Aunt Polly’s Quilts: A Trash Bag of Family Treasures from Charlotte, Vermont

This page first appeared on QuiltHistory.com in October 2001. Longtime Quilt History List member Peggy Notestine was handed a black trash bag of family quilts and asked the list to help her learn about them. The list answered, and you can read those replies in the QHL digest for October 29 – November 6, 2001. The photos are the small ones we used in those days, but the quilts still speak for themselves.

Peggy’s Story

This is what I know about the quilts.

My friend is Sarah Shaffer. Her mother is Anne Barton Prindle (m. David Stanley Johnson). Anne’s father was Carl Edwin Prindle. He had a sister named Eleanor Pauline Prindle, who did make quilts, and this sack full of quilts originally came from her home after she passed away. (Both siblings were born around 1900.) Carl’s father was Edwin Hewett Prindle, who was born about 1876 in Hinesburg, Chittenden County, VT. He married Carolyn Elsie Clarke on August 10, 1899. I am thinking that Catharine P. Hewitt was either his mother or his grandmother.

The entire family stayed and lived in and near Charlotte, VT (Chittenden County). This is near Burlington. There is also a Prindle’s Corner near there too.

Some of the quilts appear to be in perfect condition, others have mold and mildew stains. The 1852 quilt appears to be both dirty and have water stains. Much as I would love to throw them all in the washer, I have resisted and have reclined on the couch until the thought passed. (I remember one of you saying this, and I have kept this thought in my head as I look at these quilts!) Any information or thoughts you might have on these quilts would be most appreciated. The two crib/doll quilts are very small. I think too small to be used by a real baby.

Originally, my friend hauled these over to my house in a large black plastic trash bag and said I could have them all. Little did she know! Much as I would love to own them all, there is such a nice family history here that I would love to help fill in the gaps and then continue educating the family on the wonderful legacy of these quilts. My friend is getting there! Phrases like “Do you realize you have a quilt that was made and signed and dated 10 years before the Civil War??!!” seem to help impress this fact!

Thanks for taking a look at them.
Peggy Notestine
Columbus, OH

Album Block Quilt, Signed and Dated 1852

The oldest and largest quilt in the bag. The label on the back reads “Catharine P. Hewitt, May 10, 1852.”

Antique album block quilt signed and dated 1852, with pink, green, brown and blue cross-shaped blocks on a white ground
Close-up of two album blocks in tan and brown prints on the 1852 quilt
Close-up of brown and green album blocks with fine hand quilting on the 1852 quilt
Ink inscription on the 1852 album quilt reading Catharine P. Hewitt, May 1852

Blue and White Crib or Doll Quilt, 1878

There are six blocks in all, with writing in four of them. One says something like “Ruthie,” the next says “Jessessie,” the next says “Christmas,” and the fourth says “1878.”

Small indigo and white doll quilt dated 1878, with pieced triangle blocks and a blue border
Ink name Ruthie written in a white block of the 1878 doll quilt, with small stains
Ink name written in a quilted white block of the 1878 doll quilt
Ink word Christmas written in a white block of the 1878 doll quilt
Ink date 1878 written in a white block of the indigo doll quilt

What the list said: Judy Kelius: “The two doll quilts are especially valuable and rare, especially the indigo and white Ocean Waves which is dated with names. This is one that collectors would fight over! Machine quilting was typical on these small quilts, and does not detract from value.”

Blue and White Double Irish Chain

Indigo and white Double Irish Chain quilt laid on grass
Close-up of the blue polka-dot squares in the Double Irish Chain quilt

Blue and White Single Irish Chain

Indigo and white Single Irish Chain quilt with dotted blue squares and some water staining
Close-up of dotted indigo squares forming the chain on the Single Irish Chain quilt

Brick Block Quilt Top

Scrappy brick block quilt top made of many small rectangles in varied prints and plaids
Close-up of the brick quilt top showing plaids, stripes and calico prints

What the list said: Judy Kelius: “The stepped bricks top appears on a quick glance to be a charm quilt in which every piece of fabric is different.”

“Buckeye” Quilt Top

Peggy’s note: “I’m calling it Buckeye because it looks like a scarlet and grey quilt top and I work at Ohio State University! Any fan would love to have it!”

Red and white quilt top with pieced triangle blocks set on point
Close-up of red print triangles and white sashing on the red and white quilt top

Applique Quilt

Peggy looked through Barbara Brackman’s encyclopedia for this block and could not find an exact match, although some were close.

White wholecloth-style applique quilt with stars, flowers and a scalloped vine border in blue and red
Close-up of an applique wreath of red flowers and blue leaves around a center star
Close-up of an applique star with petals cut from striped fabric

What the list said: Judy Kelius: “Very unusual pattern, especially the way the maker used a striped fabric to create the illusion that there are more pieces than there really are. This is also a valuable collector’s quilt.”

Alan R. Kelchner: “I’m especially interested in the appliqué, because you don’t typically see the flowers made from large-print floral fabrics like that.”

Red and White Diamond Crib or Doll Quilt

The second of the two very small quilts.

Small red and white diamond doll quilt with a scalloped edge
Close-up of red and white diamonds and the scalloped edge of the doll quilt

Red and White Orange Peel Quilt

Red and white Orange Peel quilt laid on grass
Close-up of red print orange peel shapes on a white ground

What the List Thought

Don Beld summed up the general reaction: “These quilts, if they are as good as they look in the pictures, need to be in a museum. I can’t believe you didn’t just faint dead away when you opened the bag.” Judy Kelius added a practical warning for all of us: “It is a miracle that these weren’t thrown out with the trash. I always shudder when people put quilts in dark trash bags, even just to carry them somewhere. I look for clear bags for this purpose. Much safer!”

Kris Driessen is a quilt designer, writer, teacher, former quilt shop owner, retired quilt appraiser and restorer, and founder of the Quilt History List. She created this site for curious people who want to know more about the quilts they have inherited, collected, rescued, or simply admired.

Her articles focus on quilt history, fabric clues, care, preservation, research resources, and the stories that help turn an old quilt into something more than “that quilt in the closet.” Her hope is that readers will see old quilts as treasures worth saving, studying, and passing along.

Similar Posts