Althought I can't answer WHY some people continued to use the British system of money, in the 1819-1872 records of a local school district in Niagara Co., that I transcribed, in 1841, 1843 and 1847, it was recorded that the price per cord of wood needed for the schoolhouse was 12 shillings (written as "12/"). Before and after that, the amount of money was written in dollars and cents. My only conclusion is that the "oldtimers" continued to think and/or deal in those terms. Vee Housman Trustee, Town of Porter Historical Society Youngstown, NY Burrows wrote: > > Can anyone out there provide any information on when New Yorkers stopped > using the British system of pounds, shilling, and pence? In 1797 the state > legislature officially endorsed the decimal dollar system established by > Congress in the 1792 Coinage Act, but I seem to recall that some people > continued to use the British system as late as the 1820s. I have no > idea why, however. > > Ted Burrows > Department of History > Brooklyn College