CIVIL DRESS AT LOUISBOURG: 1713 - 1758
CHILDREN'S DRESS

BY

MONIQUE LA GRENADE

OCTOBER 1973

Report H F 16B E

Fortress of Louisbourg

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INTRODUCTION

During the study of adult clothing, worn by the men and women of Louisbourg in the 18th century, the records of inventories and sales after death proved rich in information. For each garment, they at least mentioned them and. often gave descriptions. In several cases, the examples were even numerous enough to make it possible to evaluate the rarity or the popularity of a garment, its model or the material from which it was made.

For children's clothing, the task is more difficult. An examination of the primary sources is far from being as rewarding, and the general works reflect this paucity. Very little space is devoted to children's clothing.

Perhaps there is no reason to be astonished because at that time, very little importance was given to what children wore. In New France, "mentions of children's clothing are not very numerous in the 17th century." [1] It is quite normal as children have practically no clothing designed specifically for them. "During a large part, of the (18th) century, children's clothing was lust a miniature of the parents' clothing." [2]

Yet, it is not sufficient to imagine the adults' clothing in miniature to have an idea of what the children wore. The latter, particularly the youngest, in fact had a few garments specially designed for them.

For this study, we exploited to the maximum the few mentions made in the primary sources of Louisbourg. However, the latter are not
sufficient to serve as a starting point for the complete description of the child's wardrobe. There actually exist garments which children wore and of which we can find no trace in the documents. The general works therefore met two needs: we drew from them technical. information and descriptions of the articles of clothing already mentioned in the primary sources. We were also able to trace the articles which were missing to complete the picture.

Before undertaking an individual analysis of the items of clothing, it is necessary to have a general glance at children's clothing. The latter varies according to the age and sex. Certain garments are worn for only a short period while others will be used up to adult age.

The garments are divided into three categories: those worn from birth to three years of age, then from three years to six Nears of age, and finally from six years old on.

For the newly-born, the mother has a whole set of items which make up the "layette". [3] The latter is composed of head coverings: bonnets of various materials and forms, body garments: diapers, shirts, bibs, swaddling clothes and socks, and crib accessories: blankets, sheets, pillows. The child will wear these "baby clothes" up to the age of three.

At that age, he will be put in a shirt, and over that, a dress which comes down to the ankles. [4] In wealthier families, he will be forced to wear a whalebone stay to keep him in good shape. [5]

During all this period, boys and girls are dressed in the same way. For this reason, when we look at pictures of the period, we cannot identify the sex of young children. [6]

It is only around the age of six that boys give up the dress and wear their first breeches. [7] In general, they no loner wear the stays after that age, although certain models exist which are also worn with the breeches. [8]

As for the girls, if they come from rich families, they continue to wear the stay under dresses made of silky materials. In more modest circles, they will cover the shirt with a wool or cotton skirt.

At around the age of six, therefore, the boys and girls adopt different clothing, which can be described as a "miniature" of that worn by the parents.
In order to proceed with an examination of the items of clothing, they have been classified in four groups: the garment, the headgear, the footwear, and the accessories, which constitute the divisions of this study. In each case, we shall- indicate the age and sex of the children for whom these items are intended.

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