Funeral Notice, Philena R. Stephens

Date1860-1885

Maker A. McCormick Photography

Maker A. K. P. Trask

Owned by Philena Rebecca Lee Stephens

OriginAmerica, New York, New York City (book) and Pennsylvania; owned in Maryland, Cecil County

MediumPaper, ink, and pencil

DimensionsFuneral Notice: Envelope: OW: 4 ¾” x OH: 3 ¾”; Note: OW: 4 ¼” x OH: 3 5/8”, open: OH: 7 ¼”

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number2021.510.1,5

DescriptionThis is part of a collection of documents that provide context for a pieced quilt created by Philena Rebecca Lee Stephens. Funeral Notice of Philena R. Stephens with envelope. It reads; “Philena R. Stephens,/ relict of Joseph L. Stephens/ DIED/ Sunday morning, February 28th, 1897,/ in her 65th year./ You are respectfully invited to attend her funeral/ from her late residence near Rising Sun, Md.,/ on Wednesday, March 3rd, at 10:30 o’clock./ Services at the house, interment at Rosebank/ Cemetery.” The paper note is trimmed in black and consists of one sheet of paper folded into fourths. The envelope is marked: “Funeral Notice.”

ProvenanceThe images and funeral notice descended to Philena's oldest daughter, Emma P. Stephens Haines (b. 1856), and to Emma's grandson, Edwin Haines, Jr. They left the family sometime after 1995.

History of Owner:
Philena Rebecca Lee Stephens (born 1832) was the daughter of Jane and Samuel Lee. She grew up on her father's farm in West Nottingham Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. In 1855, Philena married Joseph Lincoln Stephens (1828-1887) of Cecil County, Maryland. The couple lived on his father's farm, Willow Dale, outside of Rising Sun, Cecil County. In the span of ten years the couple had six children: Emma P. (b. 1856); Mary L. (b. 1857); Lydia W. (b. 1859); Jennie L. (b. 1860); Elizabeth R. (b. 1863); and John L. (b. 1866). By 1860, Joseph was running a profitable farm while Philena kept house for her father-in-law and produced butter for the Philadelphia market. After his father's death in 1862, Joseph inherited Willow Dale. Philena continued to keep house for Joseph, his unmarried sister, Ellen (Nellie) Stephens, his brother, and their six children. According to Philena's granddaughter, Philena also taught Sunday school at the local Mt. Hope Methodist Church, which was built on Stephens property. Philena died on February 2, 1897, is buried at Rosebank Cemetery, in Calvert, Maryland.