Waistcoat
Date1760-1780
MediumSilk (front and back), Worsted Wool (lining), Linen (pockets and center back lining), Silver (buttons)
DimensionsChest: 41.5 inches, Waist: 38 inches, Center Back: 19.5, Center Front (overall): 30 inches
Credit LineGift of Pamela W. Ellsworth
Object number2019-105
DescriptionA drab silk waistcoat worn by Quaker Emmor Jefferies of Chester County, Pennsylvania. The waistcoat is made from a ribbed silk with 12 buttons down the center front. The exterior neck/shoulders are pieced. Each of the buttonholes are worked completely open. The front and interior back skirts are lined in worsted wool. The center back is lined in white linen that matches the pocket bags. Five of the twelve buttons are original, the rest were replaced at some point after 1900. The buttons were thonged onto the garment with leather. Each of the flaps are very plain and rectangular shaped. The lining in the proper right flap was cut or had an old cut, but was mended before sewing in the lining. The exterior back of the waistcoat is made from silk, with a very regular striation or stripe. The upper part of the neck is pieced. At some point the waistcoat was let out at the side seams and has been mended at the center back vent.Label TextEmmor Jefferis was born in 1732 in East Bradford township, Chester County, Pennsylvania to his father James and mother Elizabeth Tull Jefferis. He grew up as a Quaker attending the Concord and Birmingham Meetings. The Jefferis family owned property, including a ford along the east branch of the Brandywine River where they farmed and operated a gristmill. On September 11, 1777, the peaceful Brandywine Valley became the site of the largest battle in the American Revolution and Emmor Jefferis would be caught in the middle, perhaps making his waistcoat a witness to the event.
The Battle of the Brandywine commenced early on September 11, 1777. Sir William Howe, commander of the British forces, divided his army into two columns, a smaller force under the command of General Wilhelm von Knyphausen that was to harass the American center by Chadd’s Ford, while General Charles Cornwallis took the main body of troops and moved around the American position to flank the American position. It was on this march around the Americans that the British army marched through the Jefferis property, ransacking his house, and taking him prisoner.
A young Quaker named Joseph Townsend recollected see this happen in a book published in 1846. Townsend said, “On our coming out of the house and making some inquiry of what had happened, we found it to be an alarm among some of the neighboring women, that the English army was coming, and they murdered all before them, young and old. Some of us endeavored to quiet their fears by telling them it was not likely to be the case, and that they had better compose themselves than to make further disturbance, and while we were reasoning with them, our eyes were caught on a sudden by the appearance of the (British) army coming out of the woods into the fields belonging to Emmor Jefferis, on the west side of the creek above the fording place. In a few minutes the fields were literally covered over with them, and they were hastening towards us. Their arms and bayonets being raised, shone as bright as silver, there being a clear sky and the day exceedingly warm. Recollecting that there was no one at our dwelling, except some of our sisters, we concluded it was advisable to return home as expeditiously as possible, as we had no doubt but that they were marching direct for Philadelphia and pass by the house over the farm.”
While collecting stories of Chester County, Pennsylvania’s history, William Darlington wrote in 1845 this excerpt about Emmor Jefferis, his house, and capture. Darlington recalled, “When the British Army landed at the hand of Elk, the inhabitants of Wilmington supposed the enemy would march through that place, on their way to Philadelphia, and with a view to preserve their property, a number of merchants and others sent their goods to Chester County, near the forks of the Brandywine – exactly in the way of the depredations which they hoped to escape. A large quantity of liquors was stored in the cellar of Emmor Jefferis at Jefferis’s Ford - the very route by which Sir William Howe and Lord Cornwallis passed with the main division of the enemy. The British soldiers ransacked the house, rolled the casks of liquor out of the cellar, knocked in the heads of the vessels and drank of the contents until a great number of them become intoxicated. Sir William Howe took Mr. Jefferis with him as a guide, to conduct him towards the Birmingham Meeting House. When they arrived on Osborn’s Hill, in view of the meeting house, the Americans were posted on the high ground about a quarter of a mile south of that building, with some light companies thrown forward into the walled graveyard….After the retreat commenced Howe moved on after the army, taking Mr. Jefferis some distance with him. Mr. J. used often to relate that when they approached the contending forces, the bullets from the Americans whistled so sharply by him, that he could not refrain from dodging his head, as they passed, which Sir William observing called out very encouragingly “Don’t be afraid Mr. Jefferis, they wont hurt you.” Mr. J. however took the earliest opportunity to quit the seen and return home.”
InscribedTop 5 buttons are engraved E.J., the initials of the owner Emmor Jefferies.
The center back as the exhibition history listed of the garment, along with other notes:
Exhibited at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, 1876
By Dr. Emmor Jefferis
A relic from his grandfather- Emmor Jefferis
Anna Trimble gave this vest to Ella J. Bush in 1868
saying, this vest is about 125 years old
----x----
The silver initialed buttons were taken off by Charity Babb - excepting four which remain. 4/19 1900 at this date
To be sent after closing of the Centennial to 5th of Shipley St. Wilmington Del
-/-/-/-/-
Return to Archibald G Bush
28 Lakeview Drive
Moorestown, N. J.
Burlington County
-/-/-
January, 1976
Loaned to Old County Prison Museum
Mount Holly, N.J.
