New Jersey coverlet woven for Francina Demott, 1841, doubleweave
Name/Title
New Jersey coverlet woven for Francina Demott, 1841, doubleweaveEntry/Object ID
2008.1.264Description
This figured & fancy coverlet was woven in Bergen County, New Jersey for Francina Demott in 1841. The two bottom cornerblocks read "Francina Demott 1841" and two top cornerblocks contain a sunburst logo. Francina Demott was born June 15, 1822 to John I. Demott and Maria Brinkerhoff of Hackensack, Bergen County, NJ. The family belonged to the Dutch Reformed Church (U.S. Dutch Reformed Records). In 1834, John passed away. Francina continued to live on the family farm with her mother and brother, Henry and two laborers (1850 census). In 1850, Henry got married and continued to raise his family on the farm, which was then valued at $30,000 which would equal over 1 million dollars in 2026 (1850 census; family Bible records). The Demott family was quite wealthy and was able to employ servants. In 1865, Maria passed away. On March 19, 1873, Francina married Henry J. Irving, a retired lawyer (NJ marriage records; 1880 census). During this time Francina and her husband Henry moved to Englewood, NJ along with Leah, Francina's brother's widow, and her family (1880 census). Francina passed away in April of 1885 (Find a Grave). The coverlet was woven full-width and has no center seam. It has a floral center medallion pattern with two vertical repeats. It has wide borders of leaves and flowers on the sides with an outer border of trumpet flowers.The top and bottom borders have flowers and acanthus scrollwork. The coverlet has a light side and a dark side with self-fringe on the bottom edge. The doubleweave structure combines a layer of dark blue wool with a layer of lighter blue wool.Collection
Foster and Muriel McCarl CollectionCategory
Center medallion