Charles Robbins will be the guest speaker at the Historical Society of Harford County's first 2015 lecture and tea, speaking about "The Sotweed Factor: Tobacco in Colonial Maryland," on Saturday, March 21.
Robbins will speak at 2 p.m. at the society's headquarters building at 143 N. Main St. in Bel Air, the former post office.
Currency as a means of trade was very limited in the Colonial period, so other means of payment were necessary. The most lucrative product available was tobacco, which would become a form of payment.
Robbins will describe the Colonial economy; the challenges involved in farming the tobacco crop and its effect on the topography as well as the effects that dependence on the crop had upon relations with Great Britain.
Retired from Harford County Public Schools, Robbins is an entertaining and informative speaker, as well as the author of a personal history of growing up in Bel Air. He is also one of Harford County's foremost authorities on old property deeds.
Robbins' talk will be accompanied by tea hosted the volunteers of the Historical Society. Tickets for the tea are $10 per person. The lecture only is free to the public.
Reservations are requested. Call 410-838-7691 for reservations or more information. Free parking is available at the rear of the building, which is handicapped accessible.