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

12 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON.
the neighborhood or the news of the day. There were alsa
itinerant tailoresses, though some of them carried on the
"business at their own homes. They plied their trade in dif-
ferent families, much as do the dressmakers of the present
day. Catherine (Phelps), wife of Simeon Parsons, carried
on the tailoring business for more than forty years, during
the latter half of the eighteenth century. Commonly she
employed three or four apprentices, and sometimes more.
Those who boarded themselves served for a year ; if she
boarded them, they worked for her eighteen months. She
made garments for most of the men in Northampton, and
for many in other towns. Major Hawley, Major Dwight,
Mr. Stoddard, and a few others, had their coats made in
Boston, but their vests and knee-breeches were made by
Mrs. Parsons. Her price for coats was from 6s. to 10s. ; for
breeches, if made plain, 4s. ; but if more elaborate, she
charged 6s. For making vests her charge was 4s. Major
Hawley and others would employ her to turn their coats,
after they had become worn. For many years after Mrs.
Parsons was married, in 1752, there was no tailor in town.
Women's Garments. The every-day dress of women, like that of
men, was of homespun material. It wasworn
and reworn, perhaps not so often made over as at the
present day, but the goods were much more durable. Linen
and woolen, cotton and silk were used. Almost every one
purchased "speckled calico," but ordinarily not in sufficient
quantities for dresses. A material called "garlix"
or " garlet," was in great demand. It was a species of
linen, indispensable in every household. "Lockram" was
much used by both sexes for undergarments, before people
manufactured cloth of flax for that purpose. "Slesy"^
(silecia) was another kind of cloth much in use. The fash-
ions were plain, and the dresses were intended for service
rather than show. There was always a dress for Sunday
of better material and more fashionable cut than the working-day
garments. It was preserved with great care for
many years and sometimes for more than one generation.
Women bought many things of the merchants, but very
few dress-goods. Most of the material used for gowns and