GLOVES! March 15, 1768 at the Colden Store, Coldengham, New York

Tuesday March 15, 1768
Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.

Gloves

Thomas Beattie (Baity, Beatty) was at the Colden Store 250 years ago today. He was picking up some items for his neighbor, Martha McCollum (McCollem). He left with a gallon of rum, one and one-half yards of ribbon, and a pair of gloves. He purchased nothing for himself.

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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.

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In the prior six months, Colden sold about thirty pairs of gloves. Only one had a descriptor: "worsted." There is no record of whether the gloves were for women or men, work or worship, of leather or cloth.

They were not inexpensive. The worsted pair was the most expensive at four and one-half shillings - almost a day's wages. The least expensive was two and one-half shillings.

Of the 15 accounts that purchased "gloves" in the prior six months, four were women's accounts. Considering that very few of the accounts were in a woman's name, this is a very high proportion. This makes me believe that these gloves were women's gloves and were a luxury item for special occasions.

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