Moving to New England

Yet another extract from The Countryman magazine from all those years ago. This is a list of provisions felt needful for "such as intend to plant themselves in New England, for one whole yeare." I have changed the 'f's to 's's to make it more readable. This list was "collected by the Adventurers, with the advice of the Planters".

Victuall

Meale, one Hogshead.
* Malt, one Hogshead#
Beefe, one hundred weight#
Porke pickled, 100 or Bacon 74 pound#
Pease, two bushells
Greates, one bushell (could read greases?)
Butter, two dozen
Cheese, half a hundred
Vinegar, tw gallons
Aquavita, one gallon#
Mustard seed, two quarts
Salt to save fish, half a hogshead#

These things thus marked # the poorer sort may spare, and yet find provisions sufficient for supplying the want of these.

* of which the poorer may spare to the greater part, if they can content themselves with water in the heat of summer, which is found by much experience to bee as wholesome and healthfull as beere.

Apparell

Shoes, six payre
Boots for men, one payre#
Irish stockings, four payre
Leather to mend shoes, foure pound
Shirts, six
Handkerchiefs, twelve*
One Sea Cape or Gowne, of course cloth
Other apparell, as their purses will afford

* Which for the poorer sort may be of blew Callico; these in Summer they use for bands.

As for bedding, and necessary vessels for kitchinuses, men may cary what they have; lesse serving the turne there than would give contentment here.



Tooles which may also serve a family of foure or five persons

One English spade
One steele shovell
Two hatchets
Axes - 3. one broad axe, and 2 felling axes.
One wood hooke
Howes 3, one broad of nine inches, and two narrow of five or six inches.
One wimble, with sixe piercer bits.
One hammer.
Other toles as mens severall occupations require, as hand sawes, whip-sawes, thwart-sawes, augers, chissells, fowes, grinde-stones etc.

For building

Nayles of all sorts +#
Locks or doores and chests#
Gimmowes for chests#
Hookes and twists for dores#

+ According to the proportion of the house inteded to be built.

Though for the more convenient and plentifull accommodation of each planter it were to be desired that they carried the provisions of victualls above said, if their estates wold reach thereunto, yet they may (having meanes to take fish and fowle) live comfortably that want all the rest, Meale for bread onely excepted, which is the staffe of life.

Armes

One musket, rest and bandeliere
Powder, ten pound
Shot, sixteene
Match, six pound
One sword
One Belt
One Pistell, with a mould#

For Fishing

Twelve Cod hookes
Two lines for fishing
One Mackrell line, and twelve hookes
29 pound of Lead for bullets and fishing lead

The total (cost) £17 7 shillings 9 pence

Out of which take that which the poore may spare, having sufficient in that which the country affords for needfull sustenation of nature £7 4 shillings 8 pence
Remains for their charge besides Transportation £10 3 shillings 8 pence

Printed at London for Fulke Clifton 1630