USA > Connecticut > The trade of Revolutionary Connecticut > Part 5
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Bacon, pp, 300-500.
30 "pulkin, Norwich, py: 343-345. Chastellux, p. 28.
Isid., pp. 347-148.
61 very good bridge vao nosded. A lettery to raise 230OD was 1 """".Theiterrain in the vicinity of Norwich is out up by streams-to that the development of bridge facilities there affords a good case'study,mert Apparently. the' first bridge there was built sver the Shetucket River about 1717: ¥ In' 1727-a freshet/damaged it so badly thet the fellering? Fear a'new bridge was raised which was 250 feet long and 20 feet high! In 1764 a new ens was constructed noar Captain Lathrop's home;Rly tes' ever Hear the mouth of the Shetucke's River ansthoz bridge was erected ! ">ly in 1737, but it soon became wasafo. In 1751 a lottery was granted by the general assembly: but in 1762, unluckily, the improved bridge was swept away. Undaunted, the temspeople completed the so-called
Leffingrell wooden bridge on June 20, 1764, a structure 120 foot long and 28 feet above water. Heavy fleeds in 1777 seriously damaged the bridge.
to rest ric ".6.
The economic importance of this bridge is well illustrated in the
'el & Portalzrtly
1 - petition of Norwich and Preston in May, 1778. The bridge over the
4 Shetucket River was old and deorepit whereby travel was hindered. : 42 x1 4. ex post-riley €a Furthermore, "the market' and trade from the eastern States and the eastern parts of this State to said Forwich Landing very considerable - + sad has in time past been hampered with a tall bridge of private property and now by a dangerous ferry to the great dasage of the public .... ".
Sinoo the river was wide, deep, And rapid in current, subject to severo
6. Chastellux, p. 89. In 1737 How Milford had erected the first bridge coress the Housetonio, which served until it was destroyed in the flood of 1802. See Chard P. Smith, The Housatonio (New York, 1946), P. 92.
"Calkins,' Merwich, pp. 343-346.
Ibid. pp. 347-348. . .
fleeds, a very good bridge was needed, A lettery to raise 65000 was requested to build a-"firm and durable cart .bridge." . The petition wascr granted, a Various obstacles developed, however, including:a disagreement over the location. . As a result the bridge was not built until 1784; .. c. land Gas the whole, forrige: provided. revenue for the towne, but bridges drained it away. While many bridges were originally set up by a small group of man who collected tolle for a few years, thetown. usually took .: 65 ever sentrel fairly quickly .. .. Upkeep was expensive, and floods frequently 66 damaged or swept away. bridges. can the : - Ive ta unchat Franklin as Deverty Portar-Coursl. 72 Although Franklin Sad offroted groet improvements since his ap winsten An Uncertain Postal Stand to use onlythe faults in the pastal romi ...
The beginnings of pestal service in Connecticut aro obscure. M is known that in 1674 the legislature enacted a law giving allowances :ratford i. d eerved to post riders. 7 By 1702 same kind of regalar intercelonial postal LITIOAST VANTA. - service was operating as the Boston News Letter described a fortnightly service from Boston to Saybrook, and a separate route from Boston to
Fartferd, both of which routes corsoted with the New York post-rider.
. .
ʻ £5
.
In 1710 Parliament passed the first comprehensive mousuro covering
the British postal system, and it remained the basic law for over a century .. A postmaster-general was placed at the head, while deputies
P.s. R. II, 40-50.
n lethar of Mitchell, pp. 14-16.
65 geo po.40
.
., 1774 *nđ C. R. II, 242.
-
61.
