| |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| |
FROM FLAXSEED TO LINEN
-- TEXTILE PRODUCTION
Although Nicholas Dupui never sold a single sewing
needle, he did sell skeins of thread 52 times, pairs
of scissors on 18 occasions, and
a "paper of pins" 43 times. While such might
lead one to conclude that the mending or fabrication
of garments was a regular occurrence throughout the
first half-century of life on the Pennsylvania
frontier, that conclusion might well be erroneous.
Throughout most of Europe, small insignificant gifts
such as "papers of pins" and other household items were
traditionally given during courtship as indications of
an intent to marry. Noting that 95% of the "paper of
pins" sales occurred during the first two years of area
settlement, courtship rituals rooted in European origins
may indeed have been the driving force behind the sale
of such commodities. A factor, other than the need to
mend, might well have been at play.
From the earliest days, imported threads and
yarns (mohair, silk and nun's thread), were
readily available, as were imported silk
handerchiefs and laces. Yet at some point,
these imports were supplanted by a range of
domestically produced textiles. When did it
first happen in this area?
The first clue we have from Nicholas Dupui's
ledger may be found in the account of Samuel
Venorman who in early 1754 paid part of his bill
by "Weaving of 26 yards of Cloth." The date of
this entry is also close to the time that we see
the first entries related to the sowing of
flaxseed: (1), 1 May 1753, Daniel Crely, "to
the sowing of one Bushel of Flax," and (2), 18
July 1753, Thomas Hendy, "to 1 Bushel of
flaxseed May 5th Sowing."
This time frame also generally corresponds to
the first appearance of a new type of linen
being sold at the store. Previously, linen had
only appeared in three varieties: "linnin,"
"check linnin," and "Holland linnin" --
beginning in 1753 one now sees entries for
something described as "toe linnin". |
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
The Dupui General Store Ledger: 1743-1793
