Quilt No.217MSR - Upper Murray Historical Society

Upper Murray Historical Society
Owner: 
Upper Murray Historical Society
Location: 
VIC North East
Maker
Maker: 
Harriet Dixie
Made in
WALES
Date: 
pre 1850
Description: 
This patchwork quilt in the Tumbling Block pattern is hand sewn from silks. The quilt has a border of elongated hexagons outlined with black silk fabric, the gaps betweewn each black edged hexagon filled with a triangle. The edge of the patchwork has been tacked on to a white material backing. The papers behind each patch are old docket books from 'The Great Northern Railway'
.
1829 x 1220mm
History: 

Made by Miss Harriet Dixie in Treventy, Wales c. 1820. Later owned by Miss Winifred Waters, daughter of Harriet's eldest son Thomas Beaumont and Alice Wheeler, and then by the Waters family. Donated to The Man from Snowy River Museum, Upper Murray Historical Society, Corryong (Vic) in 1980.

Story: 

Harriet Dixie made the quilt in Treventy, Wales, c. 1820. In 1831 she married John Waters, and had four sons, Thomas Beaumont, Alexander Dixie, Edward and John. After John Waters died Harriet remarried. The children, not liking their stepfather migrated, Thomas to Australia, and later Alexander followed. Edward and John (who became a doctor), went to Canada.
Thomas Beaumont, on migrating, settled in the Upper Murray. He married Alice Wheeler in 1863 and they lived at Gravel Plains. Amongst their children were Rose and Winifred, who later owned the quilt, and a son, Charlie.
There are two stories as to how the quilt came to Australia:
1. The quilt was sent to Australia in 1856 on the death of its maker, Harriet, and it then remained in the Waters Family until donated to the Upper Murray Historical Society's museum.
2. The quilt was sent out to the young couple, Thomas Beaumont Waters and Alice Wheeler, on their marriage in 1863. Their granddaughter gave it to the museum.
[From notes supplied by a member of the Upper Murray Historical Society 2.12.97]

Related Quilts:

National Trust of Australia (VIC)
Double sided patchwork quilt. One side has small 'Tumbling Block' pattern. The other side has larger pattern of pieced stars. It is made of silks, some printed, some solid colours mainly blues, greens cream and black. There is no padding.
2100 x 1800mm
National Gallery of Australia
" Reversible patchwork quilt of woollen suiting in grey, blue, navy, maroon and brown. The fabrics appear to be new tailor's sample pieces (the sizing is still present on the fabric, signifying it has never been washed). The patches are rectangular and vary in size. Both sides have different designs. The front of the quilt has 4 rows of 12 vertical rectangles then below this are 4 rows of 7 horizontal rectangles followed below by 4 rows of 11 vertical rectangles. The reverse of the quilt has a section at the top and bottom composed of 5 rows of 9 horizontal rectangles. The central area is made up of a centre section of 6 rows of 5 vertical rectangles; flanked on either side by a column of 10 horizontal rectangles and two columns of 8 smaller vertical rectangles.
The patchwork layers are joined at the edges with machine stitching. The patchwork layers and padding are machine quilted on the front down 2 vertical lines following joins in the patchwork; therefore not being totally straight. The lines are more noticeable on the reverse as the 2 sides do not match. The front face is displayed at the NGA.
Between the patchwork layers is a striped cotton blanket in black, sky blue, white and cream." [NGA]
2082 x 1386mm
Annette Gero
Quilt made from furnishing materials some with mettalic flecks. It is machine sewn.
160 x 135mm
Mare Carter
Child's Patchwork quilt of pieced repeat blocks in red print and white cotton, in 'Bow Tie' pattern. Qult has cotton backing, and wool filling. Some patches are fraying. The quilt has 'Mary Lactitia Thompson' embroidered on it.
1905 x 1296mm
 Dianne Gorringe
Patchwork quilt/cloth with strong overall design of very small squares. The colours are navy, red, cream, green (khaki) and fawn. There is a wide fringe on all sides. There is no padding. The backing is cotton sateen.
1240 x 126mm
Margery Creek
Cotton quilt made in the USA. The pattern is 'Turkey Tracks'. It is machine pieced and very finely hand quilted. The backing is calico and the padding is cotton.
1880 x 1753mm