were appointed for America and other distant aroas 69
1 .. Ratos weren vu established according to weight of the letter and: distance carriediaz Far example, a."single". sheet letter under ens ounce weight: cost nino penco from:How York to : How Londen. 70 The general rate for one hundred miles of land esavoyance ranged from six pence to two shillings per letter, according to weight. 71 postal herety at Now Lavec, told ricia; that tha . post-In December, 1772 Hugh Finlay was appointed Surveyer of Post"Offices and-Post .Read's In America. "He was sent to America for in inspection tour, and probably, in addition, to"open the drive to unseat Franklin as Deputy Postmaster-General.14: Although Franklin had effected great improvements since his"appointment'in 1753, Finley was disposed to nly the faults iat'the postal service. ing against the miriwe Munofficial" packager riscoFinlay's port ca postal service along the lower post road was nost enlightening. He discovered that Ebeneser Hard of Stratford had corted forty-six years:" Although hard claimed that he rode only for his bring health's sake, it was common knarledge that he had mede a fortino fromat his riding. He was noted for his willingness to undertake every kind of commission besides his official-ene, which had a very detrimental effeet upon his promptsoss.75:i- way, and provided :pragiinr and sler
William Smith, History.of the Fost-Offies in British Amrice (New York, 1920), p. 19.
Carried by prixet arrangement Lettera friends, since the cated postage. 70 Finlay. p. xv. The cost for the same distance for a letter of one cunos or over was tuo shillings. 4
Ibid., P. xvi. -2 .. 25. 34-25.
72 Ibid., p. xxiiif. Franklin was dismissed en January 31, 1774 and Finlay auog odod hima.
3
-806, 40-11, 45,
alr.It is not difficult to understand such, conduet, however, when moto ezamines.the bad conditions and low pay involved in the work. Benjamin Mumford, : for example,.rode the rough sixty-mile route from Saybrook to Newport which included five ferries and some, of the worst road.in Americas and for this he received only $65 yearly. IE e chaise orfiind 74 a carChristopher Kilby, postal deputy.at New Haven, told Finlay that the post-riders came into New Haven loaded dom with all sorts of boxes." packages, canisters, ste. Sometimes they fastened letters to packages, d and then claimed the postage as their own! When Kilby protested, they told him "that the Devil might ride for them if these way letters and packets were to be taken from them."15 The official letters ofterswere tara to picoss by rubbing against the various "unofficial" packages plaood in the, some bage !in ver the Erceral seroxly es'al formally to s .: . While Finlay was near New Haven, he was asked whether be bod nos ... Set the Fest driving some oxen," since that worthy had agreed to bring come with himl, Little wonder ,that the riders usually were lates er that. Finlay szolaimed, "an ass could travel fasteri. ,, ! BartPord er-ry
Ent: : Finley's general conclusion was that the post-riders dofrented. the Government in every possible way, and provided irregular and slow service.70
:Throughout the late colonial period a large proportion of mail, was .. "! carried by private arrangement between friends, since this saved postage. When Franklin was dismissed from his office in 1774, the American people
Ibid., pp. 34-35.
4
first
7 Ibid .. pp. 88, 40-41, 68. 2- Misfire County (Norte
*4), 11, 76.
M. 117, 918-41 ª>
€63.
almost osssed to use the official postal service and relied upon privato, moans;insteadi! "June, 1776 was directed to hire a suitable person to rice rest: Moatipeople, traveled en horseback as there were no carriages in Connecticut: until.about. 1750, and few until after. 1783. aGovernoFidanse Trumbull's visit to Norwich during the Bovolution in a. chaise created a sensation.as: people flecked to seethe vehicle. o., Conweticus ts Trovi In June, 1772 the first stage-ceach line was established between Boston: and New York, by Jonathan and Nicholas Brown and its route included Hartford .... It offered fertinightly service, at &d. per, milo, but the stage Was mapended when war broke cut .?? In the summer of 1768 a weekly,chos stage-sonoh began ruming from Providence to Harwich, which helped .; ir .~~ business in Plainfio14.80
6 renk of the War the general assembly acted formally to est un en intra-Connecticut mail service. : In April, 1775 Thaddons, Burr. .. of Fairfield end Charles Chandler of Weedstook were appointed a committee to engage tre zews-carriers to go over a rente fran Fairfield to Weedsteok and back on a schedule which would put the riders in Fartferd, every : Saturday ... Also, Garden Saltemstall ef low Londen was to hire two mon to carry mail from Woodstock to New Haven and vice versa to bo. in New Lenden en Saturdays. Tho three mon mentioned could forward any
- "extraordinary and important intelligence" at any time at publio-expense. 81 4
Smith, p. 25, Finlay, p. xviii.
Dunbar,, p.' 4026-53 .
