Heirloom Quilt Analysis

If ever you are lucky enough to inherit a quilt, take heed of Paul Hawthorne’s exemplary attention to detail.

Comprehensive analysis of Paul Hawthorne’s maternal grandmother’s hand-stitched friendship quilt includes:

• a photograph of the quilt

• description of the recipient

• brief bio of the quilter and the role sewing played in her life as a wife and mother

• explanation of provenance

• a layout schematic

• full transcription of each signature block

• brief bios of those who contributed to this signature quilt

On close inspection, note the rich yellow blanket-stitch embellishment added to each embroidered signature block

Where Paul is unsure of a signer’s relationship, he has included his current thinking as follows:

“Juanita Linsly[?] I have not identified. Could be a friend. But, my grandmother’s maternal great-grandmother was Emily (Linsley) Phariss who died in Coleman County, Texas. There may be a connection there.”

Without such careful attention to detail, a precious heirloom quilt will fade into obscurity like the plethora of unidentified images in the family photo album.

For further reading

J. Paul Hawthorne, “Maggie Lucille (Gowens) Galloway Friendship Quilt” posted on GeneaSpy, 28 Mar 2025, (https://www.geneaspy.com/2025/03/maggie-lucille-gowens-galloway.html : viewed 5 Apr 2025).

Happy family tree climbing and quilting!

Myrt

DearMYRTLE,

Your (not so) retired friend in genealogy.

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