The Wigmaker in Eighteenth-Century Williamsburg: An Account of His Barbering, Hair-dressing, & Peruke-Making Services, & Some Remarks on Wigs of Various Styles.Bullock, Thomas K.
History
The Wigmaker in Eighteenth-Century Williamsburg: An Account of His Barbering, Hair-dressing, & Peruke-Making Services, & Some Remarks on Wigs of Various Styles.
Bullock, Thomas K.
Wigmakers; Wigs -- History
_James Martin_—Court records and the like show him to have been in
Williamsburg from 1760 to 1766; he never advertised in the
_Virginia Gazette_. At his death he left a large estate including
18 wigs and other barbering articles as well as items that point
strongly to his being also a tavernkeeper.
_James Nichols_—Coming from London, he opened shop first in Petersburg
in 1772 and three years later in Williamsburg. Took Richard
Charlton into a brief and unsuccessful partnership in 1776.
Advertised his property for rent in 1779, and by 1784 was located
in Norfolk.
[Illustration: _This page from François-Alexandre-Pierre de
Garsault’s _The Art of the Wigmaker_, with illustrations similar to
those of Diderot’s _Encyclopedia_, shows the following styles: (by
letter, not in the usual order): (A) bonnet or short wig; (B) bag
wig; (C) knotted wig; (D) clerical wig; (E) natural wig; (F) square
wig; (G) brigadier wig; and (H) double pigtail wig._]
_Jean Pasteur_—A Huguenot refugee who had settled in Williamsburg by
1703. Appeared in court in the usual roles with the usual
frequency. Died in 1741, leaving a moderate amount of barbering
and wigmaking articles.
[_John_] _James Pasteur_—Eldest son of the wigmaker Jean Pasteur, he
followed his father’s craft for a while, then his own natural bent
for learning. Became master of a grammar school and then an
Anglican clergyman in Norfolk County.
_William Peake_—A Yorktown barber, wigmaker, and dealer in imported
wigmaking supplies who made a brief appearance in Williamsburg,
first opening shop in the tavern of William Dunn, then buying the
old shop of Andrew Anderson and taking into partnership James
Currie. Currie seems to have run the Williamsburg end of the
combine while Peake returned to Yorktown.
_Edward Perry_—The Guardian Accounts of York County show that he was
paid for shaving and a wig in 1748. Nothing more is known of his
barbering or wigmaking activity.
_George Simmons_—An advertisement in the _Virginia Gazette_ of April 14,
1774, mentions “Mr. George Simmons, Peruke Maker.” Nothing more is
known of him.
_Robert Tennoch_—His name first appeared in court records of 1722.
Described himself as “Perukemaker” in his will, probated in 1726.
His estate included barbering articles.
_John Peter Wagnon_—Andrew Anderson was bound as apprentice to him in
1731 to learn “the business of Barber and Peruke Maker.” After
five years Wagnon gave Anderson his liberty and sold him the shop
next to the Raleigh Tavern.
_Alexander Wiley_—Became a partner of George Lafong in 1775 and
continued so at least until 1777, the last known appearance of his
name.
_SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING_
Janet Arnold, _Perukes & Periwigs_. London: Her Majesty’s Stationery
Office, 1970.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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