. " Jenkins, pp. 22, 24. Although private coaches and chaises made the trip earlier, Jenkins feels certain that this date marks that of the first ' publis conveyance between the two towns. Ibid., pp. 22-23, fta.
Ellen D. Larned, History of Windham County (Worcester, 1874), II, 76. 81c. R. XIV, 416-417.
.
This arrangement was continued by later sessions of the general assembly. 82 The Governor in hme, 1776 was directed to hire a suitable person to ride
* : post to Albany regularly for a year.
The matter . of interstate communication was: tackled, at theProvidence Convention of December,:1776.". The general assembly voted to carry out . the - restauradatiens. fer .a weekly service from Lebezen, Commestimutito Providenso, 84 take it was eurterry, fest prier to the Herelution, for nost Various new postal services operated. in different parts of the Ståto uder stimulus of the War. For example, Joseph Roet advertised. in the Courant : in' Juno,: 1778/ that he would ride, pestrfor the town of. Farmington via Southington, 'How-Britain, Salmon Brock, Simsbury; and Winchester into New York State. : These with friends' in General 'Farsens' brigade wóro urged, to, tako heed, 85 Prayer first among the e artes, and was a.oma.
oy There were attempts by the Continental Congress to Ligróre the poste, brit with indifferent 'success." Standards were set up which were rarely adhered to; and. generally the posts were very' irregular everywhere" 'Vory eften the Army used its own officers to ride express. 86
1
;Also, speciale couriers were frequently employed bethiby the State Government and byl the Continental Congress for speedier handling of vital commmications.
Whent was a much less important staple lo Toansatlout slere it was
C. R. XV. 38-39, 143.
C. R. XV. 443.
weil and john I. Falcerer, History of Agriculture in the IFulleo (Ruzkington, 1925), p. 8 .- 4
S. R.iI, 1333 598. #~ireland and Sex-Verk {Ser Laven, 1421). I, 109. 85 C. C., June 16, 1778. ef woil and Fracerar, p, 101; Dright, 1, 108.
3 Bayles, loo. cit., p. 458. Sidwell and Fal: w.or, p. $3. 1
.
Middlesex County where whe .CHAPTER Worincipal crop, the "leazimu fly" attached it in 17/7, in that wary little why grown after that date. The Agricultural Basis of Connecticut's Economy insidered aversare, which vás his:Agriculture-formed the backbone of Commestiout's econmy throughout. the colonial period. ".Undoubtedly, well ever ninety por cent of thethe physically-sble male;adults, engaged in this oooupations.in fact,loren: in the larger, towns it was enstomary, just prior to the Revolution,' for most:men toidoet least part-time farming. : To:en.important extant most of the chief. merchanta ef; the Geleny "grew their own" for local, intercolonial, and foreign:trade. : It is, therefore, rusofal: to czamine briefly some of the chief. aspects of. Commooticut's agriculture ... Hurtels >: . Coansotiout husbandmen raised a large variety of crops of which maizes:or Indian; corn, renked first among the staples, and was gresa: 1 on by mearly everybody. . . Timothy Dright described no less than ton differous kinds of. opra grewa in the Ney, England area. . Upon fairly good-soil, twenty to twenty-five bushels were obtained, with twice as much the raro maxizon. 1
Connecticut's crop.rmn ce'd 'shore the
4 . averago, although it is doubtful that its yield per aore equalled that >
the "Pennsylvania Dutch" farmers.2wight, 1, 108.
Wagat was a much less important staple in Connecticut since it was
plagued by the black stem rust throughout the Colony." In (the future)
-
"Perey Bidwell and Jeim I. Falconer, History of Agriculture in the Korthera I od Staten, 10:0-1800 (Washington, 1925). 19, 08-913
Timothy Dalg in Los anglend and How-York (Bow Haven, 1822), I, 103.
