There were in Boston at different times several ordinaries and taverns known as the King's Arms. One of the earliest ones stood at the head of Dock Square. In 1651 one Hugh Gunnison, vintner, and his wife, sold this house, known by the sign of the King's Arms, with its furniture and appurtenances, for the sum of £600 sterling, a goodly sum for the day. An inventory of the "p'ticular goods and household stuffe" still exists, and is of much interest not only as indicating the furnishings of a house of that character in that colony at that date, but showing also the naming of the chambers, as in the English inns of Shakespeare's day.
"In the chamber called the Exchange one halfe bedstead with blew pillows, one livery Cupbord coloured blue, one long table, benches, two formes and one carved chaire.
"In the Kitchen three formes dressers shelves.
"In the Larder one square Table banisters dressers & shelves round.
"In the Hall, three Small Roomes with tables and benches in them, one table about six foote long in the Hall and one bench.
"In the low parlor one bedstead one table and benches two formes, one small frame of a form and shelves, one Closet with shelves.
"In the room Vnder the closet one child's bedsted.
"In the Chamber called London, one bedsted two benches.
"In the Chamber over London one bedsted one crosse table one forme one bench.
"In the Closet next the Exchange, shelves.
"In the barr by the hall, three shelves, the frame of a low stoole.
"In the vpper p'lor one bedsted two chaires one table one forme bench and shelves.
"In the Nursery one Crosse Table with shelvs.
"In the Court Chamber one Long table three formes one livery cupbord, & benches.
"In the closet within the Court chamber one bedsted and shelvs.
"In the Starr chamber one long table, one bedsted, one livery Cupbord one chaire three formes with benches.
"In the Garret over the Court chamber one bedsted one table two formes.
"In the garret over the closet in the Court chamber one bedsted one smale forme.
"In the foure garrett chambers over the Starr chamber three bedsteds four tables with benches.
"In the brewhouse one Cop', twoe fatts, one vnder back, one vpper back, one kneading trough one dresser one brake.
"In the yarde one pumpe, pipes to convey the water to the brew house, fyve hogg styes, one house of office.
