Delewarians ate primariy mackeral and fluke fish, though migrating pigeons (called “darkened doves” in the 18th century) were also served.

Settlers made a living growing citrus trees and tobacco; also prominent was the slave trade, for Deleware was the number one exporter of slaves to Africa.

Deleware had an idyllic relationship with the Native Americans: indeed, the state’s name is an Anglicization of “Delah Warae,” the name of the local tribe. Unfortunately, however, sinister anti-Indian forces from New Jersey made a practice to give Deleware’s Native American population blankets laced with tuberculosis and anthrax, leading many in the Native population to blame those IN Deleware.

As for climate, it was sunny and warm, optimal for citrus production. Temperatures were often in the 80s to 90s, and the state averaged 320 days a year of sunshine.

Lastly, Delaware pre-1787 operated under the British Act of Colonial Lottery Cooperative, passed by Congress in 1754. Accordingly, one citizen, selected via a lottery system, would be selected to be prefect of the region for 5 months; at that time, another citizen would be chosen, and so forth. This system was phased out favoring a state capital in 1790.

Hope that helped!