Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.
Check Apron
Thirty-five items were purchased at the Colden store on this day, 250 years-ago. Peter Aldridge bought a Check Apron for five shillings, about a day's wages for a tradesman.
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| The Tenant's Daughter c. 1780, unk. printer, Courtesy of The British Museum |
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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 eight months, twenty-five aprons were purchased at the store. All except one were described as 'check.' All but two sold for five shillings.
None of the purchasers were repeat-customers. Does this indicate that aprons were rare purchases and perhaps a luxury item?
Aprons were originally meant for work situations to "keep the clothes clean or defend them from injury." [Webster's 1828 Dictionary] But it appears that in the colonies check aprons were sometimes a fashion statement with "decent woment" wearing them "abroad and to churches." [Annals of Philadelphia]
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| Check Apron. The unidentified maker embroidered her initials E F and 1776 in minuscule cross-stitches near the waistband. Image courtesy of Colonial Williamsburg. |
One of the 25 purchasers of aprons was this blog's eponym, Joel Campbell. His purchase was one of the two aprons sold for over five shillings. Was there something special about this apron that commanded a higher price? Was it a surprise for his wife or was he just carrying out a request?
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For more images of 18th century aprons, see Karen Larsdatter's 18th Century Notebook.
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