Object Record
Images
Additional Images [3]
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2014.36.01 |
Object Name |
Quilt |
Date |
1890 |
Year Range from |
1870 |
Year Range to |
1891 |
Features |
quilt, white background, hand stitched on the diagonal, assorted mauve/taupe calico cottons, "Christian Cross" repeating blocks, 2 blocks are signed in blank ink "Mrs Mary Denison Aged 50, 1890" and "Grand-mother Elizabeth Denison Aged 85 March 4th 1870 August 12th 1871', variety of fabrics in backing, single fold binding. |
Object Story |
This quilt was made by Elizabeth Denison (nee Thompson). According to her descendants Elizabeth Thompson was born March 4, 1786 in Rennselaerville, Albany County, New York. However other records put her potential birthdate closer to 1790. While the date of the inscription on the quilt would indicate she was born in 1785. Her father, William Thompson was a United Empire Loyalist who received a land grant in Fredericksburg Township in 1790. Elizabeth's Mother was Magdalene Keller. Based on the different possible dates of birth Elizabeth may have been born in the United States (possibly Albany County as indicated by her descendants), or in Fredericksburg Township in Ontario. Elizabeth Married Nathan Denison, who was born March 2, 1781 in Mystic, Connecticut. The Couple had nine children. Nathan passed away November 16, 1849 in Richmond Township, meanwhile Elizabeth lived until November 19, 1873, in Napanee. A quilt is a bed covering composed of three layers stitched together, a backing, a layer of filling to make the quilt warm, and a top which is composed of pieces of material. All of this is assembled using decorative stitching. The backing of the quilt is made out of calico cotton, a type of cotton that is unbleached, half pressed, and semi coarse. It is a durable material making it suitable for bags, curtains, and quilts such as this one. This quilt was made during the peak of the crazy quilt fashion when it was typical to see many different fabrics and dozens of different stitching. In comparison this quilt is more subtle, with similar fabrics used to make the design, and no flashy stitching. The christian cross pattern is constructed using squares of the same material sewn into bigger squares which were then arranged into the pattern that leaves an open cross in the middle. There is an inscription in one of the open crosses for the year 1890, after Elizabeth had died, likely indicating that the quilt had been left unfinished and was taken up by Mary Anne Denison, Elizabeth's daughter. |
People |
Keller, Magdalene Thompson, William Thompson, Elizabeth Denison, Nathan Denison, Elizabeth (nee Thompson) |
Subjects |
Quilts Quilting Textiles Textile art Needlework |
Search Terms |
United Empire Loyalists Fredericksburgh |