Wildcat1750 (nyjrbethelct)
Forum Supporter
Thanks for the added information, Terry! Any guess as to what time period we are talking about?
Personalized Mystery Relic
- Thread starter Wildcat1750 (nyjrbethelct)
- Start date
Thanks for the added information, Terry! Any guess as to what time period we are talking about?
This is a GREAT thread Nick!!! I love the research you and others have done. It's like reading a historical novel!!
Wildcat1750 (nyjrbethelct)
Forum Supporter
This is a GREAT thread Nick!!! I love the research you and others have done. It's like reading a historical novel!!
Thanks, SeabeeRon!
I'm really greatfull for the help I've been getting from everyone on this forum!!!
Nick
kystonewall
Elite Member
How close are you to Milford CT? Check out the date of Jan 20, 1736 on the following link.
http://www.rockvillemama.com/nmmarr.htm
Maybe it will help some.
kystonewall
http://www.rockvillemama.com/nmmarr.htm
Maybe it will help some.
kystonewall
Wildcat1750 (nyjrbethelct)
Forum Supporter
Another Great Link!
GREAT LINK! THANKS! Milford is only 25 miles from Bethel.
I found at least 25 Baldwins in this list, including a Mary Baldwin who was married back on 20 January 1736. A lot of names on that list were from folks in and around the Bethel area. Bethel was still part of Danbury until 1855. Newtown is mentioned several times and I live right on the border of Newtown.
I’ll be studying this list in much greater detail. It may help me out further with the geneology phase of my search, Thanks!
Nick
GREAT LINK! THANKS! Milford is only 25 miles from Bethel.
I found at least 25 Baldwins in this list, including a Mary Baldwin who was married back on 20 January 1736. A lot of names on that list were from folks in and around the Bethel area. Bethel was still part of Danbury until 1855. Newtown is mentioned several times and I live right on the border of Newtown.
I’ll be studying this list in much greater detail. It may help me out further with the geneology phase of my search, Thanks!
Nick
Wildcat1750 (nyjrbethelct)
Forum Supporter
Update: Signature Stamp For Friendship Quilt?
I have done more research on the purpose of this relic and have a new possiblity:
A friend who works at a local historical society thinks that it might be a signature stamp for textiles such as a friendship quilt or album quilt.
I have done my own research over the internet and have found many quilting sites confirming that quilts were in fact personalized in such a way, either by pen and ink, or with a metal stencil or signature stamp. I have yet to find any examples of what the stamping hardware actually looked like.
Nick
I have done more research on the purpose of this relic and have a new possiblity:
A friend who works at a local historical society thinks that it might be a signature stamp for textiles such as a friendship quilt or album quilt.
I have done my own research over the internet and have found many quilting sites confirming that quilts were in fact personalized in such a way, either by pen and ink, or with a metal stencil or signature stamp. I have yet to find any examples of what the stamping hardware actually looked like.
Nick
agbkyle
Forum Supporter
Very interesting find and info...be great to see something it was stamped onto.
That sure is a piece of history you found there.
Congrats on that!!!!
That sure is a piece of history you found there.
Congrats on that!!!!
Steve/WMASS
Elite Member
I was thinking that maybe it was used as part of a wax seal for early postage letters. Some of those were pretty fancy. Just a thought. Steve
headhunter
Senior Member
CONGRATULATIONS on this find buddy! i usually check out all the different threads on here but i've missed this one untill now.that is just "finer than frog hair".that is definantly a peice of history you got there.the whole thing is cool to see but i really like the detail in the little knob on the end of it.Ain't history just cool,i HATED it in school but now that i'm grown up(supposed to be)i can't get enough of it.well way to go man.keep us posted...Bobby
Wildcat1750 (nyjrbethelct)
Forum Supporter
Mary Baldwin Research Pays Off!
Mary E. Baldwin was born in Bethel, CT on 30 May 1867.
According to the 1860 Census, Mary’s father, Abraham Lines Baldwin (son of Major Baldwin and Harriet Parsons Baldwin of Woodbridge, CT) was a boarder and school teacher in Danbury, CT in 1860. He married Susan M. Abbott on 9 April 1861. They had a daughter Harriet in 1863. In 1864 Abraham bought the Bethel, CT property I now live on from Eli S. Barnum and became a farmer. The Baldwin’s then had a son George in 1865, Mary in 1867, a daughter Martha in 1870, a daughter Jennie (Janette) in 1872, and finally a daughter Susan A. in 1875.
An 1867 Map of Bethel clearly shows the property belonging to A. L. Baldwin. In addition I obtained a copy of the actual 1864 Deed from the Land Records at Town Hall.
