What could this item of clothing be?

[Sandy H]

Hello Dan! 

It would seem that you have found the answer for us! Because it was so plain, I was leaning toward your opinion that it was a modesty garment for bathing. I do know that such garments were used back when...especially in small homes.

You have the trump card, so to speak. Since Ruth is an expert and well-respected, she must be right! Bravo, Dan, good work!!

She hit the nail on the head regarding the Kindred's financial condition. As far as I know, they were just that...."well off, but not super rich".

It is so nice to finally know what this odd garment really is. My mum will be so thrilled to hear about the garment and my rootschat experience! Haven't talked to her in about a week, so she doesn't know about this research.

Photos of Christening gown are somewhere in the closet from hell! If I quit playing with genealogy and such on the Internet, maybe I would find the time to clean and organize that closet. Who knows what I might find in there! We had a cat "go missing" a few years ago, maybe that's where she went! Just kidding!!! 

Thank you so much for going out of your way to find an expert opinion!

Best Regards,

Sandy

[Viktoria]

Glad you are now sure what the garment is. I had not realised those I have are were so old .I had  thought Victorian, perhaps 1870`s. The lady I inherited mine from was a big girl! And so would have needed wide chemises but even so they are extraordinarely wide. I also have exquisite baby gowns in lawn,knickers where there are two seperate legs on a waistband, nightdresses , so much bedlinen and this lady`s ,  wedding dress and an evening dress. A lot of small cloths for trays and her Mrs.Beeton`s book of Houshold Management and her hand-written recipe book . She had no children so these things were given to me by her young  in-laws who did not want them. I took them to Manchester`s Museum of Costume but they had good examples already.I enjoy having them and had to wash them in Lux as they were not in the best condition.Most of the grubbiness has come out
and no obvious damage done.C heerio .Viktoria.

[Danchaslyn]

 

Hello Sandy H

Well, it so heartening to know that your mother, especially will be so happy.......and, just like yourself, because the garment is so plain, I did think it was a bathing garment. 

All credit must go to Ruth for her expertise and kindness in helping us, without her we might still be a little lost, or floundering around after red herrings about the date.   

I'm in exactly your position, enjoying spending so much time on Roots Chat and not doing what I should be doing......................I'm finding out exciting results on my own maternal Aitken side of the family, spread from Scotland, to India, to Island of St Helena, South Africa and America and Canada.  Also, for my partner, the Lynch and Cooks, of  Hull, Yorkshire, England, and Kent and possibly Ireland.  It certainly keeps one busy!   

And the RootsChat folk are so kind and helpful!   

Cheers for now

Danchaslyn

 

[Danchaslyn]

 

Hello Viktoria

You certainly have quite a collection,......the clothing sounds lovely and, well, as for Mrs Beeton's I would give my eye teeth for her books and works.   

What shame the Manchester museum wouldn't take the clothing from you.........I believe these garments should be preserved, by the experts, as best as possibly and that all can get a chance to see how our ancestors lived, worked and played.   

Would there possibly be a specialist clothing section, or museum you could search on the internet, who would be only to glad to display your items for you?  Maybe even the National Trust for one of their properties, or Scottish Heritage, or someone?!   

You were lucky to find Lux, I haven't been able to find it locally in Scotland!     

Best wishes

Danchaslyn

 

[Viktoria]

Hello Danchaslyn, I do use these items from time to time .I give very informal talks to Ladies`groups in my area when a proper speaker has let them down.However now that I know they are so much older than I at first thought I,m going to treasure them better. The lady who owned them wrote such funny things in her recipe book, everything was costed out and and any economies that could be made noted,although she was never in any financial difficulty.Her comments at the end of one cake recipe are:- "Allow to cool completely then store in an airtight tin for a week, safe from husbands,children and mice".I met her when I lived abroad, she was English married to a foreigner and lived in his country  which was occupied in the war.The German High Command moved in to their home which was on a hill. The water supply had been cut off previously as it was not pure and they had  to find another supply which was .Her husband switched back to the impure supply just before they left their house- needless to say the G.H.C all got typhoid-"it was my little war effort"her husband said!!! "well,they didn`t ask ,just took" Viktoria.

[Danchaslyn]

 

Hello Viktoria

What a fascinating story about the occupation and the typhoid,  almost like an instance of 'germ warfare', in this instance 'underground germ warfare'!   

Also, how wonderful that your collection is sometimes shown to others, that's great and very encouraging and how marvellous that you can give talks on your family history like this.  Know what you mean about suddenly realising that something is more 'valuable' than you first thought!   

Just love your story about the personalized cookbook, what a quaint comment about the husband, kids and mice!  I love it!!!     

I wish you well Viktoria and hope you're having a great holiday weekend........   

Cheers

Danchaslyn

 

[Viktoria]

Thanks Danchaslyn,hope you are too. My son is coming home for a few days next weekend for his 50th Birthday so
that will be nice as we are going out for a meal,all  the family -10 of us.We only get together a few times a year now so these occasions are precious.When our "kids" get chatting together I accuse them of planning which home they are going to put us(my husband and I-that sounds very Royal) in!.
Cheerio and thanks again. Viktoria.

[Danchaslyn]

 

Hello Viktoria

Hope you have a great weekend.................I've sent you a personal message to.

Cheers

Danchaslyn

 

[Paul Kindred]

Hey Sandy
I checked my tree and no dates come close apart from a Sarah Kindred June 1818.....so now I've looked at the photograph a couple of additional thoughts:-
Could it be a maternity undergarment, therefore the relative was pregnant a the time it was made and we should not be looking at birth dates of June 1816, but more than likely pregnancy dates........could it be a summer undervest for a man who worked in the fields?
Cheers
Paul