Chapter III: Part 3

The spinning-wheel, a few years ago imprudently neglected,
begins to be held in general reputation by the Fair; and the
exploits of some on that useful machine, are deservedly
celebrated, as worthy of imitation. To those good works of
female industry may be added the singular attachment of two
young ladies in Dighton, who spun, the 11th instant, between
the rising and setting of the sun, thirteen skeins and
eleven lees of good linen yarn; one six skeins and seven,
and the other seven skeins and four lees. The spirit of
industry is becoming more prevalent, especially among the
fair sex. They begin to lay aside their useless and idle
visits, or, at least, make them less frequent. When persons
become more industrious and mind their own business, they
talk less, and to better purpose; they become more
contented, and the world around them is more peaceable and
happy.

_Providence Gazette_, July 1, 1788.

* * * * *

PROVIDENCE, _May 24_. On the 7th inst. 71 ladies met at the
house of the Rev. Mr. Ellis, in Rehoboth, and lodged 187
skeins of good linen yarn, which they had spun for Mrs.
Ellis; and others have since added 31. Solomon, in
describing a virtuous woman, says, "She seeketh wool and
flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.--She layeth her
hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff."
Industry is certainly a virtue, which, while it adorns,
enriches, society; it banishes the languid hue from the
countenances of the fair, and adds vigour and vivacity to
the mind.--The spirited exertions that the daughters of
Columbia are making, to manufacture our wool and flax, which
are necessary for our consumption, are praise-worthy, and
demand the approbation and assistance of every true patriot.
We flatter ourselves with the pleasing expectation of seeing
the virtuous fair clothed and ornamented in the genuine
productions of their own labour.

* * * * *

We hear from Gloucester, that on Thursday last nearly thirty
young ladies, inspired with the love of industry, asslembled
at the house of Capt. Philemon Haskell, for the
praise-worthy purpose of a Federal Spinning Match, when, to
their honour, their spirited exertion produced 99 skeins of
excellent yarn--practically declaring, that they neither
laboured in vain or spent their strength for nought. The day
thus industriously concluded, finished not the harmony of
their federalism; in the evening, to crown the pleasure of
the day, with additional company, they regaled with an
agreeable dance, and, at a modest hour, parted in love and
friendship, with hearts convivial as they met, leaving
others to admire their female patriotism, and to go and do
likewise.

In Scotland, the farmers knit as well as the women of their
families; but they do this while they are watching their
sheep or cattle, or while they are sitting by their evening
fire in winter. Why cannot our American farmers and their
sons adopt this frugal practice? Time is the most precious
thing in the world. Its very fragments should be saved.

* * * * *

PROVIDENCE, MAY 17. Monday last, eighteen young ladies
assembled, with their spinning-wheels, at the house of
Captain Jonathan Treadwell, and spun 40 skeins of good linen
yarn.

MAY 22. A correspondent desires us to mention, that at
Johnston, a few days since, four industrious young ladies,
by "laying their fingers to the spindle, and their hands to
the distaff," completed, in one day, the spinning and
reeling of 21 fifteen-knotted skeins of good linen yarn.
Would to God, that the Gentlemen at the head of our
political affairs in this State, were half so zealous in
encouraging our own manufactures, as the fair sex are; who,
at present, deservedly bear the palm, as friends to their
country.

"SPINNING BEE. On the 1st inst. assembled at the house of
the Rev. Samuel Deane of this town, more than one hundred of
the fair sex, married and single ladies, most of whom, were
skilled in the important art of spinning. An emulous
industry was never more apparent than in this beautiful
assembly. The majority of fair hands gave motion to not less
than sixty wheels. Many were occupied in preparing the
materials, besides those who attended to the entertainment
of the rest,--provision for which was mostly presented by
the guests themselves, or sent in by other generous
promoters of the exhibition, as were also the materials for
the work. Near the close of the day Mrs. Deane was presented
by the company, with two hundred and thirty-six,
seven-knotted skeins of excellent cotton and linen yarn, the
work of the day, excepting about a dozen skeins, which some
of the company brought in ready spun. Some had spun six and
many not less than five skeins apiece. She takes this
opportunity of returning thanks to each, which the hurry of
the day rendered impracticable at the time. To conclude and
crown the day, a numerous band of the best singers attended
in the evening and performed an agreeable variety of
excellent pieces in psalmody. "The price of a virtuous woman
is far above rubies, * * * She layeth her hands to the
spindle and her hands hold the distaff."

_Cumberland_ (Portland, Me.) _Gazette_, May 8, 1788, copied
by EDW. H. ELWELL, Esq., editor of the _Transcript_.

* * * * *

When spinning-wheels ceased to be used altogether, we are not able to say. Probably they were not in use for any great length of time after the opening of the present century; but possibly in some country places they were used down to the time of the War of 1812, and even later. We are informed that in some remote places in Rhode Island and in Maine spinning-wheels are in use to this day; but these are exceptional cases.

The "Massachusetts Centinel," April 30, 1788, has this advertisement:--

WILLIAM SCOTT,
At the Sign of the SPINNING
WHEEL,
In MARLBOROUGH·STREET,
(_Resolving to quit Trade in the Fall_)
WILL sell all his
GOODS on hand at
the STERLING COST and
CHARGES. Among which are,
Some elegant _Mersailles_ Bed-Quilts, _Mersailles_
Quilting in pieces, Irish Linens, Gauzes,
Shawls and Lustrings of a superiour quality, &c, &c.

