Page 62 - Foy

in the inventory records. A few simple household goods, such as pots, pans or a

feather mattress might well be the only articles owned that were not used in
improving the plantation. Most planters did not have the simplest of tableware but ate
with their hands. Dishes were generally made of wood and other household
possessions were an occasional chest of drawers, chairs, or a mattress made of straw.

All but the poorest of men owned cattle. Most owned tools such as saws and axes.
Generally articles of clothing were considered insignificant. Few claimed more than
several shirts, a pair of pants, and a pair of shoes.

The yearly income for roughly half of the farmers in Baltimore County was between
six and fifteen pounds sterling; mostly obtained from the sale of tobacco. In order to
vote a minimum total wealth of forty pounds was required. Nearly 40% of these
families lacked this qualification. However, many did own fifty acres of land which
would qualify them to vote. Life was a year to year challenge for the small planter.
A year of low tobacco prices could virtually destroy many of this class.

The other half had a higher standard of living. Their property inventories included
items such as more elaborate clothing, hats and coats, and household items such as
rugs. Some even had china plates and feather beds. The wealthy in this half usually
held some sort of political office such as sheriff, justice of the peace, or representative

to the Assembly. We will find that the FOYs often held such positions, but not in
Maryland.

SLAVES and SERVANTS, a NECESSITY

Slaves constituted an important and necessary labor force in the colony. From 1699
to 1706 their number increased from 96 to 213. Coming from Africa the black man
was already familiar with the raising of corn and tobacco for those were major crops
in his native land

Slaves represented to the planter an important investment. A slave generally cost
between twenty and thirty pounds each and required food, clothing and housing. It
took several years for a planter to recover his initial investment in a slave. By 1737
the number of slaves in Baltimore County had risen to 1,067, or 38.5 percent of the
population. The major difference between slaves and servants was a servant could

Ch. 5 Pg. 6