The Backcountry Farmer because It wasn't all killing deer and fighting Indians

     Once again our image of the backcountry is going to be challenged. The rugged frontiersman hunting deer and stalking through the woods in search of Indians is still so prevalent and yet, what were most people doing? Well, in the 1770s, 85-90 percent of the population farmed to one degree or another. Thats a LOT of people working the land and so when we're thinking about our persona, the likelihood of everyone portraying a market hunter or a longhunter in the backwoods starts to feel a little niche. That's because it was. In the time period, you might have a job doing that for a while, but what do you do the rest of the time? What if you're a settler in the frontier of Virginia or what is now Kentucky or Tennessee? Is everyone in around the nearby station a market hunter? Who's doing the farming? 

    Well, to that end I'm going to start delving into the agricultural aspects of the 18th century as it was THE mode of life for most people in the 18th century. Clearing land, building a cabin, plowing up the dirt, putting in a crop and harvesting.     

    As we've already established the appearance of someone in the backcountry in previous posts there won't be a need for it here. But I wanted to look at what Cresswell had to say about farming, so I dove in and here's what I found. He places his very reason for coming to the Americas in the first place on farming. 

"From the best accounts I have been able to get, and from my own Idea of the country, I am sensible a person with a small fortune may live much better and make greater improvements in America than he can possibly do in England. Especially in the Farming way, as that is the business I have been brought up to. I have made it my study to enquire more particulars about it. The land I am told is good and the price is very low. Consequently Agriculture must be in its infant state. The Climate must be good on some part of the Continent, for it is all climates in extent."

Upon his arrival in Virginia, he is extremely critical of their farming practices. 

"The Land here is level, sandy and barren in general, except where it is mixed with Oyster shells which renders it very fertile. Agriculture is in a very poor state. In short, they know very little about farming. Tobacco and Indian corn is all they make and some little wheat. All done by Negroes. The Tobacco is all worked with Hoes, the Indian corn with Ploughs, but of a bad sort and without a Colter. The furrow they make is not more than two inches deep and does little more than kill the weeds. Land sells upon an average here, at about three Dollars pr. acre. (Thirteen shillings and Sixpence Sterling.)"

He later remarks on the expense of land and how much yield for crops and cattle breeding. 

"I am exceedingly pleased with these two Counties, and am determined to settle in one of them, if ever these times are settled. Here is every encouragement. Land is purchased at 30 shillings, this currency per acre, that is 26 shillings sterling. It will produce any sort of grain, the average of wheat is about 12 bushels to the acre, but it is not half ploughed and manure of any sort is never used. Meadows may be made with little trouble, and the range for stock is unlimited. Horses sell amazingly high, and fat cattle of all sorts. When lean are bought very cheap. The Farmers here are little acquainted with breeding cattle, indeed they are too lazy. Public taxes are very trifling. Little Tobacco is made in the Counties of Frederick and Barley."

Along the Ohio River he had this to say in August of 1775. 

"At Captn. Stephenson's. Instructed his people to make a stack of wheat. Farming in a poor uncultivated state here."

It isn't until he gets to Pennsylvania (an Kobuck will be very happy about this, not that I wish to encourage him) that he begins to have a more positive outlook. I'll throw in the comment about the Duke of Cumberland Tavern as to knock Kobucks illusions about the colony of Pennsylvania down a notch. 

" Lodged at The Sign of the Duke of Cumberland, the Landlord is a Scotch-Irish Rebel Colonial and his house is dirty as a Hog's stye. Land good in general. Farmers rich and industrious. Irish and Dutch inhabitants."

I also want to point out in this next one the positive outlook on a Dutchman. 

"Dined at The Cross Keys. Lodged at The Spread Eagle, a clean Dutchman's house. Land broken and hilly, but the Farmers seem rich, good stock, and their land well cultivated. Passed 5 companies going to camp."

As he is lamenting leaving the Country and the Rebellion that has begun, he details what he could have done as a farmer here in America. 

"I am well convinced that I could have lived much better and made more money, as a Farmer in this country, with five hundred pound, than I can in England, with two thousand. Agriculture is in such an infant state and the value of land so low that anyone with the least spark of industry might make what money they please. As a proof of it I will here subjoin a plan I formed to myself in the Spring 1775, as times were then..."

 He then goes on to give a list of things he would have needed and their cost to get a large scale farming operation up and running. 

Cost. --- Vir. Currency.

 To the purchase of 500 acres of land @ 40s. per --- £1000

 To 30 Breeding Mares £30 --- £900

 To one Stallion imported --- £100

 To 20 Cows and 10 Oxen @ £4 --- £120

 To 20 two-year-old Cattle @ 30/— --- £30

 To 30 Ewes and 20 Wethers @ 12/6 --- £30

 To 5 Men Servants and 2 Women @ £20/— --- £140

 To 20 Hogs at 10s/— --- £10

 To Poultry --- £2

 To Clothing 5 Men & 2 Women @ 50/— ea. --- £17: 10 s: 0d

 To 1 Waggon --- £20

 To 2 Carts --- £20

 To 4 Ploughs @ 30/— --- £6

 To 2 Harrows @ 40/— --- £4

 To Gear for Waggons, Carts, Ploughs and) other necessary implements of husbandry.) --- £30

 Annual quit rent of 500 acres @ 2/6 per 100 acres. --- £12: 6s

 To 8 tithables @ 10s/— per tithable --- £4

 [Total] £2434: 2s: 6d 

    I hope this goes to show that the thing on his mind, despite his backcountry adventure and encounter with Indians and Buffalo and all, that his person once clad in leggings and hunting shirt, was thinking about the money that could be made farming. 

 As for me, I hope to start delving deeper into 18th century farming practices in future posts so stay tuned for that!