Examples of Colonial Jobs

Early American colonists worked hard for bare necessities yet surprisingly, their jobs were similar to those of present day. While their tools were not advanced, the ingenuity of these people allowed them to accomplish tasks in ways that many living today would never have imagined.

Garment Makers

During the 18th century, a man was not properly dressed unless he had a wig. The wigs, or perukes, were made from the hair of yaks, goats, horses and sometimes even humans. It was the wigmaker's job to proffer the latest London styles to the businessmen and gentlemen of the colony.

Tailors also found colony life busy. Because gowns, breeches and weskits were not sold ready-made, colonists looked to the tailor for these needs, regardless of their social class. The tailor was a true artist who took a person's measurements and then transform those measurements into a pattern that would be the base of beautiful clothing.

Shoemakers, like their name describes, made shoes in colonial times. They were one of the most important tradesmen of the 18th century. Surprisingly, shoes were sold much like they are now, premade off the rack. The shoemaker usually only made custom shoes if someone had extra-large feet or wanted something unusual. They used leather and some very odd tools with strange names such as helling sticks, petty-boys, and St. Hugh's Bones.

Printers

Printers and binders had the important task of spreading local and foreign news to the colony. As early as the mid-1700s, newspapers ran weekly, proclaiming all the latest colonial news. Many books also were published during this time.

Apothecaries

Apothecaries were a combination of druggists and doctors. They were educated in all the latest herbal medicines, but also had enough general knowledge that they could offer medical treatment. Many apothecaries also practiced as surgeons and male midwives.

Coopers

Barrels were an important commodity in colonial times, and the cooper had the skills necessary to make them. These barrels were used for everything. Popular uses included serving as a means of transporting trade goods such as tobacco, as well as using them for storage and as butter churns.

Manual Labor

Blacksmiths divided their time between making new tools and fixing old ones. The blacksmith specialized in working iron and steel. Tools of the trade consisted of a forge, anvil, hammer, tongs, vise and file.

Brickmakers in colonial times were generally made up of the unskilled working class and slaves. The brick-making process began with the shoveling of clay. Water had to be stomped into the clay to mix it thoroughly. Next, the clay was carried to a table where workers lumped it into wooden molds that had been sprinkled with sand. The bricks could only be fired after they had gone through weeks of drying.

References

• Colonial Williamsburg