Pennsylvania coverlet by S.B. Musselman for Catharine Shelly, 1839, tied beiderwand; No. 94
Name/Title
Pennsylvania coverlet by S.B. Musselman for Catharine Shelly, 1839, tied beiderwand; No. 94Entry/Object ID
2008.1.100Description
This figured & fancy coverlet was woven by S.B. Musselman in Milford, Bucks County, Pennsylvania for Catharine Shelly in 1839. The two cornerblocks read "S+B Musselman Coverlet Weaver Milford Bucks Co. 1839 No. 94." and "This Coverlet Belongs To Me Catharine Shelly 1839." The border reads "Pennsylvania." Catharine was born in 1797 in Somerset, Pa. to Henry Strunk and Maria Ace (Geneanet). She married farmer and Mennonite deacon, Samuel Shelly, on March 2, 1819 (A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of Christian and Hans Meyer and Other Pioneers). They had seven children: Elizabeth, Barbara, Thomas, Charles, Samuel, Henry, Mary (Aldefer Bible Records; Descendants of Christian and Hans Meyer). The family initially lived in Rockhill Township, Bucks County before moving to Milford, Bucks County by 1830. (1820 Census; 1830 census; 1840 census). In 1850, they moved to Bedminster Township, Bucks County and moved in with their son-in-law and daughter, Solomon and Barbara Brunner. It is worth noting that in the 1850 census, Samuel Shelly listed his occupation as a weaver (1850 census). In 1860, he listed his occupation as "gentleman." (1860 census) and both he and Catharine had moved in with their son Samuel and his wife also named Catharine. Catharine Shelly died of cancer in October of 1969 (U.S., Federal Census Mortality Schedules). The coverlet was woven full-width and has no center seam. It has a Lilies of France centerfield pattern with starburst motifs that repeats horizontally five and a half times. It has a distelfink and tree border on the sides and the bottom. The coverlet has horizontal color stripes of red, dark blue, and green wool on undyed cotton ground with applied fringe on the sides and the bottom. The tied Beiderwand weave structure uses light blue cotton tie-down threads in a 2:1 warp ratio.Collection
Foster and Muriel McCarl CollectionCategory
Lilies of France