Fashions in New York (1796–1797)

BY RACHEL HUNTINGTON

NEW YORK November 19^th 1796

MY DEAR SISTERS

THIS is the first time I have had leasure to write to you, since I parted from you at Norwich, perhaps by this time, a little narrative of my adventures, will not be ungratefull to you.—About thre hours after Cousin Alice & I left you, we arrived at New London; we went immediately to M^r Laws, made a good visit, & about four o clock P M embarked for N York, which we reached in 15 hours; we went directly to Brother Henry’s, & Alice, finding on enquiry that M^r W Fitch’s family were at Stamford & M^rs Watsons, about setting out for Bethlehem, concluded to take up her abode with me while we stay in town—Monday & Tuesday we went a shopping all about town, Wensday morning went to M^r Watsons, & in the evening to the Theatre, where the tragedy of the Earl of Essex, (founded on the story of Queen Elizabeth, & the Earl of Essex,) or the unhappy favorite, & the Padlock a musical entertainment were performed with considerable applause—I confess to you, I was not so delighted with the play, as I expected to be, but there are very few plays, that have nothing disgusting in them—I spent Thursday at Mr W Wolsey’s with M^rs John Davenport, her daughter Mary Davenport, Cousin Alice, & Miss Patty Dwight, a niece of M^rs Wolsey’s, from North Hampton—last night we were again at the Theatre, & were enter-rained with the Comedy of the young quaker, & my Grandmother, a whimsical, well performed, farce,—I believe you will think dissipation has got fast hold of me, but do not be troubled, I will shake it off whenever it is necessary—

I have bought a camels hair shawl for Lucy, & some lace, which I shall send by Culver, I shall buy some knitting nedles for Nancy, & also a brown beaver hat if I can find one that I think would suit her; I have been to M^r Tiffin’s for one, & he has none but sattin beavers, which are extravagantly dear & in my opinion not so good as the other kind—I will enquire further & if I cant find a brown hat to suit my fancy, shall buy a green one, like one I purchased for myself

I think it is probale Miss Cogswell [and] I shall go to Stamford about the middle of next week, but cannot certainly tell—I’d like to have forgot to tell you that Doctor Brown has been here, & brought me a letter from Benjamin, & I wrote by him to Ben—He desired me to give his compliments to Father & Nancy, he says he thinks it very probable, brother George & Lady visit Norwich this winter, so I told him Lucy would return with them, if they should,—O sisters! if I could see you but for one hour, what pleasure it would give me—

I am engaged to spend the day at M^r Cotton’s tomorrow, it is quite late & I must rise early—Give my duty to Father, love to brother & sister, & their children & believe me most affectionately your sister

RACHEL HUNTINGTON

MISSES L & A HUNTINGTON . . .

NEW YORK May 28^th 1797

MY DEAR SISTER

The enclosed pacquet was intended to be sent by General Floyd, but he went away before it was given to him—I have forgot what I wrote in it, but shall send it along & perhaps there may be something entertaining in it—Lucy I believe most of the comissions from you & sister Hannah have been attended to by Brother George or myself—I have bought two bands which are the most fashionable trimings for beaver hats, a white one for the blue hat, & a yellow one for the black one, they should be put twice around the crown & fastned forward in the form of a beau knot. Brother has got each of you a pink silk shawl which are very fashionable also Many Ladies wear them for turbans, made in the manner that you used to make muslin ones last summer, George has given me one like them, The fine lace cost so shillings a yard, & I think it is very handsome, there is enough for two handkerchiefs & two double tuckers, the way to make handkerchief’s is to set lace, or a ruffle on a strait piece of muslin, (only pieced on the back to make it set to your neck,) & put it on so as to show only the ruffle, & make it look as if it was set on the neck of your gown, many Ladies trim the neck of thief gowns with lace & go without handkerchiefs but I think it is a nearer way to wear them with fashionable gowns it will not be necessary to have much more than half a yard in the width of your tuckers I send a doll, by Brother George which I intended to have dressd in a neater manner but really could not find time—it however has rather a fashionable appearance, the cap is made in a good form but you would make one much handsomer than I could, the beau to Miss Dollys poultice neck cloth is rather large but the thickness is very moderate—I think a cap crown & turban would become you—I have got a braid of hair which cost four dollars it should be fastned up with a comb, (without platting) under your turban if it has a crown & over it, if without a crown—Brother has got some very beautifull sattin muslin, & also some handsome "tartan plad" gingham for your gowns, there is a large pattern for two train gowns of the muslin, which should be made thre breadths wide two breadths to reach to the shoulder straps forward, & one breadth to be cut part of the way down before, to go over the shoulder & part of it to be pleated on to the shoulder straps, meeting the back breadths, & some of it to go around the neck, like the doll’s—the pleats should be made pretty small, & not stitched to the lining, but you should wear binders over your shoulders—an inch & a half should be the width of your binders. (I must have done writing this pretty soon. the last sentence if you observe is quite poetical—but let me stick to my text Fashion) It is the fashion to have draw strings fastned on the corners of the shoulder straps by the sieves on the back, and have a tack large enough for them to run in, made to cross on the back, run under the arms an inch below the sleves & tie before I should advise you to have your gingham one made in that way, with draw’d sleves for sister Hannah & I have seen as large Ladies as you with them, & I think they would look very well for you Sleves should be made half a yard wide & not drawd less than seven or eight times, I think they look best to have two or three drawings close together & a plain spot alternately—Some of the ladies have thier sleves coverd with drawing tacks, & have thier elbows uncover’d if you dont like short sleves, you should have long ones with short ones to come down allmost to your elbows, drawed four or five by the bottom if yo[u] want to walk with long gowns you must draw the train up thr’o one of the pocket holes, I have bought some callico for chints trimings for old gowns, if you have any that you wish to wear short they are very fashionable at present, & gowns that are trimed with them should be made only to touch the ground, there is enough of the dark stripe for one gown, & enough of the light for one there should be enough white left on the dark stripe to turn down to prevent its ravelling. I gave 10 shillings for the callico & have been laughed at for my ’ foolish bargain ’ but I am not convinced that it is foolish The William street merchants ask three shillings a yard for trimings like the wide stripe & two for the narrow—I guess you will like the narrow—the kid shoes are of the most fashionable kind, & the others, of the best quality Brother George keeps enquiring for my letter—& as I have fill’d up my paper I’ll leave the improvement for you to make With love to sister Hannah & Benjamin I am my dear sister yours, most affectionately

R HUNTINGTON

MISS LUCY HUNTINGTON

W. D. McCrackan, editor, (New York, 1897), 115–156 passim.