The Dupui General Store Ledger:  1743-1793
 
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                 COMMODITIES Nonesopritty                                                                              
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INDIAN TRADE GOODS? -- 
THE STORY OF "NONESOPRITTY" 

Usually described as a silk ribbon embroidered with patterns (of the type that was carried on the famous Lewis & Clark expedition), nonesopritty may well have been a passamenterie trim or haberdashery binding, as evinced by the fact that it was sold by the yard and also by the pound.

A rather popular item, it appears in the Dupui ledger almost two dozen times, selling for 1 shilling & 8 pence per pound or for 3 pence per yard. 

The largest purchases of this item (30 yards, 32 yards and 97 yards), were made by Thomas Hill who also saw fit to purchase 50 flints, 27 knives, 20 bars of lead, 6 course tooth combs, and 12 gallons of rum.  As Hill was a client who paid his bills by way of beaver, wolf, muskrat, raccoon, deer and bear skins, one can safely assume that he likely made his livelihood as an Indian trader.

From these repeated purchases, one can probably conclude that "nonesopritty" was an item favored by the local Delaware Indians who were willing to offer valuable skins in exchange for this commodity.  Aware of the Delaware Indian preference for the red and black colors, one might speculate that it was likely such a color combination that eventually made its way onto area native garments.

Others that purchased limited yardage of nonesopritty (1,2,3 yards), bought the item in conjunction with:  a pair of scissors, or a fine tooth comb, or a quier of paper, or a silk handerchief, or a paper of pins, or a pair of garters.  Noted in the account of Moses Dupui is this entry: "To 3 yds. of Nonesoprittys (per wife)."

Intrigued by this "per wife" entry, I deemed it judicious to see what other items women of the period asked their husbands to pick up at the store; they included: 1 pen knive and brass handle, a paper of pins, a felt hat, two laces, a pair of garters, and a quart of rum (all referenced with the notation "per your wife"). 

...and, of course, the lady of the house would always scrutinze the bill.  Appearing in the account record of Garret Decker is this entry reflecting a credit for an overcharge "By 4 pence over charged in 2 pieces of Nonesopritty."

 

                                                                                                   

 
   
 
 
       
       
     
     
 
     
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