John,

I would agree that oak was (mostly?) used in England, but believe a wider
variety of woods were used here in "the colonies". I think pine, poplar, and
walnut would be period appropriate (the first two particularly for painted
wainscot). Might be something worth asking Chris Swan, conservator at
Colonial Williamsburg during the Working Wood symposium running the next few
days. Let me check.

Dennis Heyza
New Baltimore, Michigan

-----Original Message-----
From: oldtools@g...  On Behalf Of John M. Johnston
Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2022 8:30 AM
To: Old Tools 
Subject: [oldtools] Wainscot

What kind of wood was "wainscot?"  See the reference below:

Summary Description of Wooden Canteens made by John Trotter, London Aug. 23,
1780

"Frith St., Soho, August 23, 1780
.  Having made canteens of several kinds of wood it is found when they are
filled with water it penetrates through the heads of those made of beech,
and it is also liable to warp.  Foreign oak or wainscot will answer the
purpose much better, and is made use of here for small vessels.  Submitted
to Lord Amherst's opinion."

 Source: Letter from John Trotter to Maj. Gen. Morrison, dated Aug. 23, 1780
in Report on American Manuscripts in the Royal Institution of Great Britain,
Vol. II, His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1906, Google Books, p.
173.


John M. Johnston

"P.S. If you do not receive this, of course it must have been miscarried;
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