Survey a random selection of individuals and ask them which trades were practiced in Colonial America and chances are the list would be small -  chandlers, blacksmiths, carpenters, ship builders, potters, gunsmiths are the most common ones given.  Over the last ten years, the writers of the Shilling have tried to open up the window on those skills that maintained Colonial towns, villages and cities – maintained them, enhanced them, and moved progress forward.

   Offered here for the enjoyment of our readers is a list of services offered that one doesn’t usually associate with the day to day workings of Colonial America.  (And topics for articles to come…)

          “Henry Christian Geyer, near the Tree of Liberty, South End, Boston, Hereby Informs his Customers and all other Gentlemen, all Commissioners, and all Masters of Vessels far and near, That he has by him a considerable Assortment of Connecticut Free Stones fit for architect Work, Tomb-Stones, Stone Mustard Mills, which will grind Mustard equal to that imported, with little labor, and has been approv’d of in this Town. … he has likewise some fine Marble Slabs for Tables, he Cleans, Polishes and Mends old broken Marbles, all in the best and neatest Manner, and at the most reasonable Rate for Cash or short Credit.—

N.B. Said Geyer also makes Stone Coverts[1] either of Marble, Slate or Free stones, which may be erected in any convenient place in a  Gentleman’s House, in order to preserve any sort of Provision or Liquor from Spoiling, and are very convenient for Gentlewomen to preserve their Milk, Cream and Cold Victuals. Boston News-Letter, Aug. 13, 1767 (Dow, p.284)”

          “Nathaniel Cape, White Smith from London, living near the New Brick Meeting House.—Makes Smoak Jacks[2] that will go with the Smoak or Draught of a Chimney, that will roast any Meant under 60 weight, without any Weights or Trouble in winding: and other Sorts of Jacks; also mends and cleans oldJacks:  Any Gentlemen that will favour him with their Custom, may depend on being well served, by Nathaniel Cape.—Boston Gazette, Aug. 15, 1757 (Dow, p.290-91)”

          “DUTCHFANS, for cleaning wheat or any other kind of grain, are made and sold by ADAM EKART, in Market street, Philadelphia.  Likewise rolling screen, sieves for sifting iron ore, &c. warranted of the best make. …The same to be had of captain Matthew Phripp, in Norfolk.—Virginia Gazette, May 19, 1774 (Col. Williamsburg)”

          “Whereas a certain Person, who followed the Business of stamping Counterpanes, is going out of the Country, and has intirely dropt that Business here:  There are to inform all Shopkeepers and others, that they may have Counterpanes and Curtains, &c., stampt after the same Manner, and at the same Rates that the Said Person stamp’d them, at the House of John Williams in King Street.—Boston Evening Post, Nov. 16, 1747. (Dow, p.261)”

   “Salem, Sept.3. By a Gentleman of this Town in this Day bro’t to perfection, an Engine to Grind Cocoa; it is a Contrivance that cost much less than any commonly used; and will effect all that which the Chocolate Grinders do with their Mills and Stones without any or with very Inconsiderable Labour; and it may be depended on for Truth, that is will in less than six Hours bring on Hundred weight of Nuts to a consistence fit for the Mold.  And the Chocolate made by it, is finer and better, the Oyly Spirit of the Nut being almost altogether preserved, and there is little or no need of Fire in the making.—Boston Gazette, sept.5/12, 1737 (Dow, 260-61)”

   “Wide yellow canvas for window screens.—Boston Gazette, June 23, 1760 (Dow, p.167)”

          “James Atkinson, Watch-Maker, in Cornhill, near the Market in Boston, from the North-Side of Royal Exchange in London, Makes and Sells all Sorts of Watches and Clocks made in a compleat Manner of his own Name warranted, a variety of both he has now by him:  Also repairs all Sorts of Watches in a careful and expeditious Manner; finishes the Dial Plate, &c. and fits them up in all Respects compleat and as reasonable as in London; sells Ladies Chaines for Watches, and all sort of Men’s Chains, Seals, Gold and Silver and plain Watch Strings, Ear-Rings, Diamond Rings, &c. N.B. Buys Second Hand Plate, and all Sorts of Gold and Silver.—Boston Gazette, Jan. 8, 1745 (Dow, p. 133)”

          “Sarah Lane, window of John Lane, carries on the Business of Caining Chairs.—New England Journal, June 14, 1737.  (Dow p.106)”

“Booden, Upholsterer from London, (for sale) several sets of fine mock India Paper, and others, for hanging of rooms, ceilings, and staircases, etc., and puts them up in the best manner.—South Carolina Gazette, December 16, 1756. (Bridenbaugh, p.103)”

“Simon Smith, Needle maker from London, is removed from the Rainbow and Dove in Marlborough Street, now in Union Street near the Corn fields; continues to make and sell all sorts of white Chapple Needles, and all other sorts round and square.—Boston New-Letter, Apr. 15/22, 1742. (Dow, p.273)”

