What was a "paragon coat"?

[Phoenix]

This is mentioned in a stuart will.

Paragon appears to be a material, favoured by country people.

Unfortunately there is also a Paragon clothing company.:(

Any bright ideas how I can find a grown up site that explains what it was?

[Rick]

PARAGON: A woolen material used for garments, hangings, and upholstery in the 17th and 18th centuries.

http://www.oldandsold.com/articles02/textiles-opq.shtml

[Phoenix]

Thanks, Rick! So something pretty hardwearing if they used it for upholstery.

[Olde Crone]

Not relevant, but a paragon is also the name for a perfect diamond of at least 100 carats.

I wonder if paragon the fabric is the equivalent of Harris Tweed or Lovat, etc. Or even a type of felt?

OC

[Rick]

Thanks, Rick! So something pretty hardwearing if they used it for upholstery.

I'd certainly imagine so. I expect there's more to be found online - I stopped once I'd got a definition. I used a couple of google tricks to weed out the modern stuff. I'll have a deeper dig if you want to know more.

[Phoenix]

Can't find much about it, but this must be it:

http://www.humphriesweaving.co.uk/?portfolio=wool-camlet-judges-lodgings-ref-961-1010

[Rick]

Peropus/Paragon A kind of double camlet, often watered (17th century).

Water camlets, after weaving, received a certain preparation with water; and were afterwards passed under a hot press, giving them a smoothness and lustre.

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=YzS8AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA44&lpg=PA44&dq=peropus+paragon+-purpose&source=bl&ots=v3HNLWDoN4&sig=hGhgUfU_vUH0icTQg_gqCR7QICk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=iK_OVP6VJonzaoP3gNgO&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=peropus%20paragon%20-purpose&f=false

http://www.findwords.info/term/peropus

[Rick]

Can't find much about it, but this must be it:

http://www.humphriesweaving.co.uk/?portfolio=wool-camlet-judges-lodgings-ref-961-1010

Looks like it, but the description in the google books link I posted suggests they were often muticoloured.

[Phoenix]

Wow, thanks, Rick. Now I wish I'd paid more attention when I went round a museum with lots of working looms. I have plenty of weaving ancestors - in Norfolk too, where it seems to have kicked off, but their skills have not rubbed off on me!

[Rick]

You're welcome. Lots of Gloucestershire weavers in my lines too, so it was more than a passing interest - I've got some great wills and inventories where the tools of the trade were passed down to the eldest "sonne"

[Phoenix]

Most of the will makers I was looking at over the weekend were obsessed with cleanliness: virtually the first thing they mentioned in each will was a basin and ewer... unless they were used for other purposes!

[Rick]

My favourite is one broadweaver who left his wife "all my stock of beere ale and liquor and all my beere and liquor vessels and my brewing vessels". Broadweaver and unlicensed victualler one suspects !!

[Janet in Yorkshire]

Most of the will makers I was looking at over the weekend were obsessed with cleanliness: virtually the first thing they mentioned in each will was a basin and ewer... unless they were used for other purposes!

Well, what was applied to "water" the material? Was the same as with Harris Tweed?:eek:

Jay

[Phoenix]

Somehow I can't see them using their best silver or parcel gilt for that purpose:D

[Olde Crone]

I laughed out loud today reading the will of a relative.

"To my stepdaughter Elizabeth Ann, I leave my grave in Blackley churchyard and my writing case"

The other three stepdaughters got various items of clothing and china etc, even jewellery.

OC

[Phoenix]

My draper's widow ancestor left her granddaughter a gold ring. The six grandsons each got a table cloth and set of six matching napkins.