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Chronological Reasoning and Causation

Mills in New Netherland

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  1. Load Memorandum of Contract for the Construction of a Horse Mill, January 31, 1646 in Main Image Viewer
  2. Load Memorandum of Contract for the Construction of a Horse Mill, January 31, 1646 in Main Image Viewer
  3. Load Contract with Jan Barentsz Wemp for Maintenance of a Grist and Saw Mill, August 13, 1646 in Main Image Viewer
  4. Load Contract with Jan Barentsz Wemp for Maintenance of a Grist and Saw Mill, August 13, 1646 in Main Image Viewer
  5. Load Etching of a Water Mill at the Foot of a Mountain by Allart van Everdingen, c. 1645-1656 in Main Image Viewer

Suggested Teaching Instructions

Mills provided a faster, more efficient way for early settlers to change various raw materials into usable products. The two main types of mills were saw mills and grist mills. Saw mills processed timbers into cut lumber suitable for building houses, wagons, and furniture. Grist mills ground grain products into flour for baking and cooking. Before the use of mills, people cut lumber and ground grain by hand which greatly limited the availability of finished goods.

Mills used various forms of power to increase production. The most common type of mill was a water-powered mill. Water-powered mills required a flowing water supply to move a water wheel which powered the equipment. In addition to water-powered mills, settlers also utilized animal-powered and wind-powered mills to increase their production of finished products. The Dutch colony of Rensselaersyck was no exception. Historical documents show the use of these mills along with their related benefits and issues.

 

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