The 1880 Census shows all family members living together at home. Mary was 14 and at school on the day of that census. By the time of the 1900 census only Abraham, his wife Susan M. and the youngest daughter Susan A. remained in the household. According to Death Records in the Town Clerk’s Mary E. died on 11 November 1906. In later years the three surviving sisters’ names (Susan A., Martha and Janette) appear several times in the Land Records as the property was gradually divided up.
Based upon the time the time that Mary lived the mystery object with her name on it is most likely a personal bookplate embosser, or hot stamping device for leather, as suggested by Texaspast and talosiv earlier in this thread. Thanks to all who sent helpful links and encouragement for this project!
Nick
Mary E. Baldwin was born in Bethel, CT on 30 May 1867.
According to the 1860 Census, Mary’s father, Abraham Lines Baldwin (son of Major Baldwin and Harriet Parsons Baldwin of Woodbridge, CT) was a boarder and school teacher in Danbury, CT in 1860. He married Susan M. Abbott on 9 April 1861. They had a daughter Harriet in 1863. In 1864 Abraham bought the Bethel, CT property I now live on from Eli S. Barnum and became a farmer. The Baldwin’s then had a son George in 1865, Mary in 1867, a daughter Martha in 1870, a daughter Jennie (Janette) in 1872, and finally a daughter Susan A. in 1875.
An 1867 Map of Bethel clearly shows the property belonging to A. L. Baldwin. In addition I obtained a copy of the actual 1864 Deed from the Land Records at Town Hall.
The 1880 Census shows all family members living together at home. Mary was 14 and at school on the day of that census. By the time of the 1900 census only Abraham, his wife Susan M. and the youngest daughter Susan A. remained in the household. According to Death Records in the Town Clerk’s Mary E. died on 11 November 1906. In later years the three surviving sisters’ names (Susan A., Martha and Janette) appear several times in the Land Records as the property was gradually divided up.
Based upon the time the time that Mary lived the mystery object with her name on it is most likely a personal bookplate embosser, or hot stamping device for leather, as suggested by Texaspast and talosiv earlier in this thread. Thanks to all who sent helpful links and encouragement for this project!
Nick
Thanks Nick for that rap up! That is so cool that you are able to find out so much about the property you now own!!
kystonewall
Elite Member
Do you live in the same house or has it changed over the years? If you wanted to go further you could access the state records to see what put Poor Mary as deceased at only 39. It's really fascinating doing some research. Me and my dad traced back his side of the family and found out that or Great great grandfather was a wagon driver in the civil war. Odd thing was I was reenacting as a wagon driver in the same co that he was actually in during the war. Really surprised me! It's great you can put a name, years and history to a find like you did. Congrats Nick!
Flapjack
Elite Member
Great find! And even better research!
Thanks for sharing,
Flapjack
And even better research! Thanks for sharing,
Flapjack
Wildcat1750 (nyjrbethelct)
Forum Supporter
November 13 hunch was correct.
Hey, John. Thanks for the input last month! This actually turned out to be her. I had come up with that link early on myself but was skeptical at first...seemed much too easy.
Nick
Hey, John. Thanks for the input last month! This actually turned out to be her.
I had come up with that link early on myself but was skeptical at first...seemed much too easy.Nick
Lowjiber
Forum Supporter
I'm really impressed with the follow-up research you and others did. Like Snowy said, this is one of the coolest threads...EVER.Hey, John. Thanks for the input last month! This actually turned out to be her.
Nick
Made me happy to read this. Glad I helped a little.
John
Wildcat1750 (nyjrbethelct)
Forum Supporter
About the house
The house that Mary lived in was was built c. 1750 and stood until 1996. My house stands just behind and to the side of where her house stood. Our well still draws from their original well.
My neighbor's grandparents, who later owned the Baldwin house, told him that Mary used to give piano lessons in the small addition to the right. (see attached 1950s pic provided by my neighbor) He also recalls seeing the name A. Baldwin, with an 1800s date, carved in the upstairs floorboards of one of the outbuildings, that housed a tack room for the horses.
I still hope to research Mary's cause of death at such an early age.
Nick
The house that Mary lived in was was built c. 1750 and stood until 1996. My house stands just behind and to the side of where her house stood. Our well still draws from their original well.
My neighbor's grandparents, who later owned the Baldwin house, told him that Mary used to give piano lessons in the small addition to the right. (see attached 1950s pic provided by my neighbor) He also recalls seeing the name A. Baldwin, with an 1800s date, carved in the upstairs floorboards of one of the outbuildings, that housed a tack room for the horses.
I still hope to research Mary's cause of death at such an early age.
Nick
Attachments
kystonewall
Elite Member
That's really neat! The research kind of brings your piece "back to life".
Dewayne
Dewayne
Lunarpancake
Senior Member
wow this thread is SO interesting......im going to be checking back to see if anyone finds out what she died from/of
Janster
Forum Supporter
...check this out too!
