flax-dresser

In December 1781, Burns moved temporarily to Irvine to learn to become a flax-dresser, but during the New Year celebrations of 1781/1782 the flax shop caught fire and was sufficiently damaged to send him home to Lochlea farm.

robert burns | some hae meat « poetry dispatch & other notes from the underground 2009

Robert Allan was the son of a respectable flax-dresser in the village of

The Modern Scottish Minstrel, Volume II. The Songs of Scotland of the past half century Various

In his sixteenth year, he entered on the business of a flax-dresser, in his native town -- an occupation in which he was employed for a period of fourteen years.

The Modern Scottish Minstrel, Volume IV. The Songs of Scotland of the Past Half Century Various

In the price of linen we must add to this price the wages of the flax-dresser, of the spinner, of the weaver, of the bleacher, &c., together with the profits of their respective employers.

VI. Book I. Of the Component Parts of the Price of Commodities 1909

The flax-dresser with the shives, fibres, and dirt of flax covering his garments, and his face begrimed with flax-dirt has disappeared; the noise of his brake and swingling knife has ended, and the boys no longer make bonfires of his swingling tow.

Home Life in Colonial Days Alice Morse Earle 1881

In 1781 Robert went to Irvine to become a flax-dresser, but, as the result of a New Year carousal of the workmen, including himself, the shop took fire and was burned to the ground.

A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature 1853

Partly through whim, and partly that I wished to set about doing something in life, I joined a flax-dresser in a neighboring town (Irvine) to learn his trade.

The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence. With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical by Allan Cunningham Robert Burns 1777

Lochlea, though not producing fine crops of corn, was considered excellent for flax; and while the cultivation of this commodity was committed to his father and his brother Gilbert, he was sent to Irvine at Midsummer, 1781, to learn the trade of a flax-dresser, under one Peacock, kinsman to his mother.

The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence. With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical by Allan Cunningham Robert Burns 1777

In the price of linen we must add to this price the wages of the flax-dresser, of the spinner, of the weaver, of the bleacher, etc.

An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations Adam Smith 1756

May be your honour is not sinsible yet who I am -- I am Paddy M'Doole, of the Curragh, and I've been a flax-dresser and dealer since I parted your honour's land, and was last night at the fair of Clonaghkilty, where I went just in a quiet way thinking of nothing at all, as any man might, and had my little yarn along with me, my wife's and the girl's year's spinning, and all just hoping to bring them back a few honest shillings as they desarved -- none better!

Tales and Novels — Volume 04 Maria Edgeworth 1808