DONEGAL TOWNSHIP MILITIA
CLOTHING GUIDELINES

(Provincial Militia)

CLOTHING GUIDELINES FOR 1756 THRU 1764 DURING THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR AND PONTIACS’ REBELLION The following information should be considered when you are participating in one of the above time period events as a member of the Donegal Militia, circa 1756 / 1764 .

Men's Clothing:

HATS

Brimmed Hats

A tricorn hat, turned up on all three sides in the F&I period style.
A fantail hat, only the back of the hat turned up
A flat brimmed hat, the uncut sized hat left down in its natural shape.
A flat brimmed, a tricorn or a fantail hat made from a period correct straw hat.

Caps

A cloth workman’s’ cap usually made of linen or a cotton and linen combination

NECK WEAR

Neck wear should be made of 100% cotton, linen or silk. Any checked or stripped patterns should be woven not printed.

A black or white neck stock.
A neck scarf 36 to 42 inches square of a solid color, a check or stripe.

SHIRTS

A long 100% cotton, wool or linen shirt made in a style for the period should be worn in an appropriate color for the time period and the person being portrayed. White or off white, natural or oatmeal in color was very common even for average and poor persons of the period.

WAISTCOATS; SLEEVELESS AND SLEEVED

Waistcoats may be sleeveless or with sleeves either sewn in or laced into place. The style must be of the long 1750’s period. No Rev War period short waistcoats will be acceptable as that style did not yet exist.

Made of 100% wool, cotton or linen
Solid colors or a woven stripe or pattern of the period

BREECHES

Breeches during this period of early American history were of the Fly Front or French Fly style. Fall front breeches, overall and long trousers are not correct.

Fly front breeches should be made of 100% cotton, linen or wool.
Fly front breeches may also be made of buckskin of an appropriate color

STOCKINGS, GAITERS AND LEGGINS

STOCKINGS
Over the knee stockings made in a period color and weave are correct.

Stockings should be made of wool or cotton
Short stockings (Below the knee) may be worn with leggings or gaiters over top.

GAITERS

Full gaiters are correct for both civilian and militia wear. These gaiters buttoned up the outside of the leg and had 14 to 20 buttons on each gaiter. Gaiters should be made of canvas, linen or wool and were held up by the use of narrow leather belts know as garters. These garters had small buckles of brass, iron and sometimes silver.

Canvas gaiters should be dark brown or black in color
Wool gaiters were commonly dark blue (Navy) shades of brown, grey or black.

LEGGINS

Leggins were very common leg protection as well for this period and were worn by both civilians and militia. Leggins were commonly made of medium weight wool in the side seam style of the woodland Indian tribes. These leggings were held up just below the knee with either woven garters or leather garters. The woven garters were generally ½ inch to an inch wide and wrapped around the leg once with enough length left to tie into a knot.

Leggins should be made of 100% wool in a period correct weave.
Common colors were shades of brown, dark greens, blue and grey.
Leggins may also be made of deer hide or elk hide in the side seam style.

FOOTWEAR

Footwear for this period would be either a hard shoe in the style of the period, 1750’s period riding boots or moccasins made of appropriate leather.

Period shoes and boots should be black and or brown in color.
Moccasins should be made in the center seam, Ligonier style or Iroquois styles using either deer hide, moose, elk or beef hide in an appropriate color.

OUTER COATS AND COVERINGS

Coats worn in this period were made in the full and long 1750’s style. Wool and linen were the two most common materials used. A long over sizes shirt was also worn in the place of a coat during warmer weather. This shirt was called a Waggoner’s shirt or smock and was made with narrow cuffs with one button one each. This shirt was to the knee in length and also had a collar with one or two buttons on it. This shirt was worn by itself or over the waistcoat to protect it from soiling.

Coat weight wools and linen in shades of brown, greens and grey were common as well as dark blue and maroon.
The Waggoner’s shirt was made of coarse linen or medium weight wool.

BELTS, SASHES AND BUTTONS

Belts of the period were made of medium to heavy leather 1 ½ inches to 3 inches, wide and left natural or dyed in a shade of brown or black.
Buckles were cast brass or iron.
Sashes were woven of linen or wools and were of a single or double wrap at the waist colors of yarn was earthy shades of green, brown and reds.
The most common buttons were of various sizes made of wood, bone, antler, cow
horn and pewter. Some coats and breeches had cloth covered buttons on them.

ACCESSORIES

Canteens can be of 1750’s military issue, a large gourd, or glass bottle covered with leather.
Haversacks should be of linen or canvas of white, off white or oatmeal colored cloth and may have the material painted with a water proof covering using British red or Indian red oil paint as a base.
Firearms should be correct for the period if possible. Cartridge boxes on a shoulder strap or a belly box is appropriate as is a shooting pouch and powder horn.

SPECIAL NOTE

A breechclout may bee worn in the place of fly front breeches’ providing it is made of the correct material and of a proper color and correct length for the period.