tan house and pitts for 7 years from this time, (the same being on ye said John Heyward’s plantation in New Poquoson), also to take all ye hydes of ye County that shall be brought him and allow for them according to Act of Assembly, also to tann, curry and make shoes of ye said hides and sell them at ye ratio appointed by ye said Act. In consideration whereof the Court hereby order that ye said William shall have paid him and his heirs at ye next leavy 4400 lbs. of tobacco as convenient as can be.” Records of York, vol. 1657-1662, p. 373, Va. State Library.</ref> Bradford was the owner of a tan-house and a shoemaker’s shop, and at the time of his death was m possession of three hundred and eighteen hides and forty-six lasts.[1] Daniel Harrison of Lancaster gave employment to three shoemakers. His personal estate included, when appraised, one hundred and twenty-two sides of leather, seventy-two pairs of shoes, thirty-seven awls, and twenty-six paring knives, twelve dozen lasts, and numerous currier’s and tanner’s tools.[2] Richard Willis and Ralph Wormeley, who were planters of wealth, left large quantities of sole leather[3] and hides. This was also true of Mathew Hubbard of York.[4]
The leading planters were in the habit of importing shoemakers from England for the same reasons that moved them to bring in representatives of other trades. Fitzhugh, writing to John Cooper, one of his London correspondents, in 1692, requests him to send over to Virginia several shoemakers, with lasts, awls, and knives,
- ↑ Records of Northampton County, original vol. 1682-1697, f. p. 213.
- ↑ Records of Lancaster County, original vol. 1674-1678, f. p. 43.
- ↑ Records of Middlesex County, original vol. 1698-1713, p. 73; Ibid., original vol. 1694-1703, p. 128.
- ↑ Records of York County, vol. 1664-1672, p. 468, Va. State Library.