CAnd, Moree Cociares
2
215. Deigat
and Falo 101/ 0 1ght, I, Mertren arese, 1, -
Bidve11 And Falcone
-
..
of
-
11
Middlesex County where wheat was the principal drop, the "lessind fly" 12
attacked 'ie in 1777, so that very little was grom after that deto," A yield of fiftesa musbels per sore was considered average, which via" higher than in New York and the Middle Colonies. "" Morse slatmod that the best wheat innda in consotions produced trios as grost'a yield as the best in Hot Tork.9 "Ir true, this condition probably was dis te better 15 methods rather than to superier set1. "the chief whose-growing soottên tài visitela county in which tho torna et Patitiold, Redding, Borakik, wilton,and Woston hold a predeidinmit position. 7.ach ac antess. 16
Among other grains cultivated wire rye, barley mód ents, Bearlyenis! Grery farmer grow rjo which usually averaged about ton to fittoon binhold por"sore. " Barley and osts generally yieldod very poorly.9 «sture of ETEL de growing importance in the eighteenth century was the cultivation of flax. "It was raised both for the fiber and for gesd, part of the soo being exported to Drops. 10. Fairfield county was noted fer Mat orier.
A ....... David D. Field, Statistical County of Middlesez, (Middleton, 1819), p. 14; Lwiçat,
, ?
Bidwell and Palconer, p. 101; Dright, I, 100.
01
P 215.
D.H. Hurd, History of Fairfield County (Philadelphia, 1881), p. 818.
47 : a .Å ? .. Y.OM", pr. 33-95.
Bidwell, and Falsoner, p. 101. 15
E usedry, I, p. 53. On the other hand, Norse declares
that
thered "heavy and good yield, p. 215. bright saya that had los s weight and valne than in more northern areas, 1, 40 ..
1021/0011 and Fuleonor, p. 99
ISTrumbull, pp. 10-20,
-
productien 11 er although around New Haven, also, it was raised in large
12 quantities, * to expert to ingland, he tried to Interest the farmera in
vegetables were grown in Connsotiout. Beans seem to haya been among the most important as they are mentioned in the 1774 reply to the Board of Trade;t. but peas were declining due to insect onomie 14
15 Potatess, turnips, and pumpkina were important also.
Wethersfield specialized in enion production which proved very profitable. It Fos considered import ant enough, by the general assembly to result in a till in May, 1775 setting the minimum weight fer a bunch of onions. rrr !__ te 16 fr: 1-Many kinds of fruit were. grown in Commecticut throughout the colcaial ra, but anly apples were much appreciated. The popularity of brandy and oider empleined the latter! During the Revolution the manufacture of brandy inorgesed rapidly, especially in Hartford County.17 An amazing variety of wild fruit could be found in the Colony fres its carliest, days. Wild cherries, plums, currents, grapes, strawberries, douberries,
whertleberries, raspberries, mulberries, blueberries, and cranberries
3- 2954 ed.), pr. 15-1
ver .
4
Dwight, III, 519.
12 Thomas 2. Trowbridge, History of the Ancient Maritime Interests of New Haven, in New Haven Historical Seoisty kapers, III, 115.
.. 17:, 404-025. c. R. ITV, 499.
Bidwell and Falconer, pp, 98-99.
York, i * ), p. 32. 1ºC. R. XIX, 8 .
-
17 L'olsen, P.
Trumbull, pp 19-30.
tobscAs a, of. Jared Miet's empaign to find a staple erop forrea. Commestiout to expert to England, he tried to interest the farmers in hopegreving. 19 Although houp nover, becas a staple, Eliot'a effortaszer did result in. a gradonl increase.20. rows and traders to tobacco 1 . Silk-culture also was attempted-with indifferent suoooss. Official encouragement was given by a Jaw of 1734 which offered bounties on sowing milk, silk stockings, and silk stuffs. 21 Turo men deserve chief credit for establishing silk-culture in Connecticut-Dr. Esra Stiles of Bey. ... Haven, and, Dr. Zathaniel Aspimall of Mansfield who launched experiments in 1758 and 1760 respectively. 22 The latter's. experimenta caused 4590 Mansfield to take the lead. Silk-raising and manufacturing were chocked . by the Revolution.",. In any case, the high price of labor stood. as.A. -¿ decisive obstacle to large-scale development ..... ), berorer, celacon Tobacco ranks as one of Connecticut's oldest crops, for there is
eridanoe that it was raised at Windser as early as 1640. 25 By 1700
1 Jared Eliot, Essays Toen Field Husbandry in New England (New York, 1954 ed. ), pp. 15-17, 58-89, 100-10 Eliot gives a very thoughtful "' discussion of the need for a staple, of the fino possibilities for hesp. end of his own success in growing it.
