Images(21)

Quilt, Pieced Friendship Album

Date1845, 1847, 1849

Maker Ann T. Hite (1782-1851)

OriginAmerica, Virginia, Frederick County, Belle Grove (probably); owned in Virginia, Caroline County, Bowling Green

MediumPlain and printed cottons with ink inscriptions

DimensionsOH: 67"; OW: 53 1/2"

Credit LineGift of Michael L. and Christine S. Marshall

Object number2016.609.1

DescriptionThis is a rectangular cotton quilt consisting of 20 pieced blocks with red cotton sashing. Each block consists of a thirteen square construction: eight outer squares of one pattern edged with four squares of a second pattern, which enclose a white cotton square--eighteen of which are inscribed in ink with dates, names, and/or verses/poems. The 20 blocks vary in size from approximately 8 5/8" to 13 3/8" square. The smaller squares within each block vary in size from about 2" to 3 1/4" square. The small squares are in printed cottons of red, pink, blue, brown, green, yellow, and tan colors and patterns of striped, floral, geometric, plaid, sprigged, and small patterns. Strips of red cotton have been individually machine stitched to the blocks to form a sashing. The sashing varies in width from 1" to 2 1/2". Two of the blocks do not have sashing. The sashing has been taken to the backside of the quilt and hand stitched to from an edge finish.
The quilt has a cotton batting and is backed in brown cotton printed in a geometric floral sprig and vine pattern. It is quilted in running stitches 3-4 per inch in an outline pattern of the squares.
Label TextThe Nine Patch Checkerboard pattern of this friendship album quilt, allowed signers to include a small inscription in the center square without overwhelming the quilt with ink. While the quilt inscriptions do not contain a reference to its receiver, Ann T. Hite possibly intended this quilt for her brother, William Grymes Maury. The signers include friends and family members who wrote passages from hymns and poems. The verses and signers themselves make the history of this quilt interesting, but it is the quilt’s original location that makes it noteworthy. Ann assembled the quilt in her home on Belle Grove Plantation and the quilt resided at the Old Mansion at Bowling Green, William’s home, both prominent houses in nineteenth-century Virginia.
InscribedBlock 1
Absent but not forgotten
M E Davison

Block 2
Absent tho’ not forgot
S. C. M. Bird

Block 3
The pains, the ills
We’ve wept thro’ here
Will turn to
Smiles in Heaven
Mary L. Hill
1849

Block 4
[blank]

Block 5
The soft smile of a loving
face is better than splendor
that fadeth quickly
E. A. Hite
Novbr 2d. (?)
1847

Block 6
E. A. Hite
1847

Block 7
Don’t forget
Jacqueline

Block 8
Tis friendship stamps
The value.
Ann T. Hite
Decbr 3rd 1847

Block 9
Henrietta B. Hill
“A friend loveth at all times.”
Block 10
Forget me not
S. C. M. Bird

Block 11
Though absent
not forgotten
____ Lodor

Block 12
Auspicious hope in thy sweet garden grow
wreaths for each toil, a charm for every woe
Eltinge M. Lodor
Belle Grove October 6th (?) 1847

Block 13
May your days glide
sweetly on, in happiness
and peace
M. L. Hite

Block 14
[blank]

Block 15
A token of affection (?)
Jacqueline (?)

Block 16
In this day of thy joy,
be thankful_____________
deserved thy _______________
Elizth. A. Hite
Novbr 20th
1847

Block 17
A. Y. Hite

Block 18
Long exercise, may_______________
But what we once desire________________
Eltinge M. Lodor
Belle grove October 6th 1847

Block 19
“They that trust in the Lord
shall be as Mount Zion
which cannot be removed,
but abideth for ever.”
M. L. S.

Block 20
T’is friendship
stamps the value.
Ann T Hite
Belle Grove
May 3rd, 1845
ProvenanceThis quilt was made by Ann T. Hite of Belle Grove in Fredericksburg, Virginia, with the assistance from friends and family. Presumably the quilt was a gift from Ann to her brother William Grymes Maury of the Old Mansion at Bowling Green in Caroline County, Virginia. The quilt remained at the Old Mansion until about 2003 when it was given to Peter Larson (conversation with Peter Larson 12/7/2015). From Peter Larson the quilt went to Michael and Christine Marshall who donated it to CWF.