Textiles and the Triplett Sisters

NSCA Quilts: The Machette/Vallette Families


As we continue our research into the Northern Style Cut-out Applique Quilts (NSCA), we will examine the influence of the Machette/Vallettes family. Besides Hetty Coe Taylor, the other prominent inscription was Edwin Vallette Machette, possibly the groom in our working theory of an engagement coverlet and he married Hetty two years later. Mr. Edwin Vallette Machette was a hardware merchant in Philadelphia from 1847-1859 at Machette & Raiguel store which sold hardware and cutlery both foreign imported and domestic. In 1859, he and his partner sold all the goods of the store and E.V. Machette had no listed job in the business directory. However, E.V. Machette was involved in Whig politics, served on the Common Council, and a cemetery board. In his obituary he preferred to be known as a “leading life insurance agent” a position...

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NSCA Quilts: The Taylors


As we continue our research into the Northern Style Cut-out Applique Quilts (NSCA), we will examine the influence of the Taylor family. Since we have a working theory of an engagement quilt for the Machette/Taylor Coverlet 1840 in the Poos Collection, one of the primary inscriptions is of Hetty Coe Taylor. She also has potentially a second block on the quilt with a cute dog and the inscription “Hetty.” It seems likely to be another block for her, unless someone named their dog Hetty and she was included. (Ha!) Not counting the Hetty block as a separate Taylor, there are 12 different Taylors that appear on the coverlet. Hetty Coe Taylor and Edwin Vallette Machette were married on March 15, 1842 at St. Philips’ Protestant Episcopal Church. Surprisingly neither of Hetty Coe Taylor’s parents, Benjamin and...

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As the Quilt World Turns


Now that 35 plus quilts have been located in the style dubbed Northern Cut-out Applique, it is time to really focus on each quilt/coverlet/quilt top to see if we can figure out that quilt’s particular story as well as how that quilt ties together with other coverlets from the grouping. This is especially true since these coverlets have inscriptions on the blocks which provide additional information. It makes sense to start with the coverlet in the Poos Collection. The Machette/Taylor Coverlet is so named because of the two inscriptions located prominently on the quilt with matching dates of April 27th, 1840. We have a chart of all the inscriptions on the coverlet to help guide our research. Multiple Machette and Taylor family members have their names inscribed on the coverlet and all of the blocks with...

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Philadelphia Sewing Societies


In 1805, The Select Society published rules for the Philadelphia girl’s society as follows: “We are to meet at half-past two, to sew till eight…and that boys shall not be admitted until eight o’clock.” Sewing Societies in Philadelphia were extremely active and productive. The sewing groups went by many different names and served multiple different functions. Sewing Societies were so popular in Philadelphia that merchants ran newspaper ads to attract the societies as customers offering special prices on goods and fabrics such as flannels, woolens, calicoes [sic], muslins, and calico quilts. The Sewing Societies (also sometimes known as Dorcas Society) were usually associated with a benevolent mission (orphan, school, poor, hospital, missionary) and were frequently also associated with a church. The ladies used their sewing skills to create items to raise money selling at fairs and...

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Professional Quilters in Philadelphia


When we were researching quilters who made BAQ’s we were searching for evidence of who might have made a living creating those quilts or at least supplemented their income. Evidence of women who advertised as quilters or sold quilt blocks was limited, and therefore researchers tended to explore dressmakers or milliners as possibilities. In Philadelphia, the first reference to a quilter in a Philadelphia Business Directory occurs in 1820. Beulah Wilson was listed as a quilter on Poplar Lane near Front. She made a living as a quilter for more than 10 years. In the 1830 edition of the Business Directory, she added mantua maker along with quilter. Also, Mary Hopper and Jas. Strain were listed in later directories as quilters only. Ads in the Philadelphia newspaper seeking quilters for employment appeared in August 1846 to...

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