Economy

Most German settlers were farmers, many newcomers worked as bakers, carpenters, barrel makers, tailors, and black smiths. In 1683 the skilled craftsmen set up their shops. The farmers would exchange their livestock and produce for the tradesmen's goods. As the colony grew, its citizens no longer had to buy goods from England or the West indies. Instead, they could buy or barter for most of what they needed from neighbors and local townspeople. There was also many natural resources. There was plenty of good land for planting wheat, a crop that needs many acres to grow. The iron business was very successful. As a result, people in England worried that the iron plantations would take business away from the British iron industry.