Usually described as a silk ribbon embroidered with
patterns (of the type that was carried on the famous
Lewis & Clark expedition), nonesopritty may well
have been a passamenterie trim or haberdashery
binding, as evinced by the fact that it was sold by
the yard and also by the pound.
A rather popular item, it appears in the Dupui
ledger almost two dozen times, selling for 1
shilling & 8 pence per pound or for 3 pence per
yard.
The largest purchases of this item (30 yards, 32
yards and 97 yards), were made by Thomas Hill who
also saw fit to purchase 50 flints, 27 knives, 20
bars of lead, 6 course tooth combs, and 12 gallons
of rum. As Hill was a client who paid his
bills by way of beaver, wolf, muskrat, raccoon, deer
and bear skins, one can safely assume that he likely
made his livelihood as an Indian trader.
From these repeated purchases, one can probably
conclude that "nonesopritty" was an item favored by
the local Delaware Indians who were willing to offer
valuable skins in exchange for this commodity.
Aware of the Delaware Indian preference for the red
and black colors, one might speculate that it was
likely such a color combination that eventually made
its way onto area native garments.
Others that purchased limited yardage of
nonesopritty (1,2,3 yards), bought the item in
conjunction with: a pair of scissors, or a
fine tooth comb, or a quier of paper, or a silk
handerchief, or a paper of pins, or a pair of
garters. Noted in the account of Moses Dupui
is this entry: "To 3 yds. of Nonesoprittys (per
wife)."
Intrigued by this "per wife" entry, I deemed it
judicious to see what other items women of the
period asked their husbands to pick up at the store;
they included: 1 pen knive and brass handle, a paper
of pins, a felt hat, two laces, a pair of garters,
and a quart of rum (all referenced with the notation
"per your wife").
...and, of course, the lady of the house would
always scrutinze the bill. Appearing in the
account record of Garret Decker is this entry
reflecting a credit for an overcharge "By 4 pence
over charged in 2 pieces of Nonesopritty."