Signatures, drawings, dates, and verses were tiny in the early years. They were applied to the fabric using stencils, stamps or freehand. Stencils were made from copper, tin or nickel. A lady would have one made for herself that portrayed her sense of style. It may include a design, like a feather or fancy circle around her name, or just be simple block letters. These were used to label their clothes and linens too, a common practice when women washed their clothes in public places. Stamps, with changeable letters were more economical and common. The letters were lead, the stamp metal, with a wooden handle. These stamps could have a decorative oval shape, which encircled the changeable letters. The most popular form of signature was freehand, either by a hired calligrapher or by the maker of the quilt block.
Reference books
Listed below are some books I recommend for both the quilt maker and the researcher on signature quilts.
To make your own signature or album quilt check out these books, and if you scroll down you will find books that contain historical accounts of signature quilts.
Keepsake Signature Quilts, by Sally Saulmon
Click here for my book review on this book.
The Signature Quilts, by Pepper Cory and Susan McKelvey
Friendship Offering, Techniques & Inspiration for Writing on Quilts, by Susan McKelvey
History Books
Most of the following books are not currently in print, so check your library, , the interlibrary loan services, and used bookstores
For Purpose And Pleasure : Quilting Together in Nineteenth-Century America, by Sandi Fox
Forget Me Not, by Jane Bently Kolter
Remember Me, Women and their Friendship Quilts by Linda Otto Lipsett
Hearts and Hand, by Elaine Hedges, Pat Ferrero, Julie Silber
Shared Threads, by Jacqueline Marx Atkins
The Baltimore Album Quilt Tradition , by the Maryland Historical Society (may be available through them)
History Articles in:
Quilt Digest , Vol. 5, "Fragile Family Quilts as Kinship Bonds" by Ricky Clark p. 1-19
Pieced By Mother, edited by Jeannette Lasansky, "Mid- 19th Century Album and Friendship Quilts" by Ricky Clark, p. 77-86
Quiltmaking in America, Beyond the Myth, edited by AQSG, (compiled from previous Uncoverings -
AQSG's journal)
"Signature Quilts: 19th Century Friends" by Barbara Brackman, p. 20-29, and in the same book "A Century of Fundraising Quilts, 1860-1960," by Dorothy Cozart, p. 156-63
Another Style
of Album Quilt
Harriet Powers: Her Life and Story Quilts - A freed slave tells stories through her quilting. Written by A
Signatures, drawings, dates, and verses were tiny in the early years. They were applied to the fabric using stencils, stamps or freehand. Stencils were made from copper, tin or nickel. A lady would have one made for herself that portrayed her sense of style. It may include a design, like a feather or fancy circle around her name, or just be simple block letters. These were used to label their clothes and linens too, a common practice when women washed their clothes in public places. Stamps, with changeable letters were more economical and common. The letters were lead, the stamp metal, with a wooden handle. These stamps could have a decorative oval shape, which encircled the changeable letters. The most popular form of signature was freehand, either by a hired calligrapher or by the maker of the quilt block.
Reference books
Listed below are some books I recommend for both the quilt maker and the researcher on signature quilts.
To make your own signature or album quilt check out these books, and if you scroll down you will find books that contain historical accounts of signature quilts.
Keepsake Signature Quilts, by Sally Saulmon
Click here for my book review on this book.
The Signature Quilts, by Pepper Cory and Susan McKelvey
Friendship Offering, Techniques & Inspiration for Writing on Quilts, by Susan McKelvey
History Books
Most of the following books are not currently in print, so check your library, , the interlibrary loan services, and used bookstores
For Purpose And Pleasure : Quilting Together in Nineteenth-Century America, by Sandi Fox
Forget Me Not, by Jane Bently Kolter
Remember Me, Women and their Friendship Quilts by Linda Otto Lipsett
Hearts and Hand, by Elaine Hedges, Pat Ferrero, Julie Silber
Shared Threads, by Jacqueline Marx Atkins
The Baltimore Album Quilt Tradition , by the Maryland Historical Society (may be available through them)
History Articles in:
Quilt Digest , Vol. 5, "Fragile Family Quilts as Kinship Bonds" by Ricky Clark p. 1-19
Pieced By Mother, edited by Jeannette Lasansky, "Mid- 19th Century Album and Friendship Quilts" by Ricky Clark, p. 77-86
Quiltmaking in America, Beyond the Myth, edited by AQSG, (compiled from previous Uncoverings -
AQSG's journal)
"Signature Quilts: 19th Century Friends" by Barbara Brackman, p. 20-29, and in the same book "A Century of Fundraising Quilts, 1860-1960," by Dorothy Cozart, p. 156-63
Another Style
of Album Quilt
Harriet Powers: Her Life and Story Quilts - A freed slave tells stories through her quilting. Written by A