20 msen, pp. 18-16. 1.1-
% c. R. VII, 494-495. 1 : 1.,
1
22 J. L., Bishop, History of American Manufactures from 1603 to 2860 (Philadelphia; 1864), 1, 361. .. . ----- - . 4
23 William C. Nyekeff, Silk Manufacture in the United States (Now York, 1883), p. 32.
24 . Bishop, p. 101. 4
-
Adrima F., MoDonald, History of ce Produotien in Comnostiout
(Publications of the Teroentenary C Corsostiout, No. 62), p. 2.
2
tobacco lenf was being raised for export, mostly Prom tha Windsor atóa.t Already farmers had discovered that the Comootiout River Valley was- peculiarly well suited to the cultivation of tobacco:26:"Captain Ebenezer Grant of Windsor"became one of the largest growers and traders in tobacco in the 1714-1767 period.27 For example, Captain John Elleworth of **** Windsor'sold Captain Grint 28,110 pounds in the porfod of November 16-24, 1152:28,34
-
The production of tobaboo had ittainod enough importando by 1763 to. dans the general assembly to ennot a ler to regulate ouring and packing of tobacco. In each tobacod town two surveyors and packers of toboso were to be chosen. Rigorous standarde were to be uphold under severo penalties and the owners were'to shoulder the cost'of packing and branding the casks." Just prior to the Revolution (1750-1775), however, tobloco production declined due to the French and Indian War and competition from
Aroma into a trend of great significance in Connecticut's ,33 agricultural history developed." this trend consisted of a marked increase in tracing and a decrease in tillage of the soll. ... . while,
sprin, mid summer for maje in the fall. The ahist gra las tonw ley 's .
25 "NeDonald; ps/4finan ens Litchfield Counties, Flus Stenigten
in Tr&Thenim County. 34 Large amounts of butter end cheoss were exported mid., pp. 4-6.
when Needed Counties to the new states and the Fort 25 John A. Stoughton, A Corner Stone of Colonial Commerce (Boston, 1911)}.p. 31.
.. C. R. X. 202-203.
WieDonald, pp. . 5-6.
31 gison; pp: 4-8:
BeBidwall and zalommer, p. 10s.
70.
Raising of livestock more and more occupied the time of Commeobiout husbanduma, with cattle, horses, shoop, and hogs.being raised in large. numbers.":"Connecticut pork" comprised meat of that produced in Noneed England, and it was noted for high quality. Plentiful mupplies of corn end muts (oak and boech) .helped fatten the pigs. The increasing market for wool stimulated sheep raising in the latter half of the eighteenth century .: Tron 50 :0 300 acres apieve, held in fes sirgia, 57 Perhane 100 :Encouraged by growing marmots in, other ,mainland colonies and abres Connecticut farmers concentrated more and more upon beef cattle, horses, and nules. ' As Jedidiah Morse described it: "The soil is very well calculated for pasturo and moving, which enables the farmers to feed largo rumbera of nest cattle and horses ..... Many farmers, in the eastern part of the atate, have lately found their advantage in raising mules, Which are. carr! d from the ports of, Werwich and New London, ,to the West India Islands, and yield a handsome profit. , The beef, pork, buttes .. . and cheese of Commesticut, are equal. to any in the world." -33 ve Two-year old animals were driven from New York and Vermont toto Litchfield County and elemwhere to be fattened up. through.a.winter, spring, and summer for sale in the-fall. The chief grasing tone lay in thechilly regions jef Windham and Lit
hfield Counties, plus Stoningtonnd
L mounts of butter and. cheese wera.exported in-New London-County. 34
from Windhan and Litchfield Counties to the southern states and the West Indios. 35 ren, p. CiJ.
. 115-114.
Told., per Serving blind careless treatment of the land, and quick Connecticut faring was teteslly much more
p. 215. : what of the wer with, but is definitely way
Thomas J. Wor Olson, pp. 4-8 .-- *** (New York, 1927), p. 59.
