I had almost forgotten that I had ordered this book. But, it arrived today and it is fantastic.
There is just so much in this book that I don't know where to begin. I think that the material about Elizabeth Fry is important because only one quilt survives.
I have three convict woman in my family tree. They all arrived in Australia in the 1790's. One was transported because she couldn't pay a one pound fine, she was given to Corporal Lauchlan Ross and had 2 children. He took his son when he left and she kept the baby girl. Another because she stole alcohol from her employer, she was given to Corporal Thomas Tollis. They were married but she died in childbirth and he soon after as a result of a fall from a horse. I have the Account of sale of their household effects and in this are listed 4 blankets. Could one of these have been a quilt? The last was the mother of my great, great, grandmother and we don't even know her name, only that she was a convict. All of these woman would have received a quilt parcel from Elizabeth Fry. The stigma of being descended from a convict would have caused families to discard these items I think. What a shame.
This book is full of the most wonderful pictures of quilts. This one on Page 39 by Mary Ann Wellen in 1860 has the most wonderful appliques.
If you are interested in buying this book you can order it from
Dr. Annette Gero