COPY OF A LETTER RECEIVED FROM NEW YORK
In the United States of America,
from Mr. W. Boyd, to his brother
in Macclesfield, (England) brought by the
Washington of New York, giving
an account of the Price of Labour, and the
Wages of tradesmen of all
descriptions, likewise the prospects of Farmers,
Price of Provisions, with
the views that all may have of providing for the
future comfort of themselves
and Families.
New York, March 2nd, 1830
Dear Brother - It is natural
for those who are suffering from a distressed
state of trade, and their
hardships daily increasing, to turn their
attention to some remedy whereby
they may be relieved from their embarrassed
circumstances. You are well
aware with that idea resting upon your mind, I
emigrated to this country,
and now I think it my duty to my brother and
fellow countrymen and all
whom it may concern, to give a correct and
impartial statement of my
present situation and further prospects.
I arrived
in New York after a pleasant voyage of five weeks and one day,
and immediately turned my
attention , after my arrival, to get employment at
my own trade, in which I succeeded,
and received for my week's work, 9
dollars and 25 cents, and
I receive now an average 11 dollars per week. I rent
a small house in the suburbs
for 30 dollars, or about
7 pounds sterling per year.
We can have the best beef or mutton at 5 cents,
two and a half pence per pound,
the best wheaten bread at 2 cents, one penny
per pound, though if we bake
it ourselves, we can have it at a cheaper rate, and
everything else in the like
low proportion. I have just heard by the
accounts from England, that
the distress in trade in many of the
manufacturing districts still
continues. I shall now give you a correct
statement, as near as I can,
of the weekly earnings of all the different
trades in the country:- Bricklayers
and Stonemasons can earn, on average, 12
dollars per week, Blacksmiths
10 dollars, Carpenters and joiners 10 dollars
and 70 cents, Shoemakers 10
dollars, Tailors 10 dollars, Stocking Weavers
from 10 to 11 dollars, Silk
Weavers 11 dollars, Linen Weavers 10 dollars,
Cotton Weavers about 10 dollars
and 25 cents. and Weaving is the worst paid,
as the steam looms seem to
take the place of hand looms even in this
country, but any person having
a little money, may do very well by going a
few miles from this city,
and uniting farming with weaving, he may rent a
house and garden, and about
12 acres of land, nearly as cheap as I have my
house here, which by management
, will pay him very good interest. Cloth
workers of all descriptions
can live very well in this city, they can earn
from 11 to 12 dollars and
a half per week, Hatters between 9 and ten, and
Labourers 1 and a half dollar
per day.
I
have now given you a correct statement as near as I could inform
myself. The prospects of Labourers
meet with every encouragement, as there
are new towns an villages
springing up in every part of the country, and of
course employ a great number
of hands. The state of this country is
certainly very different from
that of England , as any person inclined to
industry, has every prospect
of doing well , and if he has no particular
occupation, there are many
resources in which he is sure to succeed, as by
working in the employ of a
farmer, or if able to cultivate for himself he is
sure to be paid with good
interest. The general disposition of the
inhabitants seem to be very
friendly, and no way jealous of newcomers, as
they have districts which
want cultivation. Their resources increase with
population and that being
the case, the Americans hold out a friendly hand
top all that come. I shall
now conclude with the hope of seeing you in few
months, to share in the blessings
of a free and independant nation/.
I remain, dear Brother, yours
W. BOYD.
American Dollar is 4 shillings
and 6 pence sterling.
a cent is equal to one
halfpenny.
N.B. Mr. Boyd having shewn
the above letter to several friends, they
entreated him to publish it,
in order to shew the difference of the working
classes of this country and
America - it is now submitted with respect for
the perusal of the Public..
Jones, Printer, Macclesfield.
Reprinted by
B. Montgomery
23 Lowgate, Hull.
(University of Hull Library
ref+ADs- DX/160/27/1)
............................................................................
............................................................................
........................
I have several William Boyds
in my Family tree at about that time, who could
be the author of this letter,
one in particular born 1808, had a brother
George born 1804.
Does any else have a William
Boyd, who was born in Hull England and moved to
New York, U.S.A in 1830?
Please email me at bboyd+AEA-melbpc.org.au
Thanks
Brian Boyd bboyd@melbpc.org.au
Melbourne, Australia.