Most of our colonists lives depended on farming for their livelihood.They cleared forests and mined the soil. Once they had exhausted the resources, they moved to new land. The family was the jack-of-all-trades. They ate, lived in, and wore only what they grew or made. Due to this, only rudimentary homemade tools were used. Plows were scarce. If someone had a plow, they would usually do the plowing for all their neighbors, too. What the family grew or made and did not use was sold or traded in the town. Shipping goods to other colonies was very expensive, so it was reserved for larger farms.












Large families were common and necessary in colonial days. Everyone was needed to get all the work done. The father was considered the head of the family. He made all of the family decisions and earned a living by farming and other crafts such as blacksmithing. Women worked in the home raising children, preparing meals, making clothes, preserving food for winter, fetching water and scrubbing clothes. They made their own candles, soaps, and most other basic items. None of this was easy and often done without the proper tools. Much of their dawn to dusk work was merely for day to day survival.