Cotton was first imported to Providence from Spain in 1785; a company to carry on cotton-spinning, formed at Providence in 1786, established there in the following year a factory containing a spinning jenny of 28 spindles (the first machine of the kind to be used in the United States), and also a carding machine and a spinning frame with which was manufactured a kind of jean having a linen warp and a cotton filling.
In the 18th century the ability of certain natives of the town greatly fostered its cotton industry; thus James Hargreaves here probably invented his spinning jenny about 1764, though the operatives, fearing a reduction of labour, would have none of it, and forced him to quit the town for Nottingham.
By 1811, only 3.1% of Lancashireâs cotton capacity was accounted for by small workshops using the spinning jenny.
Must also remember to bring a knife to Spinning Jenny that day - ritual sacrifice of cake!
Must also remember to bring a knife to Spinning Jenny that day - ritual sacrifice of cake !
