Phebe Ladd's Purchase from the Montgomery Store

Members of the Ladd family were frequent visitors to General Montgomery's store, especially Ezekiel and James.  Phebe Ladd visited the store on December 29, 1793 and purchased a pair of shoes at 6 shillings.  Her purchase is of interest on several counts.  First, for the comparative value of a cost of pair of shoes to the cost of labor at this time and second relative to her gender.

The 6 shillings Phebe Ladd paid for her shoes in 1793 was roughly the cost of two day's of a man's labor. On the same page in the daybook, Alden Sprague writes "two indentures" for the sum of 6 shillings, presumably to hire out his services as a day laborer for two days.  In at least one instance, Sprague's name shows up in the daybook as assisting with General Montgomery's team and another hiring a sleigh to Orford (2 shillings; see entry below Ladd's in the daybook).  Given the proximity of these two listings, it may well be that the indenture was in part to cover the use of the sleigh.)

By way of comparison, a pair of calamanco shoes on display in the collection of Historic Deerfield reportedly cost 4 shillings or the equivalent of two days labor, ca. 1760s.

Unfortunately, there is no additional information regarding maker, materials, ornament or whether or not the shoes were manufactured locally or were a special order. There is certainly enough evidence in the daybook to support shoe making activities with purchases of large amounts of sole leather and small nails. There is ample evidence in regional textile collections to indicate that shoes were frequently altered and updated: Historic Deerfield has an excellent example of a Ridout and Davis shoe with a cut down heel, which drastically alters its profile.  In an particularly interesting yet practical treatment, the collection also has on view a pair of calamanco shoes with added gussets to accommodate an expanding foot, perhaps due to pregnancy (ies).  The uppers were frequently altered to match a dress by changing to a different color damask, brocade or crewel work. Alterations to tongue shape from straight to angular were not uncommon and may be evident in a pair of lady's shoes, c. 1780 at the Lynn Museum.  Of course one of the quickest ways to transform shoes was with the addition of a new buckle.

 Given the Ladd family's prominence in the community, six brothers were earlier settlers in the town and Deacon James Ladd served 3 and one half years in the American Revolution, Phebe may well have been picking up a special order.  It is interesting to note however, that the family did have a tannery located at the Oliverian Brook, making it possible to supply raw materials, and there were likely shoemakers in the town. (Research on specific trades related to factory production and transport networks continues.)

Finally, Phebe Ladd is one of only a handful of women mentioned as visiting the Montgomery Store in 1793, and the others appear predominately to be widows.  It is not known if she was in other company, but it is clear that she makes the purchase herself, perhaps continuing the long held custom of what were deemed acceptable male and female household acquisitions.

Notes:
The author thanks Ned Lazaro, Collections Manager at Historic Deerfield,  Kate Luchini, Director and Abby Battis, Assistant Director, Lynn Museum, Angelina Grippen, Costume Historian, Bridget Swift, Research Assistant for giving generously of their time. James Garvin, NH State Architectural Historian, Professor Dane Morrison, Salem State University, Jane C. Nylander, Director Emerita, Historic New England and Emma Hope, Shoe Designer, London, have also contributed to the wider scope of the Montgomery Store 1793 Daybook project.

For information on the Ladd Family of Haverhill, NH:
^ Gazetteer of Grafton County, N.H., 1709-1886 by Hamilton Child, Syracuse, N.Y.: H. Child, June 1886
^ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~hubbard/NNY_index/ladd.html