Root Beer (1840)

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   OED and Merriam-Webster both have 1843 for "root beer," a good old American drink.  LITERATURE ONLINE (prose database) has 1843, 1844, and 1845 hits.

   August 1842, AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST (American Periodical Series online), "SUMMER DRINKS," pg. 143, col. 2:
   Light beers, as ginger beer, mild hop and root beer, are economically made, palatable, not injurious, and within every one's reach.

   "Root beer" on New York CIty's Spring Street?  This is from ACCESSIBLE ARCHIVES:


ITEM #15171
July 4, 1840
THE COLORED AMERICAN
New York, New York

J.B. BROWN & S.L. WOOD

CONFECTIONARY & Fruit Store, No. 99 Spring street, corner of Mercer street. Mead, Root-Beer, Ice-Cream, Preserves, &c.,
Families supplied with all articles in their line. N.B. The Store is closed on Sunday.