A large quantity of silk Gloves, Mitts and Fans
--> _CASH for POT-ASHES._

* * * * *

THE following very curious notice in the "Massachusetts Centinel" in reference to funerals shows what had been customary upon such occasions; the object of these "wholesome regulations" seemed to be to induce economy. Gloves and rings were given to mourners in Salem to within the last fifty or sixty years, and wines or liquors were also furnished.

_TAKE NOTICE._

AN economical plan of mourning was adopted, before the
Revolution, and its salutary effects have been experienced
by almost every family in this town; since which those
wholesome regulations have been passed into a law:
Notwithstanding which, it has lately been broken in upon in
several instances.--The _Inspectors of the Police_--that no
one may hereafter plead ignorance, have caused the law
respecting the same to be published, and give notice, that
any future breach of it, will be prosecuted without any
favour or affection. _Boston, April 30, 1788._

* * * * *

_To prevent excess and vain expense, in Mourning, &c._

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, That in future no scarfs, gloves or
rings shall be given at any funeral in this town, nor shall
any wine, rum, or other spirituous liquor, be allowed or
given at, or immediately before or after, any funeral in
this town, under pain that the person or persons giving,
allowing or ordering the same shall respectively forfeit and
pay the sum of _twenty shillings_ for each offence.

_And it is further ordered_, That whatever male person shall
appear or walk in the procession of any funeral in this town
with any new mourning or new black or other new mourning
coat or waistcoat, or with any other new black apparel, save
and except a black crape around one arm, or shall afterwards
on account of the decease of any relation, or other person
or persons, put on and wear any other mourning than such
piece of black crape around one arm, shall forfeit and pay
the sum of _twenty shillings_ for every day he shall put on
and wear or appear in the same.

AND no female, of whatsoever degree, shall put on, wear or
appear at any funeral in this town, in any other mourning or
new black clothes whatever, other than a black hat or
bonnet, black gloves, black ribbons and a black fan, on pain
to forfeit and pay the sum of _twenty shillings_; and also
forfeit and pay a like sum of _twenty shillings_ for every
day she shall at any time at, or after such funeral, put on
wear or appear in such new black clothes, as or for
mourning, other than black hat, bonnet, black gloves, black
ribbons, and a black fan as aforesaid.

* * * * *

In 1790 the town of Salem published in the papers some regulations about funerals; among the fees fixed were these:--

"For each Tolling of the Bell 8d."

"The sextons are desired to toll the Bells only four strokes
in a minute."

"The undertakers service in borrowing chairs, waiting upon
the Pall-holders and warning the Relations &c. to attend
8/."

"B. Daland and B. Brown are appointed by the Selectmen to
see that Free Passages in the streets are kept open." (This
was before carriages were used at funerals.)

* * * * *

Extracts from Mr. Colman's Agricultural Address.

MANUFACTORIES AND THE SPINNING
WHEEL.

"The establishment of extensive manufactories, and the
introduction of power-looms and spinning-jennies, has nearly
destroyed the usual household manufactures, and put our
other Jennies out of employment. Our ears are seldom greeted
now a days in the farmer's cottage with the flying of the
shuttle, or the deep base of the spinning wheel. We confess
that we have looked upon their departure with a strong
feeling of regret; and deem it no small abatement of the
advantages, which the establishment of extensive
manufactures has obviously yielded to the country, that it
removes the daughter from the shelter and security of the
paternal roof, and places her in a situation, which
certainly furnishes no means of qualifying her for the
proper department of woman; to preside over our domestic
establishments; to perform her part in the joint labors of
the household; and to know how and when and where to use,
prepare, and to apply to the best advantage within doors,
the products of man's labor without doors. Many occupations
of female industry, strictly domestic however, of a healthy
and agreeable nature, are constantly presenting themselves,
so that there is little danger that the race of industrious
women, and accomplished wives, at least among the country
girls, will soon be extinct; and the silk culture, fast
gaining ground among us, promises to furnish an unexhausted
resource and a profitable employment of female labor."

_Salem Observer_, 1834.

* * * * *

In one of the numbers of the London "Spectator" for 1884 is an interesting account of an attempt to revive the spinning-wheel industry in England, through the kind offices of Mr. Albert Flemming, for the purpose of helping poor women too old or blind to leave their homes for other work. After considerable difficulty, a wheel was discovered among a store of ancient articles; but no one at first knew how to use it. Spinning was one of the lost arts, apparently. At length, however, an old woman of eighty-four was found who understood the use of the wheel. She taught Mr. Flemming how to spin. A few more old wheels were found, and some new ones constructed. Then it was some time before a loom could be discovered. Eventually this was accomplished, and the art of weaving taught. The account says that twenty women who were unable otherwise to obtain a living, are now busily at work, happy in being able to provide for their families. They make, it may be added, a good strong, honest linen, specimens of which have been presented to Mr. Ruskin. This account is substantially from the "Living Age," Nov. 1, 1884.

University Press: John Wilson & Son, Cambridge.

Transcriber's notes:

These are mainly excerpts from Newspapers. Original spelling was
not corrected.

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