Rockaway, L.I. (Queens, NY) 1856 Household + Labor Account Receipt

Description

Rockaway, L.I. (Queens, NY) 1856 Household + Labor Account Receipt. In the 1830s, Rockaway was a remote and lightly inhabited area, characterized by sand dunes, salt marshes, and scattered fishing and farming families. No major issues to note. Overall, in good to very good condition. You will receive the exact sheet shown in the photos - please have a good look at the photos to access condition. It measures approx. 6 1/2" x 7 3/4" A best-effort 📜 Transcription: Rockaway, about Oct 22d 1856 1 Lot wood standing on the ground @ $5.00 12½ ham @ 13¢ — 2.48 16¾ lb pork @ 12¢ — 2.09 7 lb mutton — .75 1 week in the house — 6.00 14 journeys — 2.12 14 lb lard — 1.25 9½ lb mutton — 1.49 13½ lb pork — 1.46 1 shad — 2.81 2¼ lb pork — .30 1 Bushell potatoes — 1.18 1 Bushell potatoes — 1.14 1 Bushell potatoes — 1.18 1 Tree for wood — 2.00 35 lb pork — 4.37½ Cash paid for taxes — 5.00 Sundries — 142¾ lb pork — 62.12 Deduct 1 week wages ———————————— $52.61 5.33 ———————————— $62.12 ———————————— $43.56½ 🧠 Notable / Stand-Out Content 🏠 1. Hybrid household + labor account This document blends: Food provisions (pork, mutton, lard, potatoes, ham, fish) Housing (“1 week in the house”) Labor / transport (“journeys”) 👉 This suggests a running account for a worker or boarder, rather than a simple store bill. 🐖 2. Heavy reliance on pork Pork dominates the account: Numerous entries for pork by the pound A large cumulative total (142¾ lbs) 👉 This reflects: Pork as a primary staple meat in mid-19th century coastal Long Island Likely use of salted or preserved pork, suitable for storage and labor diets 🌲 3. Wood and land-based resources “Lot wood standing on the ground” “Tree for wood” 👉 Indicates: Timber being purchased in place (standing timber) rather than cut lumber A still semi-rural, resource-based economy in Rockaway in the 1850s 🐟 4. Local food sourcing “1 shad” 👉 Shad was a seasonal coastal fish, common in Atlantic waters: Confirms local fishing economy Suggests the buyer had access to fresh regional catch 🧾 5. Taxes and cash payments “Cash paid for taxes — $5.00” 👉 This is notable: Shows the account holder acting in a financial/intermediary role Could indicate a landlord, employer, or supplier advancing funds 🚶 6. “Journeys” entry “14 journeys” 👉 Likely refers to: Transport trips, possibly by wagon or boat Could represent labor, deliveries, or hauling services 🧮 7. Running balance with deductions “Deduct 1 week wages” Multiple totals and recalculations 👉 This reflects: A credit/debit relationship, not a one-time transaction Common in mid-19th century informal labor systems, where: Workers received board and goods on account Wages were periodically deducted ================================================================ In the 1830s, Rockaway was a remote and lightly inhabited area, characterized by sand dunes, salt marshes, and scattered fishing and farming families. Small communities such as Far Rockaway existed, but access from New York City and Brooklyn was difficult, typically requiring a combination of boat travel and rough wagon roads. The local economy centered on fishing, shellfishing, and limited agriculture. 1850s: Early resort development begins By the 1850s, Rockaway’s long ocean beach began attracting attention as a summer retreat. Entrepreneurs recognized its potential as a seaside resort and began establishing modest boarding houses and hotels. Wealthier New Yorkers started visiting during the summer months, drawn by ocean bathing and the relative coolness of the Atlantic coast. However, growth remained constrained by poor transportation, and the area was still considered somewhat isolated. 1860s–1870s: Railroads transform Rockaway The real turning point came with the expansion of rail service: The Long Island Rail Road and associated lines began extending service toward the peninsula in the 1860s By the 1870s, improved rail connections made Rockaway far more accessible from Brooklyn and New York City This new access triggered rapid development: Large seaside hotels were constructed along the beachfront Bathhouses, pavilions, and entertainment venues appeared Seasonal crowds increased significantly Rockaway became one of the region’s most popular beach destinations, often compared to other emerging seaside resorts of the era. 1870s–1880s: Peak of the early resort era By the late 19th century, Rockaway had fully emerged as a thriving resort district: Grand hotels lined portions of the beach, catering to middle- and upper-class visitors Excursion trains brought day-trippers in large numbers Supporting businesses—restaurants, shops, and amusements—developed alongside the hotels At the same time, permanent residential communities continued to grow inland from the beachfront, creating a mix of seasonal and year-round populations. **Shipped securely in a new poly bag, sandwiched in chipboard, inside a new rigid mailer via USPS Ground Advantage service w/ tracking** Click HERE to see matchbooks I have available. Click HERE to see transit and trade tokens I have available. Click HERE to see billheads I have available. Click HERE to see letterheads I have available. For U.S. based orders, the shipping cost for the first purchase is $4.00 and no extra cost for additional similar items such as billheads, letterheads, tickets, patches, post cards, trade cards, stock certificates that can safely be shipped in the same package. I have over 63,000 unique items here on eBay - Click HERE to visit my store & save with combined shipping for multiple buys. For U.S. orders on a PC, use the "add to cart" feature to select multiple items before paying. If the cart does not combine shipping costs, I will refund excess fees as I pack your order the following morning. I have enjoyed buying and selling vintage collectibles for over 40 years. Unless noted otherwise, all items I offer are original and not reproductions. 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