The Economy of Colonial New York

Colonists harvesting tobacco.

Colonists made their livings in many different ways. Such as shipping, lumber trading, fur trapping, and slave trading. Most colonial citizens were farmers who cared for large areas of land by hand to grow crops. Corn was the most popular crop grown, due to the fact that it could be eaten by both the colonists and their animals. Flax, wheat, vegetables, and tobacco were also grown. Some colonists mined iron to later send to England for a profit.