The years used refer to the year on the article or advertisement where I found the information. When the information is taken from the annual lists of licenses granted
it’s important to note that (from 1854) the licenses are granted for the following year. So, a notice that appears in the annual list in December 1857 is for a license for January-December 1858. Prior to 1854, the annual licenses were granted in September and the last few months of the year. (Licenses were also granted at quarterly meetings, when there was a change of ownership mid-year.)