Food for Thought

Rum was an important product in Massachusetts both for consumption and export.

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“It is an unhappy thing that…a kind of drink called rum has been common among us. They that are poor and wicked, too, can for a penny make themselves drunk.”

- Increase Mather

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A nineteenth century image illustrates the rum trade on Antigua — This nineteenth century image illustrates the rum trade on Antigua. Seventeenth century Massachusetts merchants traded with Antigua and other islands including Barbados, and Jamaica.
*- William Clark, Infant School Depository*

Globalization
Molasses, for production of rum, was imported from Caribbean plantations. The Spanish had introduced sugar cane, needed for molasses production, to the islands. It originated across the world in Papua, New Guinea. Because Indians died of European diseases, and Europeans were susceptible to tropical diseases, African slaves became the main source of labor. Sugar cane was so profitable that English planters on Barbados often maximized production on the island while importing food and other essentials from mainland colonies, including Massachusetts

A photo of apples, pumpkins and other fall harvest items — Until other ingredients were available colonists used pumpkins and corn to make beer. Hard apple cider became a staple.
*- Alamy*

Beer and Hard Cider
Beer was highly valued by colonists but difficult to produce at first. In Europe, beer was safer than water, often the source of fatal illnesses like cholera. Roger Clapp, commander of the fort at Castle Island, said it was “accounted a strange thing in those days to drink water.” Some early beers were made from pumpkins or corn. Hard cider, made from apples, had a lower alcoholic content. Many drank it as we do water. John Adams started each day with a glass of hard cider.

Invoice from Captain John Ware, 1693 for goods delivered to Barbados including fish, beef, candles, hoops, nails, horses and oats.
- Massachusetts Archives

Bill of Lading, 1693 Captain John Ware of the ship Friendship “now riding at Anchor in the Port of Boston and by Gods Grace bound for Barbados” will carry horses including “one large…horse with two little snipps off of each ear, bob tail…five years old.” Horses were used for riding and powering mills on Barbados. To keep the slave population in a state of near exhaustion – and discourage revolt – horses did not help with labor in the fields.
- Massachusetts Archives

Liquor License for Elizabeth Hall, 1696 - Requests for liquor licenses were sometimes made in an apologetic tone and rationalized on the basis of hardship. A widow, Elizabeth Hall, explains her husband’s death “Last year falling into the hands of French Enemies.” She requests permission…”only to sell wines and some other Liquors out of doors to Accommodate seafaring men.”
- Massachusetts Archives

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Food for Thought: Rum and other Demons

Rum was an important product in Massachusetts both for consumption and export.