40 .. wait and Pricener, pr. 79-30,
35 Bidwell and Falemner, p. 109.
edeq The increase in grazing was aided by a. larger use of artificial grasses during the gaps between grain erops." The old natural pasturags in meadows and weeds was becoming exhausted so that now souros et feodry for livestock was valuable. The use of timothy, rod elever and otherrt, English grasses was noteworthy.56. illago, 21,4 por cont in Fuglen! nozing And : How large was" the average Connecticut farm ?. According to Horse, they ran from 50 to: 300 acres apiece, held in foo simple. . Perhaps": " 100 to: 200 aores could be taken as a rough average. "Actually, the acreage under cultivation was-too large in terms of equipment and labor !!!! .. 38 available,28 krivproved,
The methods employed by Connectiout farmers deserve attention. Generally, they could be classified as primitive, wasteful; and.for. unprofitable."' This was a society in which"extensive farming, or the': s application of relatively small amounts of labor to large areas of land,
was' the" rule,59 and in which there was often little effort to produce a largo surplu's boostse for most of the farmers the markets, if any, were very difficult to reach." The farmers-hauled their surplus produce to market in little two-wheeled carta, or in sleds during the wizbesterx sleighing: season, ". Most of the more enterprising farmers were'!"
omnesatrated in river or constal' towns-the only places where cheap and
.
Ibid., pp. 102, 104.
to one to two meros, The hatred time was pulled
STMorse, p. 218.
mal sowas, Ad went heil for preparing the sail, entering tarde, 38 Bidwell and Falconer, pp. 115-116. .
Extensive farming implies careless treatment of the land, and quick destruction of its fertility: " Connecticut farming was actually much more intensive and careful than that of the upper Seuth, but it definitely was extensive as compared with contemporary European methods. Thomas J. Wortenbaker,: The First americans (New York, 1927), p. 59.
Bidwell and Falconer, pp: 78-00 .; ,
12.
adequete transportation facilities were available. A.izal in New England,. 41 but Only a small proportion of each farm was actually cultivated. A . tablo of land utilization for 1796 indicated a situation undoubtedly very similarin the 1770's."; Out of the total of taxable land in 'Comsotiout, enly: 12.8 per cent was in active tillage, 21.4 per cent in "upland mowing and .clear pasture,", 6.2 per cent in pasture, 29.1 per cent in brush hard, pasture, and. 30.5 per cent in unsnelseed lands. Hartford and Fairfiel da Counties had larger proportiona .of.cultivated land due to accessibleird markets and :better, soil .. For the state as a whole, about two-thirds of the land was unimprevedi. t); 2 . > :<. Lack of good implements 'greatly hampered the farmer. In 1770 ho mostly used the same crude tools of the piamer settlers of a century and a half earlier. . Wheat and other grains were commonly renped with sickle, while grass was out with a soythe. One-half to three-quarters aore per day was the normal stint of a busy reaper or mewer. The grain 1. usually was threshed with a flail and wirnewed by throwing it against the wind and running it through with sieves.13; at 23 Mars i.c. in cingn.s4 The tools generally were heavy and clumsy. ' Most of the woodwork
was made at home, and the iron parts were fastened by the villageerth blacksmith. The plows, wooden with poor iron plating, were badly
designed and-inefficient so that-they merely-seratehod the surface,-And it took two men a day to do one to two aores. The harrow also was pulled 4
by animal power, and used heavily for preparing the soil, covering soods,
Charles M. Andrews, Connecticut's Place in Colonial History (Now Haven, 1024), pp. 20-21.
2. Bidwell and Falconer, pp. 119-120.
3 Suscription applied to itheds af
idwell and Falooper, pp. 125-126 .. cortary, The meti ous of the
73.
and weeding. oorn. as the chief working animal in Her Ingland;l but uss of horses was in the increase. 45) Jarsi Wios, the cher amib. lis % From start to finish' the routine made for meager crops." The wood used was generally very poor, and no selectiva processifor improvement was usea.46. Often' the planting was done by how without- any plowing at all .* * Sesda yo, whoat, and other grains eftsh were raked in by: hand, er sozatohod in by harrow. $7; More often' than not ;; no manure was used in preparing the soil." Fields often were allowed to lie fallow every third your, but this was a poor answer to the soil exhaustion problem .!! Tat: animal husbandry, likewise, careless methods, including common ranges, entirød posr serum In. font, there hardly vas
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