Coldengham, New York
Store of Cadwallader Colden, Jr.
Cambric
George Field purchased one-half yard of Cambric (Cambrick) for four and one-half pounds at the Colden Store on this day 250 years-ago.
 |
| Cambric reproduction. 2.8 oz linen at 55 threads/inch. Image courtesy of WmBoothDraper.com |
Cambric was a very fine linen used for neck and pocket handkerchiefs, caps, and ruffles.
==============================
Search the DayBook
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.
===============================
George Field was mentioned six times in the DayBook, all were in 1768. On two of those occasions, as was the case today, he was represented by his wife.
In addition to the Cambric, Field's wife purchased Lawn (1/4 yd), Checked Linen (1.5 yds), Linen (2.5 yds), three skeins of Silk, one paper of Pins, and a Handkerchief.
Cambric was a very popular fabric at the Colden Store, unlike the Ramsay store in Alexandria where only three purchases of Cambric were recorded. Perhaps this type of linen was known by a different name in the south, as it seems unlikely that the fashion would be so much different in these two colonies.
Over 125 purchases of Cambric were recorded in the Colden DayBook. The purchases were in small quantities (1/8 to 1/2 yard) perhaps because it was an expensive and impractical fabric. It was priced at 9 to 14 shillings per yard. At the higher price, a yard of fabric was the equivalent of three-day's wages.
===============================
Search the DayBook
No comments:
Post a Comment