RyanAK
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Once scalped…
Posts: 973
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Post by RyanAK on May 11, 2022 17:09:42 GMT -7
Hey! That’s great additional information! Depending on the estate, I believe there were often saddle makers in the full time employ of the house. I didn’t know about the roller. That’s good info.
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Post by spence on May 11, 2022 20:29:17 GMT -7
I’m going to put this lad here without comment other than to say that I’m both charmed and disheartened by this image. I think you would find quite a few such people in the day. The Pennsylvania Gazette September 20, 1739 RUN away on the 6th Inst. from Thomas Rees, of Heydelburg Township, Lancaster County, a Servant Lad, named Richard Beddes, aged about 17 Years, has light bushy Hair: Had on an old striped Jacket, old linnen Shirt, new Linnen Breeches and an old Hat, no Shoes nor Stockings. Took with him a smooth Rifle Gun. Whoever brings the said Servant to his said Master, or secures him in the County Goal, so that he may be had again, shall have Three Pounds Reward and reasonable Charges, paid by Thomas Rees. Spence
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 973
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Post by RyanAK on May 11, 2022 20:36:04 GMT -7
Wonderful addition, Spence! The true unfortunates don’t often get enough attention as we study heroic individual self-reliance or global geopolitics of the times.
Also… a smooth rifled gun in 1739!
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Post by spence on May 11, 2022 21:15:07 GMT -7
The true unfortunates don’t often get enough attention as we study heroic individual self-reliance or global geopolitics of the times. I think Moses Austin, father of Stephen Austin, gives us a little glimpse of real life in the day for some. From his journal, observations on the Wilderness Trail to Kentucky: Journal of Moses Austin 1796 [16 Dec.] I cannot omitt Noticeing the many Distressed families I pass in the Wilderness nor can anything be more distressing to a man of feeling than to see woman and Children in the Month of December Travelling a Wilderness Through Ice and Snow passing large rivers and Creeks without Shoe or Stocking, and barely as many raggs as cover their Nakedness, with out money or provisions except what the Wilderness affords. the Situation of such can be better Imagined then described. to say they are poor is but faintly express’g there Situation,__life What is it, or What can it give, to make Compensation for such accumulated Misery. Ask the Pilgrims what they expect when they git to Kentuckey the Answer is Land. Have you any. No, but I expect I can git it. Have you anything to pay for land. No. did you Ever see the Country. No but Every Body says its good land. can any thing be more Absurd than the Conduct of man, here is Hundreds Travelling hundreds of Miles, they Know not for what Nor Whither, except it is to Kentucky, passing land almost as good and easy obtain’d, the Proprietors of which would gladly give on any terms, but it will not do its not Kentuckey its not the Promis.d land its not the goodly inheratence the Land of Milk and Honey. and when arrived at this Heaven in Idea what do they find? a goodly land I will allow but to them forbiden Land. exausted and worn down with distress and disappointment they are at last Oblig’d to become hewers of wood and Drawers of water. Spence
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 973
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Post by RyanAK on May 11, 2022 21:30:17 GMT -7
The ‘like button’ doesn’t seem sufficient to express how much I enjoyed that snippet. Thank you, Spence. You made my night.
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Post by spence on May 12, 2022 6:51:44 GMT -7
I get the impression that going without shoes was not a rare thing in the day, and not just by the completely impoverished.
The Pennsylvania Gazette November 3, 1779 PHILADELPHIA GENERAL MILITIA ORDERS . Philadelphia, October 27, 1779.
THE Classes of the Militia lately called, being designed to co-operate with the fleet of the Count D'Estaing, there will be sufficient time (after authentic advice is received of his arrival on the coast) to reach the rendezvous appointed by his Excellency General Washington. - The directions of the President, as Commander in Chief of the Militia, in the mean time, are ---- That every officer and soldier hold himself in readiness at a day’s notice, equipped in the best manner possible, with a due regard to the season. It is expected that tents will be provided for both officers and soldiers, but the insufficiency of the public stores will require their endeavouring to provide themselves with proper clothing. - It is expected that every one will bring his own blanket and haversack, and though the march will not probably be long, shoes will be an important article, which it is hoped each militia man will not neglect to procure.
Spence
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Post by spence on May 12, 2022 7:24:43 GMT -7
RyanAK said, "The vast majority of coats and waistcoats have cloth covered buttons. Metal buttons were a rare occurance in the images."
