THE
New
Jersey Ranging Company
1757-1763
Uniform & Equipment
Picture ©
Osprey Books Ltd.
This Guide outlines the basic clothing worn
by soldiers and associated members of the unit. It is based on clothing worn by
the common civilian man and woman of the middle of the 18th Century,
and of documented soldier’s equipment. It is meant to give the unit a good,
historically accurate impression. Items underlined are known issued to
the unit in 1757. The Uniform is taken from:
1. Votes & Proceedings
of the General Assembly of the Province of New Jersey, 1757, page 16.
2. New Jersey Archives, Third Series, Book 3,
Laws of the Colony of New Jersey 1746-1760, page 522-525.
3. A deserters report
published in New York Gazette or The Weekly Post Boy, 2 Jan 1758, page
1.
Sources:
Sketch Book ’56 series
Textiles in America
Sketch Book ’76 series
The Book of
Buckskining series
Patterns of Fashion
Tidings from the 18th
Century
18th
Century Clothing at Williamsburg
Collector’s
Illustrated Encl. Of the Rev.
War for Empire in
Western Pennsylvania
Swords & Blades of
the Rev.
A Visual History of
Costume: The 18th Century
Military Uniforms in
America: The Era of the American Revolution
Osprey: Wolfe’s Army,
King George’s Army, American Woodland Indians
Muzzleloader Magazine
Journal of the Forces
of Montcalm & Wolfe
Men’s
Clothing
Uniform
Headgear: Leather
Jockey Cap, Workman’s cap,
Short
Brimmed Round hat.
Neckwear: Black
neck roller, silk/cotton/linen/wool
scarves.
Shirt: 3/8’’
blue or green check, or civilian white/natural
linen/cotton.
Breeches: Buckskin
/cotton/wool/linen French or English fly
style.
Weskit: Green,
crotch length sleeved weskit, with 5/8’’ plain flat
pewter buttons.
Regimental: Gray
faced gray military coat, without sleeves mid-thigh in length
with 7/8-1 inch plain
flat pewter buttons.
Stockings: Cotton/wool
at user’s preference.
Leggings: Mid-thigh
length blue wool Indian stockings,
leather/wool side seam style
brown/black/gray painted canvas military
gaiters.
Garters: Leather/cloth/tape
to hold up stockings and leggings.
Footwear: Black
colonial shoes with buckles or ties, or Eastern Woodland
style moccasins.
Fatigue Shirt: Workman’s
or hunting shirt (Dirty Shirt)
left
natural or dyed with walnut dye.
Equipment
Waist Belt: British
infantry waist belt/bayonet frog, or a similar style.
Haversack: Linen/cotton
canvas standard 3 button style or knapsack/pack
style at user’s preference.
Canteen: Kidney
or “D” shaped British style in tin, copper, or
stainless covered with wool.
Bedroll: Wool
blanket with oilskin cover (no white canvas
covers).
Tentage: Wedge
tents, with the British infantry
wedge(7’x6’x7’w/bell)
as standard tent. No
wedge tents larger than the French
1750(8’x8’6”x7’w/bell).
Arms & Accouterments
Firelocks: 1st
Model Brown Bess (2nd Model is
acceptable)
British/French/Dutch
smoothbore trade and military muskets of
the period.
1740’s-60’s
period rifles are acceptable.
Bayonet: Suitable
to fit musket.
Cartridge Box: 16/18
round belly box, 24/32 round shoulder box.
Suitable
civilian shooting bag and powder horn.
Edged Weapons: A suitable hatchet.
Any
suitable folding or sheath knives of the period, especially
scalping knives.
Accessories
The following is a list of
documented accessories that a common soldier might have on his person or in his
pack:
Folding knife
Fork
Spoon
Tin/ceramic/horn cup
Tin/wood/pewter/ceramic
plate or bowl
Sewing kit
Salt/spice horn
Tompion to fit musket
Calf’s knee to fit
musket
Wallet/coin purse
Journal
Lead pencil
Reading material of the
period
Playing cards
Compass
Pocket watch
Pipe & tobacco
Soap
Razor
Fishing kit
Musket cleaning kit (Sergeants
usually carried these)
Rain-proof Surtout (oilskin
shirt)
Some
items that may or may not be documented, that are presently accepted as correct
period equipment:
Bean/corn boiler
Small pot
Folding skillet
Squirrel fork
Priming horn
Native American
Items
It may have been common for soldiers
who had contact with Indians to adopt some of their accessories such as bags,
straps, etc. and also some of their decorative items as well, especially those
who had taken Indian wives. On the whole though, most Anglo-Americans had
little regard for Indians so a good rule of thumb on the wear of Indian items
would be “less is best”.
