That practice was known as the Triangle Trade. The rum was sold to the west coast of Africa in exchange for slaves. The slaves then were sent to the West Indies by the Middle Passage. Once they reach there, they were sold for molasses and money. Those molasses were sent back to the American Colonies to make rum and start the Triangle all over again.
Rum<span> was consumed as a part of many Colonial meals, including breakfast, and was </span>often used<span> to treat various illnesses and ailments</span>