Drapers

By Kay McMeekin

When doing our recent farm research,  we noticed that many farmers sons were becoming drapers particularly in England.

There were travelling drapers as well as shop workers.

A draper sold cloth and was often also an outfitter as well. 

The definition of “Scotch Draper” was someone who sold goods door to door with payments to be made in instalments. They were also known as travelling drapers and credit drapers. (from https://www.cottontown.org/Other%20Industry/Pages/Retail-Trade.aspx)

Dumfries and Galloway Standard - Wednesday 17 January 1877

Ayr Advertiser 1883

John Weir 1836-1890 of Sykeside farm Cumnock was a draper in Rotherham, Yorkshire

William Howat of Polquhirter and brothers David and James were drapers in Preston, Lancashire in 1881.

3 Baird of Watson sons went to Lancashire, and Robert Baird's brothers in law John and Matthew McKerrow were also drapers in Lancashire.

Another related line of McKerrows were drapers William McKerrow 

Banffshire Herald - Saturday 16 July 1898

This article from the Western Mail - Wednesday 02 April 1930 throws some light on the situation.

DRAPERY TRADE. 

HOW TO ATTRACT THE BEST RECRUITS. 

Sir Sydney Skinner, president of the Drapers' Chamber of Trade, presiding at the annual meeting of the chamber at the Cordwainers' hall, Cannon Street, on Tuesday, said stressing the need for attracting the right sort of ability to the drapery trade, 

"In the old days we used to get the sons and daughters of farmers. A farmer always used to put a boy or girl into the drapery trade. Some of the must successful men and women we have in our business to-day are farmers' sons and daughters. We do not get so many now, and I believe this is largely due to the fact that mothers to-day have a fear of sending their daughters to the big towns. I myself am reinstating the 'living-in' system, because I am going to try and re-attract that type of boy and girl. I ant not going to let them come to London and be at the mercy of some woman who runs a lodging-house and will fleece them. It is because the 'living in' system has been abolished that many mothers are no longer sending us their girls. The drapery trade gives a boy or girl coming up from the country a wonderful opportunity for progress such as very few other trades or professions will offer them."