Availability of Domestic Animals

The Factors Discussed are Meant to be Examples, Not Exhaustive

Number of Domestic Animals Available at a Given Point

  1. Comparing the Number of Domestic Animals in the Inventories of Francis and John Chadds
    1. Cattle: Francis Chadds: 21 in 1713; John Chadds: 4 first choice milch cows, 1 red cow, 1 yearling Bull and 1 yearling steer, 1 brown steer, 4 spring calves, 7 fat cattle in 1760
    2. Swine: Francis Chadds: 30 in 1713; John Chadds: 2 swine, 1 sow and 6 shoats, 4 swine in the pen in 1760
    3. Sheep: Francis Chadds: 44 sheep in 1713; John Chadds: 15 sheep, 5 dito at one McCoys

Productivity of the Animals

  1. Decrease in the Number of Cattle, Swine, and Sheep Registered between the Inventories of Francis and John Chadds! No mention of the number of chickens owned by the Chadds
  2. Was the decrease more gradual or instantaneous?
  3. Factors that could have played a role in the decrease?

External Forces

  1. Weather 
    1. Cattle and Sheep Struggling to Survive in the Cold Weather
    2. Not mentioned as a Problem for Swine
    3. Influence of Natural Disasters: August 11, 1765: Flooding Destroying Cellers (Elizabeth Drinker Diary p121)
  2. Wild Animals
    1. Cattle: Wolves Attacking Calves
    2. Swine: Bears, Wolves, Panthers (Bear being the Primary Concern)
    3. Sheep: Wolves, Bears, Dogs (Wolves Causing the Most Damage
    4. Chickens: Weasels, Red Fox, Wildcats
  3. War Losses: Battle of Brandywine
    1. Butter and Smoked Beef among the Items Listed that were Taken from Chadds Ford after the Battle of the Brandywine
    2. Cheese Taken: 4,627 Pounds or 2.3 Tons Taken. 
    3. Cattle: 177 Cattle were claimed lost in the landmark area, with 75% of those from Birmingham. The 133 Birmingham cattle lost comprised 24% of all Chester County cattle losses and probably close to 81% of total cattle population in Birmingham Township. 
    4. Pigs: Similar losses to those of cattle.
    5. Sheep: Similar losses to those of cattle and pigs.
    6. Chickens: Numerous fowl reported lost.
  4. General Neglect of Animals by Owners
    1. General Neglect of Cattle and Sheep by Owners in Terms of Poor Shelter and Food Choices

Time of Year

  1. Climate Factoring in how Comfortable Domestic Animals were in Pennsylvania
  2. Time of Year Influencing what Food Options were Available for the Domestic Animals

Other Uses for Domestic Animals

  1. Use of Cows as a Source of Meat, Production of Milk, or Motor Power
  2. Sheep's Primary Role as Providing Wool Instead of Meat
  3. Use of Chickens' Feathers and Controlling Insects in Gardens

Sources: The Diary of Elizabeth Drinker p121; Chadds Ford Historical Society's Guide Training Manual p72-75, A-32-A-34; "Here a Chick, There a Chick, Everywhere a Chick, Chick."; Pennsylvania Agriculture and Country Life: 1640-1840 p67-76, 174-196, 202-203; and PAST MASTERS NEWS Volume 2, Issue 3, p9-10 (See Bibliography)

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Comments (Atom)