albany_clothing

Clothing & Accoutrements

Men's Clothing in the 2nd Albany County Militia

ALWAYS use 100% natural fiber - it's the most fire resistant (How to perform a "Burn Test"). Linen, cotton, wool (some wool fabric has a little nylon in it to prevent shrinkage - this is OK), linen-cotton blend and linen-wool blend. The men's basic outfit consists of breeches (or trousers), shirt, box frock or waistcoat, stockings, hat and shoes or moccassins.

What station in life are your portraying? Farmer, smith, cooper, baker, brewer, indentured servant, teamster, day laborer or merchant? The indentured servant, laborer or teamster may only have a shirt, trousers, box-frock and hat. A farmer or craftsman would wear a shirt, breeches, waistcoat, hat, shoes, stockings and perhaps a coat. A well-to-do merchant would have the same in better fabric.

Where to get these clothes? The most cost effective way to outfit yourself is make your own. Patterns are available for everything but shoes. The BEST patterns are the J. P. Ryan patterns. Instructions to make good patterns are in Tidings from the 18th Century by Beth Gilgun. Clothes can also be purchased ready made from sutlers (NOTE: Not everything every sutler sells in 100% documentable and accurate. Just do a little homework. Don't be afraid to ask others.)

The 2nd has always tried to maintain a rational and quality standard of authenticity. Inside seams can be machine sewn but stitches that show (collars, button holes, topstitching) should be by hand.

BASIC	IMPROVED	IDEAL
First year: shirt, breeches or trousers, frock, plain hat, black tie shoes. Read this BEFORE buying anything.	Linen shirt, coat, reproduction shoes, overstitch machine stitches by hand.	(Where we would all like to be) All handsewn clothes. Handwoven fabric, i.e. linsey-woolsey and leather breeches.

Colours - We have done quite a bit of research into the most commonly used colours and fabrics. The following suggestions are made up after totaling up the descriptions from many runaway ads in the 18th c. newspapers and looking at estate inventories:

Breeches - should be narrowfall dropfront or the older button fly style. The most common colours of cloth breeches are:

Trowsers - these are narrow fall or button fly. The most common fabric is tow so a tan-ish, natural colour is the most common. A few were striped, some were checked. The most cost effective outfit is the Schuyler's Coy fatigue wear - trousers, checked shirt, frock, hat and neck cloth. This outfit can be worn for both units.

Shirt - the shirt should be long, nearly knee length. White, tan or checked (blue or black). Cotton and/or linen. Not PRINTED CALICO.

Frock - this work garment was worn to protect the shirt and waistcoat. Should be long and the box frock style. No capes or fringes. Tan/natural linen (Schuyler's) or brownish-greenish OK.

Waistcoat - can be sleeveless or sleeved but should have coat or box frock over it. Bottom button should cover center breeches button. Colours can be:

Hat - the hat can be worn a variety of ways but is always worn. Cloth caps were worn indoors. Hats can be round or have 1, 2, or 3 sides cocked up.

Accessories - hat (see above), workman's cap, black shoes, gaiters or leggings and neckcloth.

Neckcloth - sizes can be from bandana size to a 36" by 36" square. Solid colour or checked.

Coat - men wore coats almost all the time, unless engaged in heavy labor. Should be a little tight in the shoulders. Colours:

Klinger: Sketchbook '76
Gilgun, Beth: Tidings from the 18th Century - has many clothing patterns, see chapter 3.
White, George: Craft Manual of North American Indian Footwear
Book of Buckskinning III - Geiger's chapter "Techniques for Making Footwear"
Gehet, Ellen: Rural Pennsylvania Clothing
Stokesbury: A Short History of the American Revolution
Commanger: The Spirit of Seventy-Six - original accounts and primary sources.
Martin, Joseph Plumb: Private Yankee Doodle

Tidings from the 18th Century

Smoke and Fire