Haircloth weaver

[Russell]

Just found a fascinating 1861 census page while trying to locate a widowed relative. She was working as a servant in a big(13 roomed) house in Inveresk parish.
Andy ! Was 8 High Street part of Inveresk village or actually Musselburgh High Street
In the household immediately above her entry is 18 year old Thomas Hunter - occupation 'Club carrier'
Once my fertile imagination had run riot about giving lethal weapons to young men, My wife suggested a more mundane definition - Caddy on a golf course and Musselburgh was home to various renowned golf tournaments.
She fair burst my bubble

In the same household Ann Inglis (aged 59) was stated as being a 'Haircloth weaver'. That one even had my wife stumped.
Sackcloth and ashes type garments came to mind.

Anyone any ideas as to what she did

Russell

[DavidWW]

If there hasn't been a relevant recent thread here, I'm sure that there's one on RootsChat.com .

From http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ ......

Noun 1. haircloth - cloth woven from horsehair or camelhair; used for upholstery or stiffening in garments

There wis a wheen of cuddies about the country in 1861

David

[JustJean]

Hi Russell

I don't recall this coming up on TS before. Haircloth to me is made from Horsehair...Nah nah not the wee bitty short pieces.....the nice long tail ones!!

For example... http://www.johnboydtextiles.co.uk/

My Gram had a parlor set that was upholstered in horsehair fabric.

Best wishes
Jean

Always assuming the US counterpart is similar to yours.

[Russell]

Thanks David and Jean

Makes sense now and my Grandmother had a chaise longue which looked rare and comfortable until you sat on it and not only was the underlayer made of horsehair. The whole seat was stuffed with the shorter ones Jean mentioned. felt like sitting on a hedgehog - which I have done unwittingly

Some memories arrive unbidden - others take considerable stimulation to emerge from the nether portions of the memory.

Russell

[joette]

OOOOOOOHHHHHHH Granny & Grandpa had a similarly stuffed chaise longe.Memories OOOOCCHHH.I used to sleep on it as a wean so between being stabbed by the horsehair,woken by the westminster repeating chimes& there were two in the living room-chiming every fifteen minutes,the Flying Scotsman whizzing past the window several times a night & then Burke & Hare casting shadows on the wall & Jenny with the iron teeth trying to come down the chimney to catch me it was less than blissful sleep!

[paddyscar]

I don't envy you Joette! Sleeping on horsehair furniture would be like sleeping on pine needles - very picky, uncomfortable and noisy.

It was a very durable substance, and when you take that furniture apart after 100 years, it has lost none of its spikeyness.

Frances