Jackson Turner Main

Economic Growth and the Standard of Living in Southern New England, 1640–1774

This study draws upon a large sample of probated estates from early Connecticut and Massachusetts. It finds that total probate wealth per adult male grew slowly over the colonial period and its growth was confined entirely to real estate. The value of consumption goods per estate fell during the early eighteenth century which raises questions about the impact of economic growth on household life.

The Red Queen in New England

OME historical images endure in spite of evidence to the contrary, perhaps because they coincide with scholars deepest convictions about how things must have been. Despite persistent notions otherwise, colonial New Englands economy was flourishing in the eighteenth century. It was not British Americas poorest region, and it was not in dire economic straits on the eve of the Revolution. Landless multitudes were indeed crowding into port cities looking for work in the closing decade of the colonial period, and Boston was certainly losing ground to shipping rivals elsewhere. But New England-built ships were furnishing a third of the empires fleet, multitudes of them were engaged in short-haul coastal trade, and the regions fishermen were not only prospering but expanding their activities into long-distance whaling.2 Population and markets on Barbados and the