What Were Men’s Jobs in the Colony of Georgia?
Men in colonial Georgia were planters, farmers, tradesmen and politicians. Other jobs for men include: fur traders, merchants, medical professionals and carpenters. Menial labor jobs on plantations were often held by slaves and others of a lower social standing than land owners. The amount of land that a man owned helped to determine his place in society and his political clout within the surrounding communities.
Men who moved into Georgia that needed to be granted land by the trustees who governed the state could be given up to 50 acres of land. Men who moved into the Georgia colony could purchase up to 500 acres of land, but they were required to have one male relative to each 50 acres to make sure that the land could be properly managed and defended.
Common crops that were cultivated include tobacco, fruit, cotton, rice, corn, peas, wheat and other grains. Georgia farmers also cultivated indigo that was used primarily for dyes. The products grown by Georgia farmers were used by the local economy and traded with other states and Europe. It was also common for land owners to sell lumber.
The household work, such as cooking, cleaning and caring for children, was done by the women.