“(Richard Wistar) continues to make the Philadelphia Brass Buttons, well noted for their Strength, such as were made by his deceased Father, and are warranted for seven years.—New York Journal and General Advertiser, August 17, 1769 (Bridenbaugh, p.88)”

          John Ingram, the Original Flower of Mustard Maker, from Lisbon, now living at the House of Mrs. Townsend, near Oliver’s-Dock, Boston, Prepares Flower of Mustard to such Perfection, by a Method unknown to any Person b(ut) myself, that it retains its Strength, Flavour and Colour Seven Years; being mix’d with hot or cold water, in a Minute’s Time it makes the strongest Mustard ever ear, not in the least Bitter…. It is approved of by divers eminent Physicians as the only Remedy in the Universe in all nervous Disorders, sweetens all the Juices, and rectifies the whole Mass of Blood to Admiration.  If close stopt it will keep its Strength and Virtue Seven years in any Climate. …--Boston Gazette, Sept. 19, 1752 (Dow, p.272-73)”

          “Joseph Palmer & Richard Cranch From England, at their House in South School-Street, Boston, Make very good CHOCOLATE, at 12s. per Pound, and a superfine Sort for 14s. per Pound, with large Allowance by the Dozen.  They also continue to make best WOOL-CARDS & COTTON-CARDS.  At the same place are to be Sold, several Pair of Woman’s best Tabby Stays.—Boston Gazette, Mar. 12, 1751 (Dow, p.258)”

          Francis Gray, Callicoe Printer from Holland; Prints all sorts of Callicoes of several Colours to hold Washing, at his house in Roxbury near the Meeting-House.—Boston Gazette, June 16.23, 1735  (Dow, p.258)”

“ ‘Cornish’s New-England Cod-Fish Hooks’ are fabricated from the best wire and ‘each hook prov’d before put up (which is not done in England)’.  (Available at) the mercantile house of Lee and Jones.—Boston Gazette, August 22, 1774 (Bridenbaugh, p.88)”

“SAMUEL BOWLER. Coach-maker from LONDON, is lately come to settle in WILLIAMSBURG, and undertakes to serve Gentlemen in Making and Repairing Coaches, Chariots, Chaises, and Chairs, and the harness for them.  He also performs all manner of Upholdsterers Work; at Reasonable Rates.—Virginia Gazette, April 6, 1739 (Col. Williamsburg)”

    The craftsmen listed above provided an underpinning to the much bigger picture of Colonial daily life they offered their services to enhance one’s appearance (needle makers, button manufacturers, printers and dyers of cloth, jewelers), one’s home (window screens, wall paper suppliers and hangers, chair caning, upholsterers, stone workers installing and repairing marble – builder of cold storage units for food), and one’s table (those who prepare chocolate and mustard, forge fish hooks), one’s transportation (coach, traveling chairs, ) and one’s industry (the Dutchfan, as one example).

   Occasionally payment was a problem.  “Whereas the Caulkers[3] in general within the Port of Boston, have for many years past, laboured under great Inconvenience, and have suffered much Dame, Wrong and Injury in receiving their Pay for their Work, by Notes on Shops, for Money and Goods; and thereby have greatly Impoverished themselves and Families…they have entered into an agreement…that they will take no other Pay for their Service, than good lawful publick Bills of Credit, Manufactory Bills, or Merchant’s Notes, Corn, Wheat, or other Grain, Port, Beef or other Provisions, Rum, Sugar, Molasses, or other West India Goods, at the Price Current, or Market Price.—Boston News-Letter, Feb. 12/19, 1741 (Dow, p.258-59)”

          “Mr. John Barnard of Boston, having some time since Lent a Pair of large Bed-screws, These are desiring the Borrower to return them again to the owner, as he desires to Borrow again, & avoid the Curse due to the Wicked, that Borrow but never Pay.—Boston News-Letter, Oct. 22/29, 1716. (Dow, p.107)”

          “Boston, Dec.7, on Tuesday the first of this Instant in the Evening, Thirty-two Principal Barbers of this Place, assembled at the Golden Ball, with a Trumpeter attending them, to debate some important Articles relating to their occupations; where it was propos’d, that they should raise their Shaving from 8 to 10s. per Quarter, and that they should advance 5s, on the Price of making common Wiggs and 10s on their Tye ones.  It was also propos’d, that no one of their Faculty should shave or dress Wiggs, on Sunday Mornings for the future, on Penalty of forfeiting 10 Pounds for every such Offence:  From whence it may fairly be concluded, that in times past such a Practice has been too common among them.—New England Courant, Nov. 30/Dec.7, 1724 (Dow, p.255)”

Bibliography:

Bridenbaugh, Carl, The Colonial Craftsman, NY:  Dover Publications,

1990, reprint of 1950 edition.

Dow, George F., The Arts and Crafts in New England, 1704-1775, MA:

The Wayside Press, 1927.

Colonial Williamsburg Research Division Web Site http://research.history.org.DigitalLibrary/VirginiaGazette/