Cost of supplies 1779

[cositrike]

Looking at the Pittsburgh waste (trade) ledger for 1759-60, lead was traded to the NA natives at a value of 1 shilling (1/-) per pound. Powder at 4 shillings and gun locks at 6 shillings. Flints we’re 1 penny (1d) each. Sorry I can’t give USD equivalent, but there wasn’t one in 1759

For those interested there were 12 pence (12d) to 1 shilling (1/-) and 20 shillings to 1 pound sterling (£1). Therefore 240 pence to 1 pound sterling.

 

[tenngun]

Just for relationships
An able seaman was paid 12 pounds a year, 240 shillings
A surgeon 60 pounds, 1200 shillings
A captain 100-200 pounds , 2-4000 shillings. Per year
So it would take a seaman about two days to buy a pound of powder, a captain could buy five pounds of powder per day
If we compare a seaman to minimum wage that made powder near 150 dollars a pound

 

[tenngun]

Just for relationships
An able seaman was paid 12 pounds a year, 240 shillings
A surgeon 60 pounds, 1200 shillings
A captain 100-200 pounds , 2-4000 shillings. Per year
So it would take a seaman about two days to buy a pound of powder, a captain could buy five pounds of powder per day
If we compare a seaman to minimum wage that made powder near 150 dollars a pound

Wrong math, a seaman made 8d a day, I was thinking a schilling a pound, not four. Six days to a pound of powder a captain would make between 5 and 10 shillings per day.
Whew