When it was completed, Sophie selected a broad and smoothly planed board and painted SANDY CREEK LEATHER SHOPPE on top, with HENRY PRATT, PROP. underneath, which Henry nailed over the front door. On the back of their property, he erected a large, open-sided shed for the curing of hides. The Pratts had no other competition in the community except for a Quaker shoemaker several miles away who served mostly other Quakers, so Henry was soon busy repairing and selling shoes, saddles, harnesses, saddlebags, and even leather fire buckets lined with pitch. Sophie was somewhat disappointed that most housewives did their own sewing, but there were enough unmarried men to buy the gloves, vests, and tunics she produced. One, a long, loose-fitting shirt called a “wamus,” was especially popular, and she filled a few orders for leather caps and hats.

Both having come from the more stylish coastal area and having been involved in producing clothing themselves, they were interested in what the frontier people wore. All apparel was handmade, of durable leather or heavy woven fabric that could be taken apart and sewn back together. Some farmers and woodsmen had leather shoes, but Indian moccasins were more common, often stuffed for comfort or warmth with moss or buffalo hair. Their headgear was a slouch felt hat or, in winter, a fur cap of coonskin, bear, fox, or squirrel, usually with a tail in back.

Frontier women wore linen or linsey-woolsey dresses called “Mother Hubbards,” often hanging straight down, or with a cloth belt around the waist in an attempt at style. The only undergarments were petticoats, made of the same material. Housewives usually wore aprons to protect the dress. Woolen or quilted capes were added for warmth, and most preferred linen bonnets or shawls. Footwear was similar to that of men, except that a surprising number of women wore wooden shoes.

Emulating his father, Henry arranged for his shoemaker shop to be a place for customers and loafers to spend an hour or so, sitting on two long benches near his workplace and discussing the affairs of the day while he continued with his work. To permit the men to engage in their masculine discussions, Sophie did her work in their living quarters upstairs, where she could still overhear their arguments and ribald jokes when she chose to do so.

Although they had enjoyed a delightful and adventurous sexual relationship, it was only after they settled in Hillsborough that Henry and Sophie realized that they were deeply in love. They explored the community together on Sundays, and at other times, when the shop was closed, found it easy to share their most intimate thoughts, and yearned for each other when they were apart. Henry was even inspired, on occasion, to write a poem for Sophie, expressing feelings on paper that he could not otherwise put into words.

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