Waistcoat
Maker
John Grant
PeriodCirca 1828
Place MadeShrewsbury, New York, U.S.A.
MediumCotton, linen, metallic and silk threads
Dimensions25 × 17 in. (63.5 × 43.2 cm)
ClassificationsCostume, Men's
Credit LineGift of Mr. George S. Stevenson, 1977
Object number1977.10.1
DescriptionA man's waistcoat constructed of a lightweight off-white twilled cotton front and a plain woven off-white linen back. The vest is fashioned with narrow shoulders, wide sloping armholes, upstanding collar, 14 button front closure, two hip pockets, a straight hem, and three pairs of cotton tape ties for back fit adjustment.The waistcoat is embroidered in green and yellow silk thread and metallic silver thread in a continuous vine and scallop band around the collar, both left and right front, and hem, all worked in chain stitch. Embroidered panels are placed at both pocket openings. All 14 buttons are embroidered with both silk and metallic threads.NotesIt is a rare occurence when both a garment's owner and its maker are known. Such is the case with this elegant embroidered waistcoat and its virtually matching, but smaller, mate (1977.10.2). Both waistcoats were made by Monmouth County resident John Grant. Grant was born in 1780 in Manchester, England. It is not known when he emigrated to the United States, but he was Monmouth County in 1807 when he married Ann Hance on October 16, noted as "John Grant of Shrewsbury" in the marriage records. Waistcoat donor Dr. George S. Stevenson also gave John Grant's account book which illuminated Grant's energetic and busy personality. Grant appears to have been a jack of all trades, willing to try his hand at any number of occupations and projects.His ledger, which covers a period from about 1820 to 1840, reveals a man with almost boundless energy. The pages detail charges to local residents for writing wills and other legal documents, attending court in Freehold and Long Branch on behalf of neighbors, teaching and tutoring, castrating pigs and bulls, planting and harvesting neighbors' crops, and even vaccinating several neighbors with the smallpox vaccine. Grant was active in politics and was a member of the local Whig party, apparently serving as a local delegate in 1843. In addition to all of these activities, Grant somehow found the time to construct a wide variety of men's garments, including coats, waistcoats, shirts, "trowsers," hats, and other garments. Grant made the two waistcoats between 1825 and 1830 for neighbor James Errickson (1768 - 1855). Errickson was a successful Middletown farmer. After marrying Abigail Taylor in 1797, the couple had four children: daughters Hannah, Susan, and Permelia and son Samuel. According to the notations in Grant's ledger, Grant and Errickson had numerous business dealings. Grant wrote legal documents for Errickson, helped him harvest rye, corn, and flax, castrate a boar and spay sows. Errickson also purchased numerous garments for himself and his son Samuel (Grant noted Errickson's son incorrectly as "Lemuel"), including the two embroidered waistcoats for which Grant charged Errickson one pound. Grant's ledger seems to indicate that he stopped his tailoring work after 1833, after providing Errickson with three pairs of pantaloons and two silk waistcoats.
Collections
