Description:
Fire bag hand-made of heavy linen and marked "Tim'oy Wellman / 3rd Social Fire Club / 1794." Fire clubs emerged out of 17th-century European settlers’ recognition of the need to combat the loss of property from the all-too-prevalent fire disasters because of the close proximitry of wooden buildings and need for fire for warmth or illumination. By the 18th century, prominent local men formed the membership of such clubs, which could range in numbers from 20 to 30. Linen or canvas bags, along with leather fire buckets, were staple items required of membership in these early clubs. These items were marked with the owner’s names or initials, as well as an identification of the specific fire club to which the member belonged. Timothy Wellman (a common name in Salem and not yet identified) was one such member from Salem, Massachusetts’ Third Social Fire Club. While leather fire buckets held water used to extinguish a blaze, bags were used to collect the belongings of those affected by fire. The name of the bag’s owner and identification of fire club served as a way to protect and monitor the salvage of objects. Members who reported to a fire with missing equipment or equipment in poor condition could be fined. Originally, these clubs existed to protect its members' personal and professional property, but by the 19th century expanded to emcompass the general welfare of each community, regardless of membership. Fire bags were commonly found in the homes of 18th and 19th century Americans. Often placed in fire buckets for quick use in case of fire, these bags were employed to stuff with precious items in a household. In 1785, the Amicable Fire Society in Boston published the requirements for each of their members stating "Each member shall keep constantly in good order, hanging in some convenient place in his dwelling house, two leather buckets, two bags, and an iron bed-key. The bags to be one yard and a half in length and three quarters of a yard in breadth, with strings at their mouths. The buckets and bags to be marked with the owner's name, under the penalty of five shillings for neglect in each particular."
Subjects:
Textile fabrics; Linen Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+F.047 |
