Quilt

Object Name:

Quilt

Object ID:

2015.012

Place of Origin:

Newport, NH

Date:

1844

Description:

Quilt. "PRESENTED / To / REV. / JOHN WOODS / and / WIFE / NEWPORT / Feb. 1844." written in script in ink on center panel. Block and cross patchwork. Handstitched, except for top, which is folded 3.5" and topstitched with a 2" black and white strip of cotton shirting fabric dating from 1860-1890, indicating an alteration at later date. Cotton, printed fabric, batting, and blue floral printed backing. Cut corners. Center of each cross block inscribed with ink signature. Inscriptions left to right facing stating with each horizontal row from top to bottom, row one: Mrs. A. Hatch, Priscilla Baker / Kingston, Mrs. Mary M. Lund, Mrs. Caroline Hoyt; row 2: names are missing or illegible; row three: ? (part of label missing), Fanny Richards, Mrs. Abby Herrick, Paulina Herrick, Laura Sawyer; row four: Mrs. Sarah C. E. Boardman, missing, Mrs. Caroline Wilcox, Fanny Richards; row five: Mrs. Mary Kimball, Mrs. Susan Silver, Mrs. Zerviah Chapin, Isabelle Silver, Mrs. M. Silver?; row six: Wealthy W. McKinney , Nancy W. Wilcox / Newport / NH, Catherine F. Chapin, Martha E. McKinney; row seven: illegible, Mrs. B.R. Gilman, Mrs. A.S. Gilmore, Mary W. Duren, Mrs. Mary Fairbanks Newport / NH; row eight: Mrs. Mary W. Kimball, Mrs. C.H. L. Gleason, Mrs. J.L. Smith, Mrs. Susan Dudley; row nine: Harriett Allen, Mrs. Melinda Silsby, Eliza W. McKinney, Miriam Claggett, Elvira Gleason; row ten: Elmira T., Anne R. Starbird, Mrs. Mary A. Farrington, Mary A. Maynard; row eleven: Mrs. Mehitable Noyes / Newport / N.H., Emily Richards, Esther L. Twitchell.

Material:

Textile
Cotton

Dimensions:

W-75 L-84 inches

Provenance:

This quilt was made by Newport Congregational church parishioners in early 1844 and presented to Rev. John Woods (1785-1861) and his wife Joanna (Hartshorn) Stevens Woods (1800-1896) in recognition of 20 years' service as minister of the church. Born in Fitzwilliam on September 29, 1785, John Woods was the son of Jonas and Hannah Ward Woods. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and graduated from Williams College in 1812, after which he studied theology with Rev. Seth Payson of Rindge. His first pastorate was at Warner beginning in 1814. He went on to graduate with an A.M. from Dartmouth in 1816. On January 28, 1824, Rev. Woods was next installed as minister of the Congregational church in Newport, serving for more than 27 years. In 1854 he returned to his native Fitzwilliam where he served as minister for six years, dying on March 4, 1861. Rev. Woods married for the third time, Mrs. Joanna (Hartshorn) Stevens of Nashua on September 28, 1842. She was born in Amherst on August 18, 1800, and died in Minneapolis, MN, on November 11, 1896. The donor, Evelyn Powers Kent Orange, is the great-granddaughter of Carrie Alden Nutter (1856-1912), who was the niece of Rev. John Woods's son, Charles H. Woods (1836-1899), a Minneapolis attorney and judge.

Credit Line:

Gift of Evelyn Orange

People:

Woods, John (1785-1861)

Subjects:

Quilts, Congregational churches, Ministers, Textiles cylinder printed, Quilting, Handwork, Needlework, Autographs