Deb, from another list serve I'm on...a UK member...
Candace Perry

Does this help?

http://www.shetland-museum.org.uk/projects/ganzies.htm

It seems as if it was indeed the knitted garment, originally known as
a 'froke'.  The distortion into the feminine 'frock' seems to be a
red herring...  Although the article begins by saying it was the
knitted gansey garment, but further down refers to canvas frokes.

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Deb Fuller
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 11:12 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Guernsey frocks


Hi all,

The "guernsey frock" has come up numerous times in my research on
sailor's clothing in the early 1800s. But I have yet to find a clear
IDENTIFED picture of one or an existant garment. If anyone could help
me out with trying to nail down what this item was, I'd be eternally
grateful.

One note, these are different from the "fisherman sweaters/jumpers"
also called "guernseys", "jerseys" or "ganseys" associated with being
knitted in the Channel Islands. While these were also hand-knit, I
don't think they were ever worn as undershirts nor manufactured at
knitting mills.

I've found references for these shirts all the way though the 20th
century so I assume they didn't change much. But like I mentioned,
information about them for the early 1800s is really scarce other than
the fact that many sailors wore them and they were typically
undershirts.

Thanks in advance!!

Deb

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