Men’s Civilian Clothing
From time to time we are asked to represent early non-uniformed
Rangers and civilian militia, requiring the use of common civilian clothes of
the period. Most of us prior to joining the unit were dressing as civilians of
the middle of the 18th Century, but for those persons new to this
time period, common men’s clothing would consist of:
A hat.
Cocked/round/workman’s/etc.
A neckcloth.
A white or
checked shirt.
A plain or
patterned weskit (crotch to mid-thigh length).
Breeches (buckskin
was very common for farmers).
A plain or
patterned coat (mid-thigh to knee length).
A
hunting or workman’s shirt (Dirty shirt).
Stockings
and leggings.
Shoes and
Moccasins.
Accessories and
equipment would be the same as the soldiers.
Women’s
Clothing and Accessories
Clothing
Undergarments:
Foundation garment: A
white/natural linen/cotton shift or chemise.
Stays & Jumps: Stays
were worn by just about all women during
this period.
Fully/partially boned cloth
and leather are
common styles. Stays can be plain,
striped or floral.
Jumps
are what is commonly known as a bodice.
These were considered an undergarment and should be covered
by a
Jacket or Gown.
Outergarments:
Petticoat: The
skirt. Any number of these could be worn
depending on the weather or fashion. Usually ankle-length, in linen/cotton/wool,
solid colors, floral (no
calico), striped and checked are common.
Jacket or Gown: These
could range from plain working garments to very fancy evening
gowns.
Many
styles were available to include:
Short
gown
Bed
gown
Bed
jacket
Jacket
Jacket or Gown
Continued:
Sack-back
gown (robe a’ la Francaise)
Nightgown
(robe a’ l Anglaise)
Fabrics
could range from linen/cotton/wool/silk,
solid colors, stripes, brocades, embroidered, floral (no calico).
Headgear: A
cap, usually white linen/cotton, which
was worn at all times while in public.
Mob,
Lappet, Coif, etc. styles, depending on nationality or fashion. Also a kerchief worn over the head.
Low
crowned felt or straw hats.
Neckwear: A
kerchief worn about the neck.
Linen/cotton/silk/wool
to accent the outfit. It was used for modesty, and to protect neck from sun and
cold.
Apron: These
could also range from plain to fancy
depending on the outfit. Linen/cotton in solid colors,
checks, floral.
Stockings: Cotton/wool
at user’s preference. These could
be solid colors, striped, and clocked.
Garters: Leather,
cloth, or tape to hold up stockings.
Footwear: Colonial
shoes with buckles or ties, Eastern
Woodland style moccasins, sabots (wooden shoes), mules,
barefoot.
Accessories
The following is a list of
documented items that a woman might carry or wear on her person:
Pocket
(worn about the waist under or over the petticoat, containing necessities)
Knife (in a sheath tied to the apron
strings)
Wallet/coin purse
Chatelaine with accessories (keys, sewing
tools, etc.)
Pocket watch
Journal
Basket
Hat
pin
Jewelry
Native American
Clothing
Due to the proximity of the unit to
the Mohawk Nation it is very possible that some of the soldiers could have
taken Indian wives, therefore women wishing to dress in Woodland Indian style
clothing are encouraged to do so.
Native American woman’s clothing
consists of the following items:
Upper body: Shift
or Chemise
Man’s shirt
Wool or deerskin cape
Jackets and gowns
Lower body: Petticoat
Wool
or deerskin skirt (usually knee to mid-calf in length).
Leggings: Wool or deerskin.
Footwear: Woodland
style moccasins, colonial shoes, barefoot.
Native Woman’s
Clothing
Continued:
Most
of the woman’s clothing was highly decorated with ribbon, bead, and quill work
especially the leggings, moccasins, and skirt. Trade silver was also
prominently displayed on all the garments.
Accessories: Pocket
Plain
and decorated pouches and bags
Sheath
knife in decorated sheath
Baskets
Any
available trade items.
Matchcoat