Boy's Suit

PeriodCirca 1820

Place MadeFreehold, New Jersey, U.S.A.

MediumLinen

Dimensions13.75 × 19.5 in. (34.9 × 49.5 cm)

ClassificationsCostume, Children's

Credit LineGift of Mary Stokes Clayton, 1937

Object number1034

DescriptionA boy's suit, consisting of a close-fitting short-waisted jacket and long trousers, made of natural herringbone weave linen. The jacket is made with a button front closure, narrow collar, and long shaped sleeves. Jacket and sleeves are lined with plain woven off-white linen. The trousers are constructed to fit close to the body, with a narrow fall-front panel and a pair of left and right on-seam pockets. The waistband, pockets, and fall front facings are lined with plain off-white linen.
Curatorial RemarksPeter Bowne's "skeleton suit" was so named in the late 18th century for the close-fitting nature of the jacket and trousers. Boys were usually kept in skirts until the age of five or even six, in part because of practicality. The Association has several pairs of boys' trousers that were lovingly preserved by family members, as a boy's first suit was a mark of maturity, from toddler to boy. Peter's suit may have been handed down from an older cousin or family friend, as the style reflects the fashion of the first two decades of the 19th century. The sturdy linen fabric, woven in a herringbone pattern, would have been a good choice for an active boy's garments. The suit jacket is missing its original buttons, which would have most likely been bone or wood.NotesAccording to original donor files, this boy's skeleton suit was owned and worn by Freehold resident Peter Bowne, the grandfather of donor Mary Stokes Conover. The suit trousers were Bowne's first pair of long pants. Peter Bowne was born in Freehold in 1829, the first child of Spafford and Ann Denise Bowne. Peter married Susan Wayman in 1855, and the couple had one child. Bowne, a lifelong Freehold resident, worked as both store clerk and expressman, delivering packages, boxes, and barrels. The job of deliverman held some danger. Bowne had his finger bitten off by a horse in 1898. The newspaper article that reported the incident noted that "it is hoped that the severed part will grow in place again." Peter Bowne died at the age of 79 after a tragic fall from a moving carriage. Bowne's young grandson accidentally spooked the horse, which dragged Bowne some yards before a bystander could stop the wagon.

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