Library Guides: Prices and Wages by Decade: 1810-1819

Wages, 1810-1819

Building-trades wages - 1800 through 1836
Wages of bricklayers, carpenters, masons, etc. Source: U.S. Dept of Labor Monthly Labor Review
Farm laborer monthly earnings, 1818-1948
Lists average monthly earnings with board, by geographic divisions. Data for years: 1818, 1826, 1830, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890, 1909, 1919, 1929, 1940, 1948. Read the explanation and historical context for this table here.
Monthly pay for work on U.S. Navy ships - 1812
The American State Papers section VI, "Naval Affairs" Vol. I, page 328 lists monthly pay in 1812 for each of these ship positions: Captain commandant, lieutenant, surgeon, purser, master, Navy storekeeper, boatswain, gunner, quartermaster, steward, clerk, seaman, ordinary seamen, and boys. On page 330 find the rates paid to men who repaired the ships, including carpenters, sawyers, joiners and laborers.
Artisans, laborers and agricultural workers - Average daily wage, 1785-1830 - Philadelphia
Shows average wages, year by year, for workers in the city of Philadelphia Pennsylvania only. See table explanation for detail.
Women's wages as domestic servants in New England, 1815
Female household servants averaged around 50 cents per week in 1815, according to this congressional report on the history of women in the U.S. labor force.
Wages by occupation for time periods - Massachusetts (1810s)
From the Massachusetts Bureau of Statistics of Labor, 16th Annual Report.
Wage for one day's labor in Albany (New York), 1793-1846
Chart lists the wage paid for one day of labor in Albany, New York for each year from 1793-1846. Chart shows wage data alongside the cost of wheat and four fowls.
New Hampshire prices and wages, 1600s-mid 1800s
The 1872 Report of Commissioners on Bureau of Labor Statistics to the [New Hampshire] Legislature is an incredibly rich source of both prices and wages dating as far back as the 1600s. The book is not organized chronologically. Use Hathi Trust's keyword search feature or browse page by page.
Federal employees and contractors - Salaries, 1817-1819
The individual salaries for each individual in government service are listed in A Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military and Naval. See volumes for 1817 and 1819. Editions for later years are also available.
Congressional salaries, 1789-present
Historical chart shows salaries of members of the U.S. Congress, along with dates of enactment and statutory authority for each pay increase.
Historical Statistics of the United States: Millennial Edition Online
Shows wages recorded in manuscripts found at local historical societies and state archives. Requires MU login to access, but non-affiliated individuals may pay for limited-time access.

Wages in Foreign Countries, 1810-1819

Wages in France by sex, 1789 and 1811
Compares wages in France before the revolution (1789) to that under Napoleon's leadership in 1811. Shows daily wages paid to male and female French day laborers. Also shows wages paid to cartwrights, farriers, masons, locksmiths, carpenters, tilers, thatchers, shepherds, farm-yard boys, etc. Amounts are expressed in British pounds sterling using an exchange rate of 25 francs to the pound.

Prices and Wages, 1810s - Analysis

Nineteenth Century Wage Trends
Brief 30-page booklet reviews overall wage trends from 1800-1899. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Staff Paper #2.
"How Much is that in Real Money? A Historical Price Index..."
Provides explanations and charts to help users calculate the current value of historic dollar amounts. Source: Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Association, Vol. 101 #2. Source
Price of gold and silver in various currencies, 1797-1838
Shows the Spanish dollar price and the British pound price for one ounce of gold or silver for each year from 1797-1838. Also shows the cost for gold and silver on Hamburg and Paris exchanges. Source: A History of Prices... by Thomas Tooke.
Prices and Wages in Maryland, 1750-1850
This article by Donald R. Adams provides great context for the data. It appeared in the September 1986 issue of Journal of Economic History. Available to MU affiliates and other JStor subscribers.
Prices and Wages in Antebellum America: the West Virginia Experience
Article by Donald R. Adams was printed in the March 1992 issue of Journal of Economic History. Available to MU affiliates and JStor subscribers.

