LINEN! February 23, 1768 at the Colden Store, Coldengham, New York

Tuesday February 23, 1768
Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.

Linen

250 years ago today, Charles Ruby (Rube) bought two different grades of linen at the Colden Store. He bought one half yard of the more expensive linen at 5 Shillings per yard and seven yards of the cheaper linen at 4 1/4 Shillings per yard.

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This article is one in a series of a daily accountings of Colden Store transactions. Be sure you read the first installment for an introduction to the store. You should also read this article which appeared in the Journal of the Orange County Historical Society.

Charles Ruby (Rooby, Rubey, Rube, Roby) is mentioned 34 times in the DayBook. On this occasion he purchased mostly sewing supplies.

Linen (linnen or linning) was the most popular fabric sold at the store (see previous blog).  In the prior six months, Colden sold about 180 yards of linen in about 100 transactions. It was sold in various grades and prices, including Check, Striped, and Sheeting Linen. All of it was likely imported from England.

Linen was made from the fibers in flax. We know from the Daybook that flax was grown (see prior blog)  and that 'homespun' was manufactured locally. The actual yardage of linen made locally remains unknown, but it was being encouraged in many colonies as the boycotting of English goods gained serious consideration in the wake of the oppressive Townshend taxes (see prior blog).

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