Domestic life in New England in the seventeenth century

The following account of food, fabrics, household supplies and equipment furnished by the Company of the Massachusetts Bay to Rev. Samuel Skelton, the first minister at Salem, is of much economic interest. The emigrants sailed from London about the middle of April, 1629 and reached the harbor of Naumkeak (now Salem) on June 30th. Mr. Skelton died Aug. 2, 1634 and this accounting may have been made up after his death. It begins in 1629 at the time of the departure from England and covers an indeterminate period. The increase of livestock over a period of five years is described and this seems to indicate the period of residence at Salem until his death.

It is enlightening to find that the Massachusetts Bay Company seems to have maintained a company shop at which supplies of all kinds might be obtained; and it is a matter for comment that the minister’s family was supplied during the voyage and in the early days following the settlement, with such luxuries as powdered sugar, salad oil, castile soap and almonds, not to mention, also, a variety of spices, such as pepper, cloves, mace, and nutmegs.

The original of this document may be seen in the Suffolk County Court Files, Volume I.

Other interesting lists of all kinds of materials sent over by the Company, may be found in the Company records printed by the Commonwealth in 1853 (Vol. I, pp. 23-37) and also by the American Antiquarian Society (Transactions, Vol. III, pp. 5-30e).

Coppie of An Accompte of monies M^r Skelton is Creditor viz.

Now ye Increase

The first yeare next after the receipte of the 2 heiffers, both the Calues miscaried, one about a quarter ould dyed, the other neare upon a yeare ould lost by the woolves.

The second yeare there was a heiffer Calfe and a bull Calfe, w^ch heiffer is now in my hands And the Bull Calfe M^r Skelton sould att one ye^r and three quarters ould for eight pounds.

The Therd yeare was       which the beginning of winter weare both eaten with the woolves. Now since the three foresaid years, the next yeare after was Twoe bull Calvs, and an heiffer Calfe, the springe before M^r Skeltons death.

And This yeare since was Three bull Calues Twoe wherof are dead the one when it was about Twenty & twoe weeks ould, the other since winter did begin. Now for the keeping of the Catle w^ch should haue beene att the Companyes Chardge, hath wholly lyen vpon vs.

M^r Skeltons account w^th the Companie

M^r Skelton is D pr viz

rec of M^r Winthrop Govern^r

Ite. 3 y^rds of Cambrick

6 y^rds & a h: of Loomeworke

2 Drinking hornes

8 p^r of shoes for men

6 p^r of gray stockings for men

6 p^r of stockings for women

6 p^r of stockings for children

10 y^rds of Carsey

Thred

2000 of pinnes

6 Alls

one webb of blew gartering

2 knots of Tape