PRICES for FOOD, 1810s

Prices of Groceries in 1814 and 1905
Gives the price per pound of selected commodities in 1814 and 1905. Short list includes tea, coffee, sugar, figs, raisins, rice, mustard, saltpeter, treacle, etc.. Prices are given in both English and American currency.
Price of wheat and fowls in Albany, New York - 1793-1846
Table reports annual data for price of wheat and fowls as well as wages paid for one day's service for every year from 1793-1846.
Massachusetts - Prices for food
The extensive price figures below were collected by the state of Massachusetts, and reported in Comparative wages, prices, and cost of living (from the Sixteenth annual report of the Massachusetts Bureau of Statistics of Labor, for 1885) by Carroll D. Wright. Most tables below report price data up through the 1860s.
- Dairy products
  Price per pound of butter back to 1760s; eggs and cheese back to 1750s; quarts of milk back to 1770s.
- Food preparations
  Prices for individual biscuits back to 1770s, sugar, salt and tea back to 1750s. Bread, lemons, chocolate, coffee, crackers, raisins, lard, macaroni, molasses, and more. Tea is extensively subdivided by type and priced by the pound.
- Flour and Meal
  Flour, buckwheat flour, graham flour, "Indian Meal," rye meal, oatmeal, wheat bran and more priced by the pound or bushel.
- Agricultural products (Fruits, vegetables, grains)
  Reported for almost every year as far back as the 1750s.
- Meats and Nuts
  Prices by the pound for bacon, beef, ham, lamb, mutton, pork, etc. in some cases dating to the 1750s. The table for nuts includes prices by the pound for almonds, filberts and walnuts.
- Poultry and game
  Price per pound of goose, turkey, and poultry back to 1758.
- Fish
  Prices for halibut, herring, haddock, salmon, codfish, eels, etc. by the pound.
- Liquors and Beverages
  Prices by the quart or gallon for beer to 1812, brandy to 1782, cider to 1755, wine to 1783, gin to 1784, rum to 1761, and more. Prices indicate source in some instances, for example, Gin from Holland or Rum from the West Indies.
- Spices and condiments
  Prices by the pound or ounce for wide variety of spices. The earliest spice prices date to 1780s. Price of vinegar dates to 1760s.

PRICES for LODGING and MEALS, 1810s

Tavern and lodging rates, Sussex County NJ - 1810
The court set the rates for lodging, food and drink at taverns. This source quotes the price for brandy, gin, rum and whisky, and the price per quart for cider. Also shows costs for meals and for hay for the horses.

PRICES for CLOTHING and SEWING SUPPLIES, 1810s

Price of a yard of cotton shirting, mid-1810s
According to an early American textile manufacturer, a yard of cotton shirting would cost 50 cents per yard in the mid-1810s, and would require four days of work to produce by women using home-based spinning wheels. Source: Bulletin of the National Association of Wool Manufactures, vol. 16 #2 (1886).
Massachusetts - Prices for clothing and sewing supplies
The extensive price figures below were collected by the state of Massachusetts, and reported in Comparative wages, prices, and cost of living (from the Sixteenth annual report of the Massachusetts Bureau of Statistics of Labor, for 1885) by Carroll D. Wright. Most tables below report price data up through the 1860s.
- Clothing
  Hats, handerchiefs and stockings back to the 1760s; gloves, breeches, pantaloons, hose and coats back to 1780s; shawls and vests back to the 1790s; mittens and waistcoats back to the 1810s.
- Cloth
  Prices for some types of cloth back to 1770s
- Dress goods
  Prices for alpaca wool and calico by the yard, as well as batiste, cambric, cashmere, crape, gingham, gauze, lawn, muslin, linsey woolsey, plaid, poplin, satin, silk, velvet and many other fabric types, some back to the 1770s but most back to the early 1780s. More fabrics are listed under the Dry Goods heading.
- Dry goods
  Prices for blankets back to the 1780s, cotton flannel, damask and denim, diaper cloth, shirtings, ticking, and more, some dating to the 1750s.
- Boots, shoes and leather
  Prices reported by the individual pair or by component such as buckles, leather, buttons, braid, fringe, etc. Detailed prices for style and type of shoe, boot, sandal, slipper, rubber overshoe, etc. Earliest price dates to 1750s.
- Buttons and dress trimmings
  Button prices reported by the dozen. Fringe and tape by the yard. Earliest price dates to 1780s.
- Ribbons and laces
  Prices date to 1783.
- Small wares
  Yarn, needles, pins, embroidery silk, cotton and linen thread. Some prices date to 1770s.

