Do a
Google search for a smock or smock frock for the purposes of your Battle
Road kit and you will come up with little more useable information than
when you started. They did existed and yet scant information can be
found to tie them to New England.
So what do we know?
Since Battle Road 2000 this mezzotint of the Coxheath Enraged Farmer has been the basis of the use of the smock for Battle Road events. It was offered in the interim providing the men of the reenactment community a garment when a frock coat or jacket wasn't yet in their wardrobes. Offered as a stop gap measure to to avoid coming out in just a shirt and waistcoat and to do away with the fringed hunting garment not correct for the period of April 19th 1775. As an aside, the internet revolution has allowed for the sharing of research to go far beyond what we had in the year 2000. At that time we had few documented sources.
The Enraged Farmer print is based on the events that took place in Coxheath, Kent England. The date of the print is unknown. The towns website [1] tells us that until the 1700's the area was a deserted tract of land until in 1756 twelve thousand Hanoverian and Hessian soldiers were brought to be encamped there, which "caused bad feelings within the local area." Hence, the enraged farmer, do you blame him? The dandy soldier seems to have eyes for his daughter, and well, we all know what that means. Without a date, the print might also have been inspired by events in 1778 when again, another fifteen thousand English troops were encamped there waiting to be deployed to, you guessed it, America. History just keeps repeating itself as on 18th September, of that year, a mock battle was held with Grenadiers, Light Infantry and Dragoons. Perhaps the women came out in their best finery to watch the event?
So how does this explain the smock? A quick search confirms that heath or heather is much liked by grazing sheep and from unconfirmed sources it would seem that English and Welsh sheep herders and wagoneers were known for wearing smocks. Later paintings confirm this as we get into the 1800's when the smock takes on a greater role with "smocking" as an embellishment as found in several paintings. A smock like garment was worn by peasants during the Middle Ages. but it's evolution isn't well documented.
Based on current research the Battle road Committee is asking that participants refrain from wearing these smock flocks. Frock coats, great coats, and jackets abound with choices for the reenactor. Classes to make these garments are available on a regular basis and information can be provided through The Hive.