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| Wampanoag Clothing in the 17th century |
The everyday clothing worn by the Wampanoag (the People of the First Light) before the English Pilgrims arrived in 1620 was made primarily for ease of movement and comfort. The clothing was made from animal skins, mainly deerskin from the white tail deer. Elk and moose were occasionally hunted besides the deer, but because of their range and possible scarcity, moose and elk hides were probably more often traded for by the Wampanoag.
All three of these animals also provided bone tools, and sinew and rawhide with which the Wampanoag sewed their clothing. Many mammals provided other furs for use as warm clothing and blankets or robes during the winter months. These included: the harbor seal, black bear, raccoon, river otter, grey and red fox, grey squirrel, beaver, muskrat and even the eastern timber wolf. These animal skins were used with the hair on. Deer, moose and elk hides were used either with the hair on or off.
Parts from birds were also used occasionally to fashion clothing. Feathers from the wild turkey and Canada goose were woven into robe-like garments. Such robes would probably have been worn by people of high status such as a Sachem (leader) or Pniese (warrior and counselor).
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Breechclouts were made from deerskin and were worn between the legs with each end tucked up under a belt at the waist, and the rest left to hang down in the back and front of a person. Wampanoag men, women, and female children wore breechclouts although it was reported by the Europeans that the women's "apron" was longer in the back than the men's. During warm weather, male children probably wore nothing until they were about ten years of age. As time went on and trade with the Europeans increased, wool and other cloth was also used to make breechclouts. |
A wrap-around mantle, worn over one shoulder, was another common article of clothing worn by both sexes and all ages. More often than not it was made from deerskin. It was arranged on the body according to the weather, and was often secured around the waist by a belt of fiber.
| Leggings, worn by both sexes, were called "stockings" by the English observers of the 1600s. The leggings were most commonly worn in the colder weather or to protect the legs from brambles and the bush. They were originally made from deerskin, but after European contact they were sometimes made of wool or other cloth. Women's leggings covered the top of the foot to the knee and were secured with hand-woven legging ties (small belts) made from cordage. The men's leggings usually covered the leg from foot to upper thigh and were secured by the same woven fiber belt that held the breechclout. |  |
At home and in warmer weather the Wampanoag People usually preferred to go barefoot. During cold weather or in rough terrain, however, Moccasinash were worn. This footwear was made of deer, moose or elk hides (the thicker of these being preferred). The word moccasin is an original Algonquin language word, however its meaning is one foot covering. The correct word for a pair is moccasinash.
Ornaments were worn by both Wampanoag men and women and were mainly made of bone, shell, stone, claws and antlers. Because knives were used so frequently in daily work, men and women commonly wore a sheathed knife hung on a cord around their necks. Pouches of deerskin were often worn tied to waist belts. A smaller pouch might be worn around the neck. While hunting or on a long journey, people would be sure to carry a pouch of No-cake (parched corn) with them so that they would have food with them as they traveled.
Understanding the Pilgrims
- The Scrooby Separatists - Life in Holland & Departure
to New England - The Mayflower
Voyage - The First Winter -
The "First Thanksgiving"
- Plymouth Colony:1622-1626 - Pilgrim Clothing - 17th-century
Wampanoag Clothing
Plimoth Plantation
P. O. Box 1620
Plymouth, MA 02362
(508) 746-1622
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