Footwear Question...

[Spotted Bull]

OK...my persona is a leather worker that has a small shop here in North Texas, by way of North Carolina. And my beautiful wife is mixed Scot and Cherokee...so...here is the big controversial question.

Since I am a leather worker, would it be appropriate for me to just make whatever type of footwear I wanted my family to wear? If not, what would my wife and teenage daughters be wearing? And what would I be wearing?

Thanks!

[pathfinder]

What year? Either way,YOUR the leather guy,YOU dictate what to wear. I would think the high/low trekkers that Fugawee sells would be good.

[Spotted Bull]

year would be 1825...

[Capt. Jas.]

I would research footwear for your time and place. Being a saddler or harnessmaker (assuming you are not a shoemaker or cobbler since you are inquiring into footwear) will dictate to some degree your station in that time and place. Having a place of prior existence is also a plus.

[Riley/MN]

You know the cobbler's kids always run around barefoot, right? My Dad is a plumber. We grew up with a small half bath in one room & a tub in another... Pop finally hooked up a toilet in the second bathroom after us kids left home....

[Loyalist Dave]

The answer is ..., could be.  A Cordwainer made the shoes, while the cobbler repaired them.  But..., a cordwainer might have the tools and skills to make other things as well.  Would he make a saddle?  That depends on the types of saddles that were being produced, and if he had access to the tools needed to produce them.  Anybody with leather skills can do moccasins and shoe-packs.  Now as for hard shoes, there tends to be more specific tools the fancier you go.

LD

[Gordon H.Kemp]

Just another thought , many of the "newcommers " to these shores were "freemen" and worked at a trad min their countries of origin , England , France ,  Spain and many others. If you had a trade in europe etc. the chances are you would apply your knowledge and tools to that occupation when comming to America . In fact the sponsors of a settlement would offer certain perks to entice craftmen to settle in their settlements..
Most of the countries of origin had guilds and rules that goverand and restricted what fell under their tittle .The craftmen relized much more freedom in what they could do without having to answer to the guild . So , a cordwainer might just apply his talents to another trade , say , harness making or building saddles etc. If you can obtain some shipping manifests , you,ll find passenger rosters that list the ocupations and status ,such as freemean , indentured servant and others.. In nearly 50 years of genealogy work , the wife and I managed to trace the the direct line of my surname back to 1638 . the list showed that informationed above. So even though a person might have been a member of a guild he would find more freedom in his occupation.  I tink that what you do will be up to you with certain restrictions of materils etc. Good  luck in your quest and keep us posted as you progress .

[jgr1974]

Was not uncommon for whites to buy or receive mocs as gifts from natives-your wife being Cherokee would have the knowledge to make said mocs.  Wanting to stay true to her heritage, and aid in the household income she makes mocs for the locals.  You of course have to model her wears to increase business.

[Sir Michael]

For an appropriate style of Indian moc check out this page.

http://www.nativetech.org/clothing/moccasin/mocmap.html