THREE LOWER COUNTIES

THREE LOWER COUNTIES OF PENNSYLVANIA

In 1704 the “three lower counties” of Pennsylvania were granted their own

legislative assembly seeding Delaware's later emergence as a state during the

Revolutionary War. Philadelphia was its major trade center. Delaware produced

profitable exports, like tobacco.

Beef cattle in the 1700s were raised in marshes and wood land for four years to market size.

When tobacco declined in significance by 1770, grain crops, gained importance as trade

increased.

Delawares grain milling industry on the Brandywine created demand for grains to be

shipped up Delaware River . In 1750 several Quaker families had the milling industry

under their control. The families, Tatnalls, Canbys, Shipleys, Less, Mortons, Pools.

Soft red wheat became the states first important cash crop . Oliver Evans of Newport

designed flower mills to properly mill the crop. Delaware was the largest and most

perfect flour produced in the world.

Abstract: Delaware Department of Agriculture, History & Heritage in the 1700's.