A NOTED APPEARENCE

from The Jurnal of the Middle Waters, Winter. 1997-98

How ragged were our forbears? It depends. circumstance, position, and occupation all figure into the condition of one’s clothing. In the 18th century clothing was precious, hard to come by, and was often given to friends, family, or servants, passed along in wills, or bought from second - hand clothing merchants. Repairs were frequent, but not always expert, as people sought to wring a bit more use out of what they had.

It is true that many people refused to wear repaired goods--they didn’t have to. In some towns in Louisiana territory of the early 1800’s, light , relatively inexpensive cotton gowns became the rage. Ladies who could afford to gave them to their servents when they became soiled rather than washing them.

It was far more ty[pical, however to mend and care for clothing over a wide range of social strata. bryan Paul Howard, author of Had On and Took With Him, noted, among others, these listings of runaways in teh Virginia Gazette: Thomas Jackson (April 1774, Hanover Co., VA) wore "dark Broadcloth Coat much patched".

Francis Irwin (June 1775, Loudon County, VA) wore "light coloured cloth coat, pathched at the elbows", Bryon Drum (Frederick Co,MD, 1775) wore "black breeches much pached with white cloth".