QUILT INDEX RECORD
16-12-221
Where are the records for this quilt housed?
DAR Museum
Who documented this quilt?
DAR Museum; Permanent Collection
DAR Number:
86.125
This is a:
Finished quilt
Quilt's title:
Wild Goose Chase
Names for quilt's pattern in common use:
Friendship Quilt, Ridgway Family Quilt
Brackman # or other source & #:
2800
How wide is the quilt?
91 inches
How long is the quilt?
91 1/4 inches
Shape of edge:
Straight
What color is the quilt?
White; Green; Yellow; Pink; Red
Overall color scheme:
Multicolor
Quilt's condition:
Poor/very worn
Type of inscription:
Place; Message; Date; Multiple Names
What is inscribed on the quilt?
1A Lydia Ann Murphy Philadelphia (cornucopia) IB Elizabeth Murphy Sept 14 1847 1C 1D 1E Elizabeth P. Ridgway I will remember the works of the lord (original owner) 1F Elizabeth P Henry When this you see Remember Me April 2 1844 1G Sarah T Murphy Feb 10 1846 1H Joseph and Elizabeth Henry April 19 1844 1J William Park Philadelphia Feb 10 184- 1K Ann Ridgway October 20 1845 Clark Tomlin March 19 1846 2A Abigail Ridgway June 12 1848 2B Elizabeth (Real) Philadelphia February 10 1848 2C Emma M Wilson March 19 1846 2D Diseree - of the State of Pennsylvania Feb 22 1850 2E Thou art my God Thy righteous will instruct me to obey Harriet (F) Wilson April 4 1844 2F 2G Clark K Tomlin March 19 1848 2H Clark Ridgway March 6 1849 2I Elizabeth Ridgway The State of New York Feb 10 1842 2J 2K Jacob L Ridgway Oct 20 1845 3A 3B Sarah Murphy Sept 10 1845 3C Sarah Stillman March 19 1845 3D Samuel P Ridgway March 6 1849 3E Joseph W Tomlin March 19 1845 3F Elizabeth Ridgway Dec 22 1851 3G Lydia Ann Tomlin Dec 24 1851 3H Martha Ridgway March 6 1849 3I Rebecka (Homer) Feb 22 1847 4A Joseph Ridgway Feb 22 1847 4B 4C Charlotte Ridgway Feb 22 1847 4D Martha Ridgway March 6 1849 4E Moses Tomlin March 19 1848 4F Elizabeth Lutz Feb 10 184- 4G Amanda Tomlin March 19 1848 4H But it was through my ---- and my familiar friend Sarah Ann Murphy 4I Mary Moore April 29 1844 For he shall give his angels charge over the to keep the in all thy ways 4J Pierson Cole March 6 1849 5A Withdraw not thou thy help nor cast me from thy sight Mary Ridgway April 1 1849 5B Benjamin Ridgway April 11 1848 5C Consider that the righteous man is gods peculiar choice John S. Ridgway 5D 5E Samuel Ridgway the State of New York Feb 10 1846 5F Aaron Myers Jan 21 1850 5G Elizabeth Coles March 6 1848 6A Elizabeth F Ridgway April 6 1845 6B Charles L Wilson March 19 1846 6C Richard Moore Departed this life Sept 24 1841 6D Mary L Ridgway April 11 1845 Catherine Myers Jan 1850
What is the date inscribed on the quilt?
range from 1841- 1851
Method used to make the inscription:
Ink
Location of inscription:
on block
Time period:
1800-1849
When was the quilt finished?
1841 to 1851
Describe the quilt's layout:
Block pattern
Number of quilt blocks:
36
Size of quilt blocks:
15 x15
Arrangement of quilt blocks:
On point or rotated on 45 degrees
Spacing of quilt blocks:
Side by side
Number of different block patterns used in the quilt:
1
What is the shape of the quilt blocks?
Squares
Describe the borders:
Sawtooth border of red triangles between pieced squares.
Fiber types used to make the quilt top:
Cotton
Fabric styles used in the quilt top:
Solid/plain
Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:
Hand Piecing
Materials used to make the back:
Cotton
What color is the back of the quilt?
White
Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:
4
Width of pieces on the back:
26 1/2, 26 1/2, 16 1/2, 22 1/2
Describe the back:
Same fabric used throughout
Materials used in the quilt binding:
Cotton
Fabric structure of the binding:
Plain weave
How is the binding made?
Straight grain
What is the width of the binding (measure on the top only)?
less than a half inch
What kind of filling is used in the quilt?
Cannot tell
How thick is the quilt?
Thin (Less than 3/16?)
How are the layers held together?
Hand quilting
Thread type used for the quilting:
cotton
Color of thread used in the quilting:
white
Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:
9
Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:
9
Quilting designs used, overall motifs:
Outline
Quilting designs used, background fills:
Other
Describe the quilting designs used:
chevron
Where the quilt was made, state:
New Jersey (NJ)
Where the quilt was made, country:
USA
Describe anything about the history of the quilt that wasn't already recorded in a previous field:
The inscriptions on the quilt are of many members of the Ridgway family of Gloucester City, New Jersey. Most of the signers were young married couples with infants or teenagers. Occupations of the men included farmers, shoemaker and carpenter. Some of the signers were neighbors. It is impossible to determine the maker at this point in the research. The name Ridgway is spelled with an "e" by the donor only.
Why was the quilt made?
Unknown
Ownership of this quilt is:
Public-Other
Quilt owner's name:
DAR Museum
Quilt owner's city:
Washington, DC
Quilt owner's state:
Washington D.C.
Quilt owner's country:
USA
Access and copyright information:
Restricted
Copyright holder:
DAR Museum
Cite this Quilt
Wild Goose Chase. 1841 to 1851. From DAR Museum, DAR Museum; Permanent Collection. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=16-12-221. Accessed: 03/28/24