Nancy M. Sambitts York County Historical Center
Clothing Inventory
The following descriptions are from the Pennsylvania Gazette dated June 10, 1756:
.A native Irishman, Hugh O’Daniel, appears to be 30 years of age, who broke out of the public jail wearing a pretty good hat, green jacket, good leather breeches, blue stockings, good shoes, and a new homespun shirt.
.Shop of Joseph Pierce was broken into and a piece of cloth of a lead color, 1 piece of brown worsted stuff, a light colored camblet coat, partly worn, with slash(?) sleeves, a blue and white striped linen vest, a pattern of a pair of breeches of deerskin, a parcel of mohair, several bags of mohair buttons, three deerskins, and a pair of worsted breeches.
.A runaway Dutch servant lad, Hotman Reel, about 12 years old, had on a new felt hat, striped linsey jacket, a little patched, and lined with black cloth, brass buttons, homespun shirt, homespun petticoat trousers, white yarn stockings, lately footed, his shoes lately soled and tied with leather.
.A runaway Irish servant lad named John Orr, aged about 17 years, had on a light colored cloth jacket without lining about half worn, a new tow shirt, old trousers, old shoes, felt hat and a white cap.
.A runaway Irish servant man, George Hepburn, about 20 years of age, had on a felt hat, old cloth coat, linsey jacket, a fine white shirt, leather breeches, brown stockings, good shoes with square steel buckles.
.A runaway convict servant man, Joba Walker” about 40 years old, had on a thick set olive brown (?) coat, and red jacket, with no buttons on it but laced. Likewise took with him a light colored broad cloth great coat, a new pair of men’s shoes.
.A runaway Dutch servant woman, Waliburg Demen, about 22 years of age, had on a fine straw hat, with blue strings, dark striped linen jacket and petticoat, the color of the petticoat partly washed out, a black under petticoat, blue cloth (?) and stomacher, blue yarn stockings and new shoes.
.A runaway Irish servant girl, named Frances Mercer, about 22 years of age, wearing a petticoat and gown of new dark striped linsey and an old striped linen petticoat and gown.
.Thomas Preston’s store selling goods imported from London: broadcloths, poplins, camblets, worsted damasks, knit patterns for breeches, worsted hose, worsted and cotton caps, linen and silk handkerchiefs, linen and cotton check, calicoes, printed linens, fine chintz and muslins, brocaded silks, sewing silks and velvet, laces, ribbons felt hats, Flanders lace, mohair buttons, and Irish linens.
The following descriptions are from the Virginia Gazette dated October 22, 1772:
.A runaway English convict servant man, John Booker, about 33 years old, had on and took with him, two brown colored coats, one with twist, the other with flat metal buttons, a lapelled scarlet jacket, his breeches much the same with the coats, several shirts, two pair of shoes, yarn stockings, and brown trousers; he had with him a box of wafers and a parchment covered memorandum pocket book.
.A runaway committed to the gaol, William Watson, about 30 or 35 years of age, appears, from his dialect, to be a Yorkshireman, had on a brown linen shirt, and trousers of the same.
.A runaway servant woman, Elizabeth Smith, 25 years old, had on, and took with her, a short calico gown, a white linen gown, white apron, and white (?) sack and petticoat, red cardinal, flowered blue satin capuchin, calico petticoat, black satin laced bonnet, fine pair of cotton and two pair of hose, old black calimanco shoes with plain silver buckles, one ruffled and two plain shifts.
.Allan & Turner advertise imported goods for sale: a large assortment of goods suitable to the season viz. bearskin, Dutch blankets, Kendal cottons, stockings and shoes, an assortment of superfine and second broadcloths, in suits, and parts of suits, suitable to any size, with trimmings, a great variety of stuffs for women’s gowns, fine and coarse hats; a fine assortment of Irish linens and oznabrigs, Scotch Holland, lawns and gauzes of all sorts, women’s leather stays, most sorts of dying stuffs.
