Relic

Object Name:

Relic

Object ID:

1973.515.16

Place of Origin:

Barnstead, NH

Date:

circa 1813

Description:

Baby relics in silver box. Box cover engraved in script, "Polly Bunker. / from / Otis." Leather shoes worn by daughter of Benjamin and Polly Hodgdon of Durham, NH. Born 1813 in Barnstead, NH, weight 2.5 lbs. With wooden last for shoes she wore at age six months. In silver box, with 5/8" diameter gold ring, which fit over her arm to shoulder.
Comes with typed note: "These shoes were worn by infant daughter / of Benjamin and Polly (Emerson) Hodgdon, / of Durham, N. H., who was born in Barn- / stead, N. H., Nov. 21, 1813, and whose / weight at birth was 2 1/2 lbs. / The wooden last was used in making shoes / worn by her at six months of age. / At birth the accompanying finger ring / could easily be slipped over the hand / and arm to the shoulder. When one year / of age she was carried in a muff for / neighborly calls. / She grew to normal size and in 1838 was / united in marriage to Alfred Bunker, of / Barnstead, N. H., in which town she lived for eighty-seven years."

Material:

Metal
Silver
Gold
Tissue
Leather
Wood

Dimensions:

H-0.8 W-2.5 D-1.9 inches

Provenance:

Given to Polly Bunker from Otis. Polly (Hodgdon) Bunker (1812-1900) of Barnstead, NH, wore the shoes and the gold ring as a baby.

Credit Line:

New Hampshire Historical Society Collection

People:

Bunker, Polly (1812-1900), Hodgdon, Polly (1812-1900)

Subjects:

Childhood & youth, Memento, Jewelry, Shoes, Clothing and dress