A Hymn to "Home Manufactory" and Relocalization
Concord Historian and musician -- and frequent contributor to this publication -- D. Michael Ryan, has brings to our attention the 18th century song below.
"The British Colonies were founded primarily to gain new sources of raw materials for the British Empire," he said over coffee recently at the Club Car Cafe at the newly restored West Concord Train Station. "Raw materials from here were shipped back to Britain, made into goods, and then shipped back here for sale to the Colonists."
At a certain point and for many reasons, the Colonists chafed at this arrangement. As the political situation heated up and came to a series of breaking points, Colonists decided to ban the import not just all goods manufactured in Britain, but to not do business with any merchant still doing business with England. In the summer of 1774, scores of Concordians signed "The Solemn Covenant" to this effect (see our article here for more information about this).
Once goods from Britain were forbidden, manufacturing the necessities (and niceties) of life locally became a dire necessity -- thus the term "home manufactory" in this song. Though often not as fine as goods from across the pond -- giving the term "homespun" its frequent derrogatory slant -- this political situation set the ground for a strong tradition of manufacturing in the US... one that has in large part disappeared today.
Coming fully back to our own time, "home manufactory" is in total parallel to the "relocalization" movement, a strategy to build societies based on the local production of food, energy and goods, and the local development of currency, governance and culture. According to The Relocalization Network, the main goals of relocalization are to increase community energy security, to strengthen local economies, and to dramatically improve environmental conditions and social equity. Though more than 200 years have passed, this is not much different than 18th century Concord's own needs.
Mr. Ryan and his compatriots in the musical group The Jolly Rogues -- along with the Hartwell Players -- will be singing this song on the Milldam on Saturday, December 13th, as part of the Concord Independent Business Alliance's "Shop Concord First -- Experience Concord Independents" holiday program. See more info on this performance here.
Hymn to Home Manufactory
Young Ladies in town and those that live round,
Let a friend at this season, advise you
Since money's so scare and times growing worse,
Strange things may soon hap and surprise you.
First, then throw aside
Your top-knots of pride
Wear none but your own country linen.
Of economy boast,
Let your pride be the most
To show cloaths of your own make and spinning.
What if homespun they say
Is not quite so gay
As brocades, yet be not in a passion.
For when it known
This is much wore in town
One and all will cry out "This the fashion".
And all should agree, to not married be
To such as will wear London factory.
But at first sight refuse, tell 'em such do you choose
As encourage your own manufactory.
Art Credits: Page designed by Windfall, backgrounds courtesy of Donna Cunningham. Other images courtesy of Clipart.com.
