Dress, Christening
- Object Name:
- Dress, Christening
- Object ID:
- 1922.013
- Date:
- circa 1736
- Description:
- Christening Robe, Atkinson, c. 1736. White silk moire with gold silk embroidery at borders. Three panels wide. Backed with cream silk plainweave.
- Material:
- Textile
Silk - Dimensions:
- W-59.5 L-47 inches
- Provenance:
- Handwritten note, signed by lender, in accession folder: "The Atkinson 'Christening Robe' dating back to 1736 or about that date, used in the family of Col. Theodore Atkinson, Secretary of the Royal Provice of New Hampshire, and in the family of William King Atkinson of Dover N.H."
The 1736 date suggests it may have been made for (or used by) Theodore Atkinson, Jr. (1737-1769), son of Hon./Col. Theodore Atkinson IV (1697-1779), mentioned in the lenders note. Both of Theodore IV's children pre-deceased him, and the family forture and heirlooms were passed to Theodore's cousin's son, Hon. George King (1730/4-1788), with the proviso that he change his name to Atkinson (which he did). George died childless, and the Atkinson heirlooms were then inhereted by George's nephew, William King (1765-1820), who also changed his name to Atkinson -- this is the William King Atkinson mentioned in the lender's note. William King Atkinson married Abigail Pickering; they had several children and resided in Dover. Many of the family heirlooms were inherited by Frances Atkinson Freeman (1797-1883), daughter of William and Abigail. Francis Freeman had several children, including Abigail Atkinson Freeman (1828-1901), who married Dr. Alfred W. Pike. The lender, Martha Williams Pike (1852-1938), is the daughter of Abigail and Dr. Alfred Pike.
Most of the Theodore Atkinson family heirlooms were inherited by Theodore's cousin. - Credit Line:
- Loan of Martha Williams Pike
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