Original Owner Mrs. Thomas Howard Kerns (1798 - 1883)

Coverlet

1845–1850

Place madeUnited States, North America

PossiblyAuburn, New York

Wool, cotton

Overall: 7 ft. 1 1/2 in. × 6 ft. 6 1/4 in. × 1/4 in. (217.2 × 198.8 × 0.6 cm)

Gift of Miss Lotta W. and Miss Leila W. Myers

1939.387

According to the accession records, the original owner of this coverlet was Mrs. T. H. Kerns (nee Phebe Shotwell), grandmother of the donors, and great-great-granddaughter of Abram Shotwell, who arrived from England in 1665 and settled in what is now Rahway, NJ. (Rahway was originally named Shotwell's Landing, after Abram Shotwell.) Mrs. Kerns is said to have spun and dyed the yarn herself. The donors believe that the coverlet was woven in Auburn Prison, NY, but there is no indication why.

DescriptionBlue wool and white cotton double-woven jacquard coverlet; alternating floral and star-like medallions in center, surrounded by open rose and ivy border on four sides.

ClassificationsTEXTILES