| |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| |
"TO A SCYTHE HANDLE"
-- TOOLS OF THE HARVEST
Scythes, dung forks, sleighs, rope, barrels, boats,
horse collars, wagons, harrows, pails, pitchforks
and yokes -- these are but some of the tools cited
in Dupui's general store ledger.
With harvest season typically commencing in late
June, ledger entries such as these make their
appearance: "By 1 -1/2 Days of Wheat Harvest
at 3s. per Day," "By 1-1/4 Day by his Wife,
Daughter & Son Peter at 3s. per Day," "By 1/4 Day of
Harvest works by his Son at 4s. per day."
Of course, harvest also implied transit, so entries
can be found pointing to "2 Days work in the Boat"
or "By going up the River per Boat." As to the
amount of cargo carried, we note the observation
made by military officer James Burd in his 1758 tour
of inspection of Dupui's plantation:
| |
This is a very fine Plantation, Situate
upon the River Delaware, 21 miles from
Tead's & 100 Miles from Phila'a, they go in
Boats from hence to Phila'a by the River
Delaware, which carrys about 22 Ton. |
|
So boats went up the
river and also down to Philadelphia with
considerable tonnage as cargo. But first came the
processing of the harvest (which prompted entries
such as "to the takeing it up and hauling it," "by 2
Days binding in harvest," and "to the use of a horse
to the Mill"). Dupui's grist mill, of course,
turned the harvest into consumables such as
"middelins" and flour that were typically purchased
by the hundred-weight. But exceptions did occur;
for example: "To an order by Charles to an Indian
for 20 lbs. of Flour." Also, flour wasn't the only
major staple produced (as shown by this entry: "By
1/2 a Day raking oats by Rachel & Aaron").
Husbandry of animals was also an area endeavor that
led up to a harvest season. Dupui's ledger
indicates the sale of sheep, hogs, calves, cows,
horses and ducks (but no chickens). Common entries
related to such husbandry include "to 3 Months board
and pasture for his Horse," and "to pasturing of
hoggs 14 months." As expected, such endeavors also
prompted entries such as "2 shillings -- by 1 Days
killing hoggs."
Lest we forget, being sited along a river also
afforded other opportunities, such as the ability to
sell fish as illustrated by this notation: "to 7
fish at 3 per piece." As to how these fish were
obtained, a clue emerges from this entry that points
to yet another harvest tool: "to knitting 15 yards
of fish net."
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
The Dupui General Store Ledger: 1743-1793
