While it would be erroneous to say that as a general class the free mechanics of Virginia in the seventeenth century enjoyed even a moderate degree of prosperity from the mere pursuit of their trades, there are nevertheless many evidences that numerous individuals belonging to this class were men in possession of considerable wealth, derived, there is reason to think, as much from the cultivation of tobacco on their own account, as from the accumulation of the proceeds of their mechanical work in the service of their neighbors.[1] The trade of the blacksmith was perhaps the least remunerative of all the callings of that general character, since, the roads being level and free from stones, it was the habit of the planters to allow their horses to go unshod. Iron was also in that age a costly metal, and as a rule quite probably was to be found only in small quantities in the smithies.[2] The blacksmith seems to have performed sometimes the functions of a silversmith; he was also often engaged in mending guns which had been broken or injured in barrel or lock, or in restoring the temper of damaged swords.[3] In 1691, a complaint was
- ↑ Joseph Hollowel of Lower Norfolk County, in two deeds of conveyance, refers to himself in one as a planter, in the other, as a carpenter. These deeds will be found together in Records of Lower Norfolk County, original vol. 1686-1695, f. p. 182. See, also, an instance in Ibid., original vol. 1675-1686, p. 199. Another instance is that of John Gibson of Lancaster County, original vol. 1666-1682, pp. 340, 433.
- ↑ The following is an enumeration of the contents of one of the blacksmiths’ shops belonging to Ralph Wormeley: “1000 lbs. trash iron, 1 pr. bellowes, 1 anvil, 1 back iron, 4 great vices, 4 hand vices, screwplates, taps, files, hammers, tongs.” Records of Middlesex County, original vol. 1698-1713, p. 126.
- ↑ Records of Elizabeth City County, vol. 1684-1699, pp. 20, 152, Va. State Library. Fitzhugh, writing to a correspondent in Bristol, whom he had instructed to purchase certain pieces of silver, directs him to leave the plate untouched, as he had in his own service in Virginia a man who was “a singular good engraver.” Letters of William Fitzhugh, July 21, 1698. The inventory of the Sheets personal estate included a full set of goldsmith’s tools. See Records of Henrico County, original vol. 1697-1704, p. 208.