PRICES for HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, 1810s

Price of a spinning wheel for family use, 1812
According to this federal report, "portable spinning frames...made expressly for family use were quite extensively sold about the country for prices ranging from about $25 to about $50. Source: Report on Condition of Women and Child Wage Earners in the United States (1910), vol. 9.
New Hampshire prices and wages, 1600s-mid 1800s
The 1872 Report of Commissioners on Bureau of Labor Statistics to the [New Hampshire] Legislature is an incredibly rich source of both prices and wages dating as far back as the 1600s. The book is not organized chronologically. Use Hathi Trust's keyword search feature or browse page by page.
Massachusetts - Prices for household items
The extensive price figures below were collected by the state of Massachusetts, and reported in Comparative wages, prices, and cost of living (from the Sixteenth annual report of the Massachusetts Bureau of Statistics of Labor, for 1885) / by Carroll D. Wright. Most tables below report price data up through the 1860s.
- Furniture
  Bedsteads, bed cords, bureaus, tables and chairs are listed, with some prices dating to the 1790s.
- Carpetings
  Prices date to 1794.
- Cutlery
  Prices for table knives and forks back to 1780s, and pocket knives back to 1801.
- Paper
  Letter paper, priced by the sheet, dating to 1780s.
- Tallow, candles, soap, etc.
  Soap prices date to 1770s.
- Oils for Illumination
  Oils to light lamps and lanterns, dating back to the 1780s
- Fuel
  Charcoal, oak wood, pine wood, coal, etc.
- Miscellaneous, not elsewhere classified
  Price for brooms, brass kettles, brick, matches, tubs, tumblers, clocks, candlesticks, silver watches, feathers (by the pound), wine glasses and more. Prices for some items date to 1750s.
- Tobacco and snuff
  Prices for cigars by the dozen, and tobacco and snuff by the pound or (sometimes) ounce. Tobacco prices date to 1760s.

PRICES for HARDWARE and BUILDING MATERIALS, 1810s

Massachusetts - Prices for hardware and building materials
The extensive price figures below were collected by the state of Massachusetts, and reported in Comparative wages, prices, and cost of living (from the Sixteenth annual report of the Massachusetts Bureau of Statistics of Labor, for 1885) by Carroll D. Wright. Most tables below report price data up through the 1860s.
- Tools and implements
  Hoes, shovels, spades, files, etc. priced by the dozen or when sold individually. Earliest price figure is from 1790s.
- Lumber
  Price for boards, plank, shingles, timber, clapboards, etc. by the foot. Reports some prices by type of wood: ash, white oak, spruce, pine.
- Tacks, brads and nails
  Priced by the pound. Earliest prices date to 1790s.

PRICES for SERVICES, 1810s

Postage rates for letters mailed in the U.S., 1792-1863
Chart from the Historian of the United States Postal Service shows price to mail a domestic letter. Not included are postage rates for ship and steamboat letters and "drop letters" (for local delivery), which were assigned different rates.
Price of a newspaper or newspaper subscription
We recommend using the Library of Congress' "Chronicling America" website to find prices and subscription rates for individual newspaper titles in specific years. Click into the site and set the year boxes to your date range. Click "GO" and then check the "Show only front pages" box. If the price is not in the masthead, search for publisher's information somewhere in the body of the paper - often in the left column of the front page. Annual subscription rates are likely to be described there.

COST of ATTENDING COLLEGE, 1810s

Harvard University - Cost to attend in 1810s
Report from the Steward compares the cost of attending between the 1810s and the 1830s. Further discussion here.
Yale University - Cost to attend in 1811
Shows itemized list of charges and rules for submitting payment. Source: Laws of Yale College, 1811.
Union College (NY) - Cost to attend in 1815
Union College was founded in 1795 and is located in Schenectady, NY.

Reported value of items stolen or lost - Missouri

Although the perfect resource would be statistical data showing retail price averages, when this is not available, alternative sources can suggest the approximate prices of consumer goods. Item valuation from theft reports found in the U. S. Congressional Serial Set are one such option.

