TEXTILES FOR SLAVES --
THE GARMENTS WORN

Most of what we know about slave attire in Pennsylvania comes to us by way of runaway notices posted to the Pennsylvania Gazette.  Between its establishment in 1728 and the end of the century, thousands of such notices had been posted -- rather indicative of a mjor ongoing problem.

Some sample excerpts from 1794 and 1795 depicting garments worn:

"had on when he went away, a brown coloured hunting-shirt, under jacket with strings to it, and trowsers of the same, a pair of course tow trowsers, and a linen shirt."

"had on and took with him, a new mixture linsey coat, and under jacket of the same, a striped jacket of linen, blue and white stripes, two pair of trowsers, a pair of yellow linsey, and a pair of striped cassimer, two pair of stockings, one pair of pale blue yarn, ribbed, the other black wollen yarn, a new pair of shoes, a new high crowned hat, bound with black tape."

"had on when he went away, a blue sailor jacket lined with white flannel, a linsey under jacket, striped brown linsey trowsers,  Russia sheeting shirt, two pair of stockings, one pair blue, the other brown, calfskin shoes, and an old wool hat." "had on when he went away, a light coloured cloth short coat, a striped pattern under jacket, a fine shirt, and a tow linen ditto, two pair of trowsers, one pair of black and white striped cotton, the other pair tow linen, a pair of black and white speckled cotton stockings, and a pair of light coloured worsted ditto, coarse leather shoes, and an old fine hat."

"had on, when he went away, a white coattee and red waistcoat, olive coloured trowsers half worn, felt hat, and slipskin shoes."