Working Life of Women in the Seventeenth Century

by Alice Clark

[184]. Dunsford. Hist. Tiverton, p. 408.

[185]. Short Essay upon Trade, p. 18, 1741.

[186]. The following estimates were made by different writers: out of 1187 persons supposed to be employed for one week in making up 1200 lbs. weight of wool, 900 are given as spinners. (Weavers True Case, p. 42, 1714.)

One pack of short wool finds employment for 63 persons for one week, viz: 28 men and boys: 35 women and girls who are only expected to do the carding and spinning.

A similar pack made into stockings would provide work for 82 men and 102 spinners and if made up for the Spanish trade, a pack of wool would employ 52 men and 250 women.

(Haynes (John) Great Britain’s Glory, p. 6, p. 8. 1715.)

[187]. Leland (John), Itinerary, 1535-1543; Part II, pp. 131-2.

[188]. Lipson, Econ. Hist. of England, p. 420.

[189]. See Weavers’ Act, 1555.

[190]. Hist. MSS. Com. Var. Coll., Vol. I., p. 75, Wilts. Q.S. Rec., 1603.