History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

10 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON.
Closely allied in usefulness to the warming-pan was the
foot-stove, but there are no indications that its use was by
any means as universal. They are seldom found in the
earlier inventories, though they were for many years the
only source of heat in the meeting-house. Of special ser-
vice as a Sunday heater, they were undoubtedly of no insignificant
value in every-day life at the farm-house.
Clothing. As substantial in texture and as uncouth in
shape as the other surroundings of the settler,
was the clothing he wore. Much of it was of domestic
manufacture, made from the wool grown upon the farm, or
from the flax raised in the meadows. At first they were
spun, woven and made into garments by the inmates of the
farm-house. Weaving, however, soon became a distinct
trade, and those who carried it on were found in every community.
It was customary for every farmer to raise an
acre or more of flax, which was usually dressed and prepared
for the loom at home.
Men's Garments. The luost commou material for men's everyday
wear was serge, a mixture of cotton and
wool. Knee-breeches, with long stockings, waistcoats,
with long flaps, and coats short and long, resembling the
dress-coat of modern times, are everywhere named.
Breeches were fastened at the knee, sometimes with
buckles, sometimes with ribbons, and often with a simple
band. Red suits, many times of serge or more costly ma-
terial, were quite poj^ular, and there are few inventories in
which they do not appear. The " quality"' and the clergy
wore black broadcloth. Among farmers and mechanics
leather garments were not uncommon. Comparatively few
had leather suits, but nearly everybody had at least one
pair of leather breeches. Stockings, reaching to the knee,
were an important article of male attire. Ordinarily they
were made of wool or worsted, but among the wealthier
classes many pairs of silk are noticed. " Trowses,"
"trowzes," "trouses," are found nearly everywhere, but
the word had not then the significance of to-day. They
were evidently loose outer garments of the nature of overalls,
and were in fact intended for that purpose. Pantaloons