Images(6)

Suit

Date1806-1815

OriginAmerica, Georgia, Wilmington Island

MediumCoat: Cotton, wood, linen, silk Vest: Cotton, linen, wood Trousers: Cotton, linen, steel, wood, silk

DimensionsCoat: Chest: 28 inches Waist: 27 inches Center back length: 19 inches Vest: Chest: 26 inches Waist: 24.5 inches Center back length: 10.25 inches. Trousers: Inseam: 18.5 inches Out seam: 27.75 inches Waist: 23.5 inches

Credit LineGift of The Valentine Museum, Richmond, VA

Object number2022-122,A-C

DescriptionCoat: Double breasted unlined coat for a young boy. The coat has two exterior welted pockets with pocket bags made of linen. Coat closes across the belly with three functioning buttons and cuts away from the front. Very narrow pleats found at the side seams below the waist. The coat has a small standing collar. The forebody of the coat is lined with the same material along with the lower skirt, leaving the upper body unlined. All of the raw seams are overcast in a heavy twisted linen or cotton thread.

Construction History:

1) Ca. 1810 for initial construction
2) Ca. 1813 and or Ca. 1816 The coat was slightly shortened probably for one of the younger brothers.

Vest: Very small boys vest made from a fine corded dimity. The back of the vest is made from a coarser plain woven dimity. An off white linen faces the front of the waistcoat. The vest closes with four buttons down the center front. The center back is left unlined.

Trousers: A pair of long trousers with flap or fall that extends from side seam to side seam. The trousers only have a single pocket made from checked linen on the body right. The waistband closes with three buttons and is lined in off white linen. A small puff fills in the back of the waistband. The waistband has four metal buttons added for suspenders or braces. Each of the legs has been pieced from several small sections of cotton.
Label TextBoys clothing from the American south is rare to survive. This suit, made up of coat, trousers, and vest is typical in its styling and practically unlined for the hot Georgia summers. The trousers and coat are made from an indigo dyed cotton. Wilmington Island, located on the coast of Georgia grew a lot of cotton in the early 19th century and this fabric could have been domestically produced.
ProvenanceThis garment was donated to The Valentine Museum in 2002 before being transferred to Colonial Williamsburg. It was donated by Virginia Wellford Bryan and the garments descended directly through her family. The suit was probably worn by Bryans' great great grandfather John Randolph Bryan, born in 1806 on Wilmington Island, Georgia. John also had two younger brothers, Thomas (1809-1875) and Joseph (1812-1863). These two younger brothers may have also worn this suit as a "hand me down," as the coat shows evidence of shortening.