What is a Lindsey petticoat?

Subject: RE: "Lindsey" petticoat? Take care, M'Lady!
From: Uncle Jaque
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 10:35 PM

I have often heard the term "Linsey-Woolsey" used in conjunction with clothing of the Colonial/Rev War period in America, and I assume that it was fairly common in Europe as well, probably going back a long time. This was apparantly a homespun fabric composed of a combination of linen or cotton warp and wool weft. It was relatively inexpensive, thus accessable to the "common folk", wore like iron, but tended to itch like hell. It seems that the more common classes of women din't have to be quite so fussy about when and where they scratched as the "Ladies" of gentry, who no doubt could afford silken "unmentionables". Linen tends to soften as it wears and is washed to a certain extent (I love the stuff for shirts) but wool can take a little getting used to worn right next to the skin, especially in hot weather. One of our young stalwarts in the 3rd Maine (Civil War Reenacting) made the march from Emmitsburg to the Battlefield at Gettysburg - about 16 miles - in 100+ humid weather without any period (ankle-length flannel or cotton) "underdrawers" under his issue blue wool kersey Army trousers. His thighs were swollen to about twice their natural size and looked like raw hamburger, and his ever so macho "naughty parts" were a sight to make the most seasoned Veteran cringe. Despite the compassionate ministrations of our Unit Nurse, "Mother Mallett" (a "real" RN)and liberal annointings of corn-starch, He writhed in abject agony all night, and for the rest of the weekend waddled around with his knees at least 25" apart and the most pathetic expression on his countanance. I suspect that our forebearers grew a much tougher hide than most of us wear about today. In the meantime, if you intend to actually wear this stuff, I'd advise you to try it out around home in short stints first (keeping some corn starch and cortisone lotion handy), before going on the road with it!

Affectionately: "Uncle Jaque", Musician
3rd Regiment Maine Volunteer Infantry, Field Music

Subject: RE: What is a Lindsey petticoat?
From:
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 10:05 PM

Thanks for the answers. I would guess from context that the descriptions of the linsey petticoat are the right ones, even though the Mountains did keep a lot of English culture and could have used the name Lindsey after the town there.

Murray

Subject: RE: What is a Lindsey petticoat?
From: Snuffy
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 02:06 PM

Lindsey is in Suffolk, and was a centre of the medieval wool trade. The next village is Kersey, from where kerseymere comes.

Wassail! V

Subject: RE: What is a Lindsey petticoat?
From: wildlone
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 07:52 AM

"linsey" spelling's differ,is a linen fabric being homespun and woven on a hand loom
"holland" is a finer fabric
lawn is even finer
linen that had wool added during spinning was called "linsey wollsey" this was made up into outer wear
slub silk is hand spun and woven silk and is the nearest you can get to the authentic pre industrial revolution material.
maybe there are some other re-enactors out there who can supply more info
PS, linen cloth is normally a dark cream colour and it used to be left out in the sun so that the sun would bleach it

Subject: RE: What is a Lindsey petticoat?
From: Metchosin
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 05:18 AM

I think your right Liz, my dictionary says it is some coarse linen fabric from the word "line" and "say" meaning silk. Sure wish I had you helping me with my Sunday morning crosswords.

Subject: RE: What is a Lindsey petticoat?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 04:20 AM

I think it is a linsey petticoat, a sort of corruption of linen, which is what it would have been made of. I'll see if I can find it anywhere else, Websters dictionary is downstairs and too heavy to bring up here!

LTS

Subject: RE: What is a Lindsey petticoat?
From:
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 03:22 AM

I don't know how I made such a hash of that last message. "Barlow knife was answered" should read "Barlow knife and was answered".

After the words "including a lace petticoat" should be the phrase "and she answers".

Sorry

Murray

Subject: What is a Lindsey petticoat?
From:
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 03:14 AM

On the thread Hedy West someone asked what a Barlow knife was answered pretty completely. I'll try my luck with this one. In the Folk-Legacy album "Old Times & Hard Times" she sings a song called "Polly" in which Polly is being seduced by gifts, including a lace petticoat. "My old Lindsey petticoat is sufficient for me." What is a Lindsey petticoat? (Of course, I am not sure of the spelling.)

Thanks,

Murray