Way of Life

Agriculture was the most popular way of life, but by the 1700's colonists made a living from the sea. New Port was one of the famous ship building centers.  Merchants living in the coastal towns sent ships out to ports in seperate colonies. Products bought by merchants were rum, wool, sugar, beef, silk stockings, tolls, weapons, glassware,  fancy clothes, and people. Listing "people" was not a mistake alot of Rhode Islanders bought and sold black slaves.Many of the colonists living in Rhode Island, owned small farms. Very few owned large farms. During the 1700's slavery was legal and  most colonists owned slaves to help them work the land.