Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

THE OCCUPATIONAL STRUCTURE OF WILLIAMSBURG IN 1775

This report on the occupational structure of Williamsburg on the eve of the American Revolution proposes to tie together existing data on the residents of the community in the eighteenth century, rather than to explore new material. For many years, researchers on the staff of Colonial Williamsburg have compiled all of the information available about each piece of real estate in the city, including material on owners and residents as well as on the physical aspects of the buildings.¹ The existence of these house histories provides an unique opportunity to obtain quantitative data about the population of a colonial city. From these reports, the names and occupations where the latter were indicated, of owners and residents were determined for the period from 1770 to 1775. Where a change occurred during these years, only the person owning or using the property in the year nearest to 1775 was counted in the tabulation.² There were, of course, major gaps, particularly in the part of the city which lay in James City County, whose records have been destroyed. Also, there was generally little information available on tenants of residential buildings. In spite of these limitations, this summary tabulation probably gives for Williamsburg a more complete picture than that available for any other colonial community.

Briefly as to background, Williamsburg, capital of colonial Virginia probably counted no more than 1,500 population on the eve of 2 the Revolution, about equally divided between white and black.³ Since a separate study of the slave population of Williamsburg is under way, we are concerned here only with the whites in the community. Assuming an average of four or five per family, there would have been presumably between 150-200 "heads of households." We have been able to secure occupational data on 148 people who lived in Williamsburg in the years from 1770-1775, as indicated in the table which accompanies this report.

By far the largest group consisted of artisans, the small manufacturers of the eighteenth century. Most of these were, as far as can be ascertained, independent entrepreneurs, or owners of their own enterprises. About one-half fall into three broad classifications, from the point of view of providing services to the community: construction, clothing, and transportation.

Among the group involved in merchandising, the distinction between store-keeper and merchant may be only a matter of terminology. Technically, the term "merchant" designated those engaged in exporting or importing on a wholesale scale; practically, many merchandisers who were primarily retailers appropriated the term. At any rate, there was little specialization in merchandising in the eighteenth century. Only apothecaries and milliners could be classified as specialized in type of goods sold. From the point of view of functional specialization, there was one salaried store manager and one auctioneer among the group.

Because Williamsburg was the capital of the colony, operators of taverns, inns, and ordinaries probably did a thriving business. In addition to those listed in this category, many other residents of the city earned a substantial part of their income from renting out lodgings in private residences.

Among the professional groups, attorneys were surprisingly small in number, considering that Williamsburg was the capital and that the hustings court of the town had jurisdiction over almost all debt cases arising anywhere in the province. The small scale of eighteenth century government is indicated by the few residents who earned their living as officials of the Virginia government. The apothecaries classified as merchandisers might well be included as surgeons and physicians, since the former often practiced medicine in the eighteenth century. Most of the college personnel, also, would fall into the professional category.

The lack of specialization is most forcefully emphasized by the number of people who followed two occupations simultaneously.

Unfortunately, there are few opportunities to compare the occupational structure of Williamsburg with that of other eighteenth- century communities. However, one tentative conclusion might be set forth. Four times each year, during Public Times, the population of Williamsburg was increased considerably by the assembling of people from all parts of the colony for business, governmental, and social purposes.⁴ This periodic expansion would affect most directly 4 the taverns, inns, and ordinaries, whose facilities were geared to the housing and feeding of the large number who came to Williamsburg at these times. However, Virginians, most of whom were from rural areas, likely found Williamsburg a convenient place to do some of their shopping, particularly for luxury items, since most country stores carried only the "plain necessary goods."⁵ Also, planters could secure custom goods and repair services from the variety of craft shops at the capital. Therefore, it is very likely that the number of enterprises engaged in the retail and service trades was considerably larger than in most other urban communities in this period.