Two Centuries of Costume in America, Volume 1 (1620-1820)

								


TWO CENTURIES OF COSTUME IN AMERICA
MDCXX-MDCCCXX

ALICE MORSE EARLE
AUTHOR OF “SUN-DIALS AND ROSES OF YESTERDAY” “OLD TIME GARDENS,” ETC.

VOLUME I
Nineteen Hundred and Three

Madam Padishal and Child Madam Padishal and Child.

To George P. Brett

“An honest Stationer (or Publisher) is he, that exercizeth his Mystery
(whether it be in printing, bynding or selling of Bookes) with more
respect to the glory of God & the publike aduantage than to his owne
Commodity & is both an ornament & a profitable member in a ciuill
Commonwealth.... If he be a Printer he makes conscience to exemplefy
his Coppy fayrely & truly. If he be a Booke-bynder, he is no meere
Bookeseller (that is) one who selleth meerely ynck & paper bundled up
together for his owne aduantage only: but he is a Chapman of Arts, of
wisdome, & of much experience for a little money.... The reputation of
Schollers is as deare unto him as his owne: For, he acknowledgeth that
from them his Mystery had both begining and means of continuance. He
heartely loues & seekes the Prosperity of his owne Corporation: Yet he
would not iniure the Uniuersityes to advantage it. In a word, he is
such a man that the State ought to cherish him; Schollers to loue him;
good Customers to frequent his shopp; and the whole Company of
Stationers to pray for him.”
—GEORGE WITHER, 1625.

CONTENTS
VOL. I
I. APPAREL OF THE PURITAN AND PILGRIM FATHERS
II. DRESS OF THE NEW ENGLAND MOTHERS
III. ATTIRE OF VIRGINIA DAMES AND THEIR NEIGHBORS
IV. A VAIN PURITAN GRANDMOTHER
V. THE EVOLUTION OF COATS AND WAISTCOATS
VI. RUFFS AND BANDS
VII. CAPS AND BEAVERS IN COLONIAL DAYS
VIII. THE VENERABLE HOOD
IX. CLOAKS AND THEIR COUSINS
X. THE DRESS OF OLD-TIME CHILDREN
XI. PERUKES AND PERIWIGS
XII. THE BEARD
XIII. PATTENS, CLOGS, AND GOLOE-SHOES
XIV. BATTS AND BROAGS, BOOTS AND SHOES

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS IN VOLUME I

MADAM PADISHAL AND CHILD
Frontispiece
This fine presentation of the dress of a gentlewoman and infant child,
in the middle of the seventeenth century, hung in old Plymouth homes in
the Thomas and Stevenson families till it came by inheritance to the
present owner, Mrs. Greely Stevenson Curtis of Boston, Mass. The artist
is unknown.
JOHN ENDICOTT
Born in Dorchester, Eng., 1589. Died in Boston, Mass., 1665. He
emigrated to America in 1628; became governor of the colony in 1644,
and was major-general of the colonial troops. He hated Indians, the
Church of Rome, and Quakers. He wears a velvet skull-cap, and a
finger-ring, which is somewhat unusual; a square band; a richly fringed
and embroidered glove; and a “stiletto” beard. This portrait is in the
Essex Institute, Salem, Mass.
EDWARD WINSLOW
Born in England, 1595; died at sea, 1655. One of the founders of the
Plymouth colony in 1620; and governor of that colony in 1633, 1636,
1644. This portrait is dated 1651. It is in Pilgrim Hall, Plymouth,