by Victoria Rose Perkins

Created on: October 29, 2009   Last Updated: October 30, 2009

What did the average Pilgrim wear for clothing everyday? Most of us have the idea that the Pilgrims' clothing was quite simple, mostly black and/or grey, with white collars, silver buckles on the hat, belt and shoes. This is a common depiction of their clothing most of us have, mostly having learned this through early school years, at Thanksgiving time.

Upon closer inspection, historians tell us a different story. For instance, silver hat, belt and shoe buckles were not used during the early 17th centruy. It was not until the end of that centruy that silver buckles became fashionable. The pilgrims did wear black and/or grey outfits, but these were only worn on Sundays for worship.

From the passenger list of the Mayflower, we know that the Pilgrims were familiar with colored clothing, such as blue, green, violet, yellow and red. While in Holland, just before they set sail, they knew about clothing dyes (taken from plants and roots), that were used to produce color for every day clothing. The colors were not bold or bright, but they were definite faded shades of blues, greens, violets, yellows and reds.

Further, clothing was passed down as part of inheritances. Here are a few recordings from passengers who were on the Mayflower, leaving their clothing items in a will to relatives. As recorded:

A passenger named Brewster left in his will, "one blew clothe suit, green drawers, a vilolete clothe coat, black silk stockings, skyblew garters, red grograin suit, red waistcoat, tawny colored suit with silver buttons."

Aboard the Mayflower, it was noted that a Mrs Winslow recieved "narrow lace slippers" and an "embriodered cap" as a wedding present. Constance Hopkins wore a "felted beaver cap."

Occupations were listed beside the Mayflower passenger's names. So from this, we learn more. Here is a brief list.

1. Digory Priest - hat maker from London

2. Frances Cooke - wool carder

3. William Mullins - boot and shoe maker

4. Edward Tiley - cloth maker

5. John Tiley - silk worker

6. William White - wool and wool carder

Wool, linen, silk, cotton and leather were familiar to all the Pilgrims. And, as noted, some were tradesmen making clothes, boots and shoes.

WHAT THEY WORE:

Pilgrim women wore undergarments, petticoats, dresses with bodice and skirt, aprons, capes for coats and low-heeled round-toed shoes. These came in the variety of colors mentioned earlier.

Pilgrim men wore undergarments, breeches, shirts with turnback cuffs and wrist ruffles, stockings, belts, capes, and low-heeled round-toes leather boots or shoes.

Pilgrim children dressed similar to their parents, and had long nightshirts for bedtime.

For some excellent drawings of what the Pilgrims clothing actually looked like, depicting in much detail, especially the embriodered clothing, visit this website. It also contains pictures of their furniture, etc.

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/-mosmd/clothing.htm

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