The Cloth Trades



The tradesmen or artisans who made useful products from hemp and cloth products were a numerous and vital part of the early Albany production economy.

These were early Albany's weavers, tailors, and more specialized stitchers including britchesmakers, sailmakers, mantuamakers, and others. [ This is only a preliminary list. ]

Frans Pruyn was the first of at least three generations of Albany tailors.

During the first decades of the eighteenth century, the Fryers, who were weavers, were part of a small enclave of cloth workers living on the Southside of Albany. In 1756, eight individuals were identified as tailors, eight as weavers, and two as britchesmakers on a census of city householders taken by the British army.

A generation later, riverside resident Abraham Eights was Albany's premier sailmaker.

Please be patient when following this link to more information about "tailors on this website.

Follow this link to more information about weavers on this website.


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notes

Sources: Links to websites about early American cloth trades:



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privately posted 1/29/08; last updated 4/9/14