Black Felt Men's Dress Coat- c.1800

Description

Sponsors

This item is a part of the 1812 History digitization project. This project was made possible with the support of the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Canadian Culture Online Strategy.

Media Type

Object

Description

This is a black felt man's dress coat with wide cuffs and tails, and buttons on the front lapels. The style is from 1790-1800. The coat is believed to have belonged to Reverend Sampson of Grimsby. The coat was donated by the Ball Family and is most likely not Rev. Sampson's, or if it is, it came from England with him, when he arrived in Grimsby in 1817. Sampson was the first clergyman in Grimsby and married Marie Eliza Nelles, a spinster, in August of 1817. Rev. Sampson died when he accidentally shot himself while changing his gun in 1822.

This style of coat would have been worn during the War of 1812 by individuals who were older, as the general population would not keep up with newer styles, or those of lower economic means that could not afford to keep up with changing styles.

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