.C. Rathell just imported from London a large assortment of millinery and jewelry; consisting of white satins, black and colored cloaks, hats, and bonnets, silk petticoats, wedding fans, and breast flowers, Queen’s silk and satin shoes, muslins, gauze, Dresden worked linen, quilts, a large assortment of broad and narrow ribbons, ribbed and plain silk, cotton and thread hose, children’s cotton hose, and pieces for ruffles, silk mitts and gloves, buck, doe, kid, lamb, and fawn gloves and mitts, plain gold lockets, stay hooks, garnet shoebuckles, enameled and plain gold sleeve buttons, boy’s silk and beaver caps, ladies and gentlemen’s fine hats, a very large quantity of Didsbury’s men’s, women’s, and children’s shoes, flannel under jackets, fine India cotton for working.
.Sarah Pitt advertises a large assortment of goods consisting of very handsome paste necklaces and earrings, marcasite, wax, and coal necklaces and earrings, sets of buttons for stomachers, children’s watches, curious watch trinkets for ladies, very genteel dress and undress fancy caps, women’s blue, green, and red morocco turned pumps, women’s and girls black leather shoes and pumps, gentlemen’s pocket books, of all prices, a variety of pretty cottons and calicoes, copperplate and fancy chintzes.
The following inventories are from York County :
.Inventory of John Ash’s estate in October 1787 lists a big coat, 1 pr. drawers, 1 coat, 1 pr. stockings, 1 jacket, 1 pr of gloves, 1 hat.
.Inventory of James Beard’s estate in 1789 lists clothing of different sorts, 24 yds. linen homespun.
.Inventory of Dr. William Lyon’s estate in 1790 lists 2 pr. of gloves, 1 broadcloth coat cut out, 5 shirts, neckcloths, 5 waistcoats, 3 pr. breeches, 2 Goats, 6 prs. of stockings, 1 hat.
.Inventory of John Banks’ estate in 1790 lists 9 fine shirts, 2 course shirts, 3 pr. overalls, 2 linen jackets and 1 pr. of linen breeches, 3 muslin handkerchiefs, 2 cravat, 9 pr. woolen stockings, 1 blue cloth coat and jacket, 1 black coat and jacket, 1 blue coat and jacket, 1 blue slip coat and jacket, 3 pr. of breeches and a night cape, 1 pr. of boots.
Inventory of John Carnaghan’s estate in 1792 lists 1 fur hat, 2 pr. woolen stockings, a brass buckle, 1 pr. cotton stockings, 1 pr. thread stockings, 1 jacket and drawers, shirts, 1 silk handkerchief, 1 silver watch, 1 pr. silver shoe buckles, 1 pr. silver knee buckles, 1 silver stock buckle, silver buttons and lockets, silver broach.
Will of Mary Boyls in 1794 gives her daughter Jean Allcorn her silver buckles and the suit of clothes she made for her
.Inventory of James Cook’s estate in 1794 lists 2 big coat patterns, 2 yds. of blue broadcloth, jacket and britches of jeans, 7 yds. of fine linen, 1 stock buckle, 2 pr. of stockings coat jacket and britches.
.Inventory of James Bratton’s estate in 1801 lists pr. stockings, cotton shirts, waistcoats, 1 waist shape, 4 pr. overalls, 2 pr. breeches, 4 straight coats, 1 great coat, 2 linen shirts, 1 pocket book, 1 hat, 1 watch.
.Inventory of James Barr’s estate in 1803 lists 2 hats, 2 outside coats, 2 close body coats, black waistcoat, gray waistcoat, 3 waistcoats, pr. of small clothes and waistcoat, 2 pr. overalls, morning gown, 2 pr. of leather gloves, 4 shirts and 3 neckcloths, 5 handkerchiefs, 5 pr. of long stockings, 1 pr. of leggings, waistcoat, flannel shirt, stock buckle, pr. of knee buckles, pr. of shoe buckles, box of buttons, 1 pocket book, 1 pr. of spectacles, 1 blue jacket, silk handkerchief, 3 % yards of cotton.
