The farmer life

The major part of the residents of New England was composed by farmers The major part of the residents of New England was composed by farmers. The man had the full power on property and on his wife. The only wife’s role was to grow the children and to help the husband.

In the XVIII century, the women got married after the 20 years of age and had from 6 to 8 children. The farmer’s women supported the family needs (wool spinning, clothes manufacturing, soaps and candles production, transformation of milk into butter).

The New England farmer families lived in wooden houses. The typical farm was on one floor and half high. The families of New England worked and cultivated their farms. The family and the cattle ate the major part of the farm’s cultivation, all what remained was sold.

In the middle of the XVII century, this life style was in crisis In the middle of the XVII century, this life style was in crisis. The population had doubled. Many farmers obtained land concession to create farms in Massachusetts and in Connecticut, or they bought lands with speculators of New Hampshire, other farmers became innovative farmers.