The apothecary James Kennedy placed his first advertisement in the Alexandria Gazette in October 1799. In that year he offered a selection of "Drugs, Patent Medicines, Paints and Dye stuffs" imported from London on the schooner "Fanny." Like many of his peers, he sold goods "in exchange for cash or country produce, or to punctual customers on a short credit." The exchange of goods, or barter, was a common practice, as was the extension of credit.

Kennedy's "Medical Store" was located on the 200 block of Prince Street, between Forfeits and Water (now Lee) Streets.

Kennedy's earliest advertisements specific merchandise imported from London, and he later sold Americans products. In his last advertisement in 1819, Kennedy was identified as the sole Alexandria agent for Lee's medicine Store in New York.

Among his advertised good"...too tedious to enumerate," were London Mustard, Daffy's Elixir, toothbrushes, ink, oil, snuff and lotions. Containers for these were among numerous apothecary products found in archaeological excavations along King Street.

A variety of bottles for snuff and patent medicines. True Daffy’s Elixir, in the dark green bottle to the right, was manufactured in the late 18th and 19th century, for "the cure of the Gravel, Stone, Spasms, Pains in the Breast, the most excruciating fits of Cholic, and in all complaints of the stomach and Bowels." This product was widely counterfeited in the 19th century.

For more on Apothecaries, see Archaeologists" at Work: Excavations at the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop, or visit the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop Museum at 105 South Fairfax Street in Alexandria.