The Blaisdell name is believed to be descended from St. Blais, a patron saint of wool combers.

It was widespread among craft unions like the wool combers who were said to have become "one society throughout the kingdom.if any of their club is out of work they give them a ticket and money to seek for work at the next town where a box club is".

In the only passage where he concedes any degree of effectiveness to workers' combinations, Adam Smith said of the wool combers: "By combining not to take apprentices.[they].reduce the whole of the manufacture into a sort of slavery to themselves, and raise the price of labour much above what is due to the nature of their work."

In 1794 wool combers were accused of working only half their time for a wage of 10s (50p) when 25s (£1.25p) was within their reach.

However, Campell's authoritative London Tradesman of 1747 suggests fourteen hours for breeches makers, carpet weavers, harness makers, coopers, engravers, saddlers, stocking knitters, wool combers and shoe makers.

Intense heat and charcoal fumes from their stoves ensured that few wool combers reached the age of fifty.

The Peruzzi family, a big banking family and precursor to the Medici family went bankrupt in 1345, and in 1345 Florence was the scene of an attempted strike by wool combers (ciompi).

He was the principal in the firm of Pickles and Rae, wool combers and top makers in Bradford.

He was beheaded after his flesh was shredded with iron combs (normally used to brush out sheepskins), thus making him the patron saint of wool combers as well.

The similarity of these instruments of torture to wool combs led to his adoption as the patron saint of wool combers in particular, and the wool trade in general.