.Inventory of Hugh Berry’s estate in 1803 lists a great coat, a broadcloth coat and waistcoat and small clothes of cotton velvet, a straight coat light blue thick cloth, a straight coat and jacket of jeans and white small clothes, 3 pr. stockings, a fine shirt, 2 hats.
.Inventory of John Carrington’s estate in 1807 lists 1 pr of shoes, 1 big coat and hat, shirts and 1 pr. of overalls, 1 short coat jacket and overalls, 1 suit of light clothes, 1 suit coat jacket and overalls, 1 suit of uniform hat coat jacket and overalls.
The following wills are from York County :
.Elisabeth Lusk, 1770, leaves daughter Elisabeth McCleland a black gown and mantle, leaves daughter Margaret Whiteside one woman’s saddle.
.Robert Patterson, 1775, gives son Thomas 50 pounds of money and all my clothes except my fur hat and one gray 3 year old mare and colt to his son John.
.Joseph Carrel, 1777, gives to my bound boy Matthew Carrel the amount of 25 pounds money in cash or creatures to that amount and a decent suit of apparel from head to foot besides his ordinary or wearing apparel at his 21st birthday.
.Alexander Love, 1781, gives his wife Margaret his silver buckles and silver clasps to his son William.
.Catharine Berry , 1784, gives daughter Catharine Barron my bed with all its furniture and all my wearing body clothes to be equally divided between her daughters Violet and Catharine.
.Robert Lattimore, 1784, leaves his wife her riding saddle and bridle.
.Jackson Neely, 1785, leaves wife Ann her clothing, bed and bed clothes, a horse and saddle; leaves daughter Hannah her own clothing, bed, bed clothes, horse and saddle; leaves daughter Jane her own clothing, bed, bed clothes, horse and saddle.
.James Lewis, 1786, leaves son John my clothing.
.Frances Miscelly, (Miskelly) 1786, leaves her sister a petticoat -pattern of black calimaco and the remainder of my wearing apparel to sister’s female children.
.Michael McGarity, 1787, leaves wife one sorrel horse and her saddle.
.Daniel Sturgis, 1787, leaves daughter Mary a feather bed, bed clothes, and her mother’s saddle at her demise.
Alexander Hemphill, 1788, leaves wife Mary a mare and foal with saddle and bridle, bed and furniture together with all her wearing apparel.
.Richard Latheam, 1788, leaves wife Catherine a bed, her wearing clothes, sorrel mare and her saddle and bridle.
.James Pursley, 1788, gives his youngest daughter Elisabeth Stevenson as much as will buy her a black gown.
.Esther Henderson , 1789, leaves Mary Henderson a black gown and petticoat and apron and shift; to her son Robert some coarse cloth; to her son Samuel her bible.
.Oliver Wallace, 1789, leaves his wife Judith his oldest bay mare, a woman’s saddle and bridle, also a feather bed and furniture with all her wearing apparel.
.John Carnahan, 1790, leaves his wife Mary one black mare, saddle and bridle, one feather bed with all her linens and woolens.
.Andrew Leathern, 1790, gives his son James a gold broach and ring; son Alexander a diamond ring; son William his silver shoe buckles and 2 gold rings; his neice Rachael Murphy my lutestring skirt.
.John Wilson , 1791, leaves wife Sarah her wearing apparel, bed, her choice of horse and her saddle and bridle.
.Laban Sturgis, 1793, leaves his sister Mary Sturgis one bed, bedstead and furniture, one chest, one hat which I now wear, one pair of silver buckles.
.James Young, 1793, leaves his son his clothes, compass and cart.
.Robert miller, 1800, leaves one dark gown pattern to Mrs. Woods and of the same piece a gown pattern to be taken off for his mother the piece being of a dark purple; Hannah shall take choice of one of the shawls, as to the remainder of my stocks and goods I leave to my father.
11/2001 NMS