> This is probably a question for the folks at Colonial Williamsburg, but
> I ran across a bill today from Orange County, VA ca. 1807, which listed
> among the purchases "7 yds Virginia Cloth."  What is/was it, and why
> distinguish it from other cloths in the bill?

Virginia cloth usually descibes a locally made cloth versus imported,
often of mixed fibers such as a wool weft and cotton or linen warp. It is
also referred as "country cloth" and later is described as wool/cotton
jean. It has a 2:1 jean weave where the wool fibers show more on the
outside and the cotton shows more on the inside where a plain weave is
often described as linsey-woolsey. It is a durable yet comfortable fabric
better suited to the southern climate than wool broadcloth. Later versions
are in weaves such as satinette which look like wool broadcloth on the
outside and cotton cloth on the inside. Virginia or country cloth was so
prevalent by the time of the Civil War, that it was the predominant fabric
used for Confederate enlisted uniforms.
You can find images of these fabrics at:
http://www.familyheirloomweavers.com/  and
http://www.bentart.com/

Regards,

Tom Apple

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