Just for general information....one of the files of items I've collected is 550 pages. I extracted all the different types of buttons mentioned in it, mostly from runaways.
mohair buttons frosted buttons brass hollow buttons flowered buttons brass buttons large metal buttons blue horn buttons metal buttons white metal work buttons flat pewter buttons flat metal buttons stone sleeve buttons death head buttons wooden buttons patterned sleeve buttons lacquered buttons bone buttons box bottomed buttons death head mohair buttons white horn buttons gold basket buttons buttons covered with brownish cloth flat silver buttons the moulds covered with shalloon broad metal buttons yellow carved metal buttons gilt buttons yellow buttons block tin buttons pewter buttons blue velvet covered buttons kersey covered buttons leather buttons horn buttons sliver sleeve buttons white pearl buttons black buttons large red buttons, seemingly glass plain silver buttons hard metal flat buttons curled brass buttons with wooden moulds brass link buttons crystal stone sleeve buttons gold sleeve buttons lead buttons
Spence
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Post by spence on May 12, 2022 8:02:16 GMT -7
My interest in the hobby has always been of the life of ordinary citizens, not the elite, such as this description of a militia group. It is from a witness, a citizen of New Ipswich, present when the group left New Ipswich, NH, marching toward Stillwater, NY, and the battle known as Bemis Heights.
"To a man, they wore small clothes, coming down and fastening just below the knee, and long stockings with cowhide shoes ornamented by large buckles, while not a pair of boots graced the company. The coats and waist-coats were loose and of huge dimensions, with colors as various as the barks of oak, sumach and other trees of our hills and swamps, could make them and their shirts were all made of flax, and like every other part of their dress, were homespun. On their heads was worn a large round top and broad brimmed hat. Their arms were as various as their costume; here an old soldier carried a heavy Queen's arm, which had done service at the Conquest of Canada twenty years previous, while by his side walked a stripling boy with a Spanish fusee not half its weight or calibre, which his grandfather may have taken at the Havana, while not a few had old French pieces, that dated back to the reduction of Louisburg. Instead of a cartridge box, a large powder horn was slung under the arm, and occasionally a bayonet might be seen bristling in the ranks. Some of the swords of the officers had been made by our Province blacksmiths, perhaps from some farming utensil; they looked serviceable, but heavy and uncouth. Such was the appearance of the Continentals to whom a well appointed army was soon to lay down their arms. After a little exercising on the old Common, and performing the then popular exploit of ‘whipping the snake’ they briskly filed off up the road, by the foot of the Kidder Mountain, and through the Spafford Gap, towards Peterboro, to the tune of ‘Over the hills and far away.'"
Or this description by a British officer of a militia unit at the Saratoga surrender:
"They stood like soldiers, erect with a military bearing, so still that we were greatly amazed...Not one of them was properly uniformed but each man had on the clothes in which he goes to the field, the church or to the tavern... The officers wore very few uniforms and those they did wear were of their own invention. All colors of cloth are usable, e.g. brown coats with sea green facings, white lining, and silver sword knots; also gray coats with straw facings and yellow buttons were frequently seen... (Some of them) had snow-white wigs with mighty long bushy hair at the sides and thick lambs'-tails behind! There were glistening black abbots' wigs which especially set off red or copper coloured faces! There were white or gray English pastors' wigs whose horse or goat hair was done up in dangerously huge roll standing up in the air. You think such a man has a whole sheep under his hat and hanging down the back of his neck. The respected wearers of these various wigs are in part between their fiftieth and sixtieth year and have at this age followed the drum for the first time."
Spence
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RyanAK
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Once scalped…
Posts: 973
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Post by RyanAK on May 12, 2022 12:44:02 GMT -7
Spence, again! The fact that shoes were specifically mentioned sure makes it seem like it was of a special issue. And the milita descriptions are just great. The writers both have a way with language and paint a vivid picture.
And… that’s a lot of buttons! I had read that buttons held a special place in the costuming of the times, but to provide such extensive descriptions really reinforces that fact.
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 973
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Post by RyanAK on May 12, 2022 19:52:12 GMT -7
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Post by spence on May 12, 2022 20:33:24 GMT -7
A couple more by Stubbs. Spence
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Post by spence on May 12, 2022 20:52:31 GMT -7
Do you think the gun of the gentleman standing could be a half-stock fowler? Spence
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Post by paranger on May 13, 2022 2:52:23 GMT -7
Half boots or shoes with half gaiters? I can't see laces, but then I can't see buttons, either.
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RyanAK
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Once scalped…
Posts: 973
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Post by RyanAK on May 13, 2022 5:26:31 GMT -7
I’ll go through and pull some examples of footwear. I didn’t have a field in my spreadsheet for footwear because I was concentrating on color. Generally… The buckled shoe predominates, even in the rustic scenes. Next is the low boot or shoe with short gaiter, followed by over-knee gaiters. Buttons and laces are rarely detailed enough to tell if we’re looking at a boot or splatterdash.
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 973
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Post by RyanAK on May 13, 2022 6:52:52 GMT -7
Buckle ShoesThese predominate, but not by much. Remember, these are mostly British printings, so the lack of Native footwear isn’t surprising. A Benjamin West portrait of Guy Johnson (possibly of Sir William Johnson), however, shows the sitter wearing center-seam moccasins and buckskin leggings. I actually have two different images of these fellows, both attired the same. Both are wearing buckle shoes. Buckle shoes. Buckle shoes, a suited pair of coat and waistcoat in glorious green, and likely buckskin breeches. Interesting to note the apparently shiny buttons on this hunting costume.
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