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Grafton, MA Signature Quilt 1844; Album Block

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QUILT INDEX RECORD

2-33-53

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Signature Quilt Pilot Project

Who documented this quilt?

Signature Quilt Project Public Submission

This is a:

Finished quilt

Quilt's title:

Grafton, MA Signature Quilt 1844

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

Album Block

How wide is the quilt?

86"

How long is the quilt?

97"

Describe the damage:

There are holes that appear in the corners that appear to have been threads that were used for tying the quilt rather than quilting it.

Type of inscription:

Multiple Names

What is inscribed on the quilt?

Many of the people on this quilt were located on an internet search for census records and marriage records. Reading left to right - top row down 1) Emily H. Wilson, Grafton 184? 2) Anna.E.Hunt. Grafton Mass 3) Elma Mason aged 13 Grafton Mass 1845 Row #2 4) Sally C Knowlton Grafton Mass Jan the 29 1846 Stand in awe and sin not Amelia 5) Grafton Jan the 19 1845 May God's blesings attend you Amelia In all of your undertakings Mary > Dispeau 6) Worship god and keep his command ments and thou will do well and wil have laid up treasures above Sameul Dispeau 7) Grafton Sept 6th 18?? I hope this square on hier I do make Will soon cover Amelia in the marriage state R. M. Rotherbeu (?) Row #3 8) Susan M. Carroll Grafton Mass Jan the 29,1846 A friend loveth at all times 9) (Wax seal used - upside down) George L. Hubbard Grafton Mass ??? (month) 1844 In the center --- when this you c Remember me. Aged 20.years or 26.years 10) (Stencil used) Cornelia B. Hubbard Aged 21 1844 Grafton Mass A gift from a friend Tree underneath - part of stamp 11)P. Elliot Row #4 12) C.S.Elliot 13) May this square sum day or other Cover a kind Affectionate Mother J.D.Dispeau 14) Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth Jan the 20,1845 Samuel Dispeau Aged 45 this day 15) J.Elliot Row #5 16) Julia K.Davis of Oxford Mass Feb 15 1845

Method used to make the inscription:

Stencil

Location of inscription:

on block

Time period:

Timespan

When was the quilt started?

1845

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Number of quilt blocks:

15

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:

The center signature blocks are all white cotton. The 1840's fabrics are cotton calicos, stripes, plaids, ginghams. The post-Civil War fabrics are shirting and dress fabric of cotton. The red floral calico set between the blocks is a tiny register flower with white, dark green and light green in the flowers.

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing

Features or notes about the quilt's appearance, materials, or construction:

This is an "Album Block" quilt top with 15 signed blocks. These blocks have been re-set using 20th Century red calico fabric. The quilt appears to be a marriage quilt for Amelia Dispeau of Grafton, MA with dates ranging from 1844-45. Owner notes: This quilt appears to have begun in 1844 and was finished the first time in 1845. The blocks along the sides and one in the upper left -- next to the corner, appear to be post-Civil War fabrics. The red calico blocks that are inside of the diagonally set Album Blocks appears to be 20th Century. There are holes that appear in the corners that appear to have been threads that were used for tying the quilt rather than quilting it.

Where the quilt was made, city:

Grafton

Where the quilt was made, state:

Massachusetts (MA)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

How was this quilt acquired?

Purchase

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

This quilt top was purchased from an antique dealer in Sturbridge, MA at an "antique textiles show" around 1995 at the Sturbridge Convention Center.

Why was the quilt made?

Wedding

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quilt owner's name:

Lynn Lancaster Gorges

Quilt owner's city:

New Bern

Quilt owner's state:

North Carolina (NC)

Quilt owner's country:

United States

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Lynn Lancaster Gorges

Cite this Quilt

Grafton, MA Signature Quilt 1844. Timespan. From Signature Quilt Pilot Project, Signature Quilt Project Public Submission. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=2-33-53. Accessed: 03/29/24

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