Life in the Big Apple... or Rather, the Little Apple
Let's talk about a time when New York wasn't the concrete jungle we know and love (or hate, depending on your subway experiences). We're talking about the New York Colony days, when people wore weird hats, didn't have TikTok, and probably smelled a lot worse.
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| How Did People Make A Living In The New York Colony |
Farming: The Original Hustle
Believe it or not, folks in the New York Colony weren't all about trading stocks and eating overpriced avocado toast. Nope, their version of "hustling" involved dirt, sweat, and the occasional encounter with a rather large bug. Farming was the bread and butter (literally) of the colony. They grew stuff like wheat, which they turned into flour and exported to the Caribbean. Talk about being a breadwinner!
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But let's be real, farming wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. Imagine toiling in fields all day, only to have your crops eaten by some oversized rodent or destroyed by a freak weather event. It was basically the colonial equivalent of a startup failing.
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Fur: The Fashionable Frontier
Another way to make a buck in the New York Colony was to get your hands on some seriously plush fur. We're talking beaver, otter, and fox - the Gucci of the 17th century. Traders would barter with Native Americans for these pelts, which were then shipped off to Europe to make fancy coats for the rich and snobby.
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So, next time you're rocking a faux fur coat, spare a thought for the brave souls who risked life and limb (okay, maybe not life and limb, but definitely a few mosquito bites) to bring you that trendy fashion item.
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Trade and Commerce: The City Slickers
If you weren’t into the whole farming or fur trapping thing, there was always the option to become a city slicker. New York City, in its early days, was a bustling port town. Ships were coming and going, and there was money to be made in trade. Merchants imported goods from Europe and exported stuff from the colony. It was basically the Amazon of its time, minus the two-day shipping.
Of course, being a merchant wasn’t all smooth sailing. There were pirates, storms, and the ever-present risk of your ship sinking with all your cargo. But hey, high risk, high reward, right?
And Then There Were Others...
Let's not forget about the skilled craftspeople, like blacksmiths, carpenters, and shoemakers. They played a vital role in the colony, providing essential goods and services. And then there were the folks who worked as servants or laborers on the larger estates. It wasn't glamorous, but it helped keep the colony running.
So, next time you're complaining about your job, remember the people who came before you. They didn't have air conditioning, smartphones, or even decent coffee. And yet, they managed to survive and even thrive.
How to Become a Colonial Entrepreneur
- How to become a successful farmer: Plant the right crops, hope for good weather, and don’t let your livestock eat all your produce.
- How to make a killing in the fur trade: Develop a good relationship with local Native American tribes and invest in a really warm coat.
- How to build a thriving trade business: Find a good location for your shop, stock up on popular items, and be prepared to haggle.
- How to become a skilled craftsman: Learn a trade, invest in good tools, and build a reputation for quality work.
- How to survive as a servant: Be polite, work hard, and dream of the day you can start your own business.
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