John Johnston wrote (in part):

>Actually the wearing of coats by labourers  depends on the century.
>In the 18th century--even late 18th  century-- men, of almost all
>stations of life, would have been in a state  of undress unless they
>were wearing their coats.  Almost all period  images of 18th century
>workers...with the possible exception of farm  hands, are shown
>wearing breeches (short pants), shirt, waistcoat, and  coat. ...

Gaynor & Hagedorn, in _Tools, Working Wood in Eighteenth-Century
America_, c. 1993, reproduce an oil painting, ca. 1725, entitled
"The Carpenter's Yard," by Jack Laguerre. In it, all of the
carpenters are shown wearing breeches, aprons, stockings, shoes
and shirts. Only the master and his client are wearing waistcoats
and coats.

It may well have been that nearly all men wore waistcoats and
coats when "in public," which might explain the descriptions of
runaway apprentices as wearing coats, etc. Besides, it could have
been the easiest way to carry them. But this painting clearly
indicates that they could be shed, depending on the weather I
suppose, while actually at work.

Don McConnell
Eureka Springs, AR
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