incurred since the previous contribution would also be accounted for. The last was levied in 1859, and in 1891 the Society’s charter was amended to disallow the levying of contributions.