Some early congressional publications contain theft reports for household items and personal belongings, along with a suggested value or replacement cost. The following were taken from U. S. Congressional Serial Set volume 126, "Memorial of the State of Missouri and Documents in relation to Indian Depredations upon Citizens of that State."

Itemized theft report with valuation from William Ewing and John Ewing, 1812
- Value of clothing such as great coat, waist coats, pantaloons, shirts, cambric dress, calico dress, shoes, socks, muslin shirts, silk stockings, shawls, petticoats, silk gloves, handkerchiefs, mittens;
- ...Household items such as bedsteads, quilts, dishes, table spoons, sugar bowl, looking glass, table cloth, pillows and cases, pins and sewing needles, yards of linen fabric, yards of "superfine" cloth;
- ...Personal belongings such as silver watch, combs, razor;
- ...Equestrian supplies such as side saddle, stirrups, bridle, man's saddle
Claim of Matthew M. McCormick, 1813
- Value of household furnishings, bedsteads, brass candlesticks, cooking and serving dishes
- ...Tools such as axe, chisel, augur, hoe, hand saw, knives, loom, spinning wheel, churn, etc.
- ...Livestock including hogs and cattle
- ...Harvested crops including bushels of corn, wheat and flaxseed
Account of Isaac Best, 1814
- Value of household furnishings including feather beds, straw beds, blankets, sheets, quilts, tablecloth,
- ...Clothing including buffalo robe, cambric muslin dresses, cotton home made dresses, calico dresses, aprons, petticoats, linen shirts, waistcoats, pantaloons, hunting shirt, cotton stockings, fur hats, suspenders,
- ...Personal belongings including handkerchiefs, razor,
- ...Sewing supplies including pins and needles, thimble, linen fabric
- ...Kitchen supplies including coffee pot, sugar scoops, teacups and saucers, pewter spoons, knives
- ...Food including sugar, coffee
- ...Hunting supplies including beaver traps, shot molds, shot
Claim of Hezekiah O'Neile for robbery, 1812
Tools, kettle, bucket, bedding, etc.
Property stolen from William Ewing, 1813
Tools and horses
Horses, itemized by sex, age and height, found throughout the document.

Prices in Foreign Countries, 1810-1819

Great Britain
Ireland
France
Italy

PRICES in GREAT BRITAIN, 1810s

England and New York - Price comparisons, 1817-1819
The chapter "Expenses of House Keeping" in William Corbett's book A Year's Residence in America does not provide government figures, but does give Corbett's impressions of how much less things cost in America, presented in narrative rather than tabular format. He touches on the relative prices of foods, candles, soap, clothing, shoes, furniture, domestic servants and more.
England (London) - Prices paid for foods, beer, candles and coal, 1740-1865
Chart shows the prices paid by Greenwich Hospital for meat, bread, flour, cheese, butter, beer, candles and coal in each decade from 1740-1860, and 1865. Also shows average weekly wages for building trade occupations in shillings and pence. Source: Wages and Earnings of the Working Class published in London, 1867.
Bread prices in England, 1784-1819
Shows average prices of bread in England for each year from 1660-1899 on pages 27-35. Source: Three Centuries of Prices of Wheat, Flour and Bread (not a government document). The introduction to this table explains that these prices are for the type of bread consumed by lower middle classes, not the "fancy bread." Price sources are provided on page 21-22.

PRICES in IRELAND, 1810s

Ireland (Dublin) - Price of foods at markets, 1816
Guide tells the price to purchase various kinds of meats per pound, fish, potatoes, porter by the quart (a beverage combining ale, beer and two-penny) on pages 62-65. This is taken from a travelers' guide published in Dublin in 1816.

Prices in FRANCE, 1810s

Prices in France, 1789 and 1811
Compares prices in France before the revolution (1789) to prices under Napoleon (1811). Shows prices for coats, hats, shoes, and various sorts of farm implements such as ploughs and hoes. Also shows prices for farm animals such as chickens, sheep, plough horses and fat pigs. The same chart shows wages for common occupations. Amounts are expressed in British pounds sterling using an exchange rate of 25 francs to the pound.

PRICES in ITALY, 1810s

Italy, Milan - Price of bread, wheat, etc., 1801 to 1908
Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor, No. 87, Volume XX. Published March 1910.

Prices and Wages by Decade: 1810-1819