Notes
This woven thread is part of a sewing kit that belonged to Margaret Henry Gammon (1898–1985), a descendant of Patrick Henry through Henry’s son, John Henry (1796–1868).
The thread and sewing kit were given to the donor, Jane Gammon Shore (1942–living), along with a handwritten note from Margaret Henry Gammon stating that she was gifting her a sewing kit with a golden thimble. Margaret Henry Gammon writes that the thimble belonged to Margaret Anne Henry Miller (1827–1881).
This strip of cotton mending thread is attached by a “Made in Germany” label. It is woven into a floss plait for ease of use. Beginning in the early 20th century, sewing companies marketed mending thread under labels such as “E-Z” or “Pull One Thread.” These plaits were designed so that a single strand could be pulled smoothly from either end, making them especially convenient for travel kits and quick repairs, such as sewing on buttons, tacking hems, or mending small holes.
Examples of mending thread plaits are frequently found in sewing kits of a similar age. However, because this method of use spans multiple periods of sewing history, it is difficult to assign this particular plait to a precise era.
This thread was gifted to the Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation on October 23, 2024, by Jane Gammon Shore, a descendant of Patrick Henry, through his youngest son, John Henry (1796–1868). She descends through John’s daughter, Margaret Ann Henry Miller (1827–1881), through Margaret’s daughter, Rose Cabell Miller Gammon (1868–1954), and finally to Rose’s son, Dr. William Miller Gammon (1900–1970). Jane Gammon Shore is the daughter of Dr. William Miller Gammon.