When modern New Englander’s refer to a Pocketbook, they generally mean a women’s purse or handbag. But in the colonial period, a pocketbook was usually a man’s item, such as this pocketbook dating from the Revolutionary War, which would have been used to keep currency or important papers — the forerunner of a modern wallet.
This pocketbook is embroidered with the year 1776 and the initials of its owner, Peter Hay, in a pattern often called flame-stitch. Unfortunately, the maker of this embroidered Bargello-work document case is unknown, although she was almost certainly a daughter or the wife of Peter Hay. The creator was a skilled needlewoman, as the pattern is difficult due to the complicated counting of the stitches necessary to make the “flames”. The wool needlepoint was very durable, making it an excellent choice for a case such as this, which was designed to be used rather than be purely decorative.
The flame-stitch pattern was popular on the north shore of Boston, as SHSM owns two other similar pocketbooks, which descended from the Revolutionary period in other Stoneham families. There is also an almost identical item in the collection of the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, which belonged to Thomas Noyes of Newbury, Massachusetts.
Captain Peter Hay was over 95 when he died in 1790 — having outlived 3 wives. You can hear a podcast made by our friends at the Stoneham Historical Commission about his unusual will.
Unknown Maker, Document Case of Peter Hay, ca. 1783. [61.118] Gift of E. Grace Hay, 1961. Needlepoint in wool on canvas. Initials P. H. and 1776 worked in on inside. Contains 4 pockets lined with rose-colored fabric. Made for Peter Hay (1695-1790), early Stoneham resident.