Quilt No.439EHS - Euroa Historical Society
1800 x 1400mm
The quilt was made by Janet Paterson about 1857 in Victoria. It has been owned by the Paterson, Boyd and Brook families. The Brook family donated the quilt to the Euroa Historical Society.
" Janet Blanche Gerard born 1831?, died 1922. Janet Blanche Gerard born Newcastle on Tyne England, daughter of John Gerard and Betty (Leuring). On the 21st July 1852, the "Flora" a sailing ship sailed from Liverpool under Master Charles Cobb. The ship arrived at Point Henry on the 2nd October 1852. Amongst those who waded ashore was one Janet Gerard, nursemaid, from Edinburgh, Scotland, literate, presbyterian, age 21.
Janet first worked in a kitchen, then she was placed in a shop as a salesgirl. Janet's first marriage was to a George Bligh, three children came from this union, one at least being a daughter called Janet.
Apparently on being confronted with his 1st wife, Janet left the children in the care of her grandparents and emigrated to Victoria.
On the 20th April 1853, marriage pf James Chalmers Paterson and Janet Blanche Gerard. Shortly after the marriage they moved to Colac and lived for a time in the Police Barracks, a life Janet found distasteful.
With the impending birth of their 1st child they left Colac, James presumably left the police force, and returned to Geelong. Between 1855 and 1864 they wandered to the goldfields at Buninyong, Smeaton and Derby.
Janet and James had 8 girls and 2 boys. One of these girls Eliza Gray Paterson was born 13.10.1857, my great, great, great grandmother. It is believed there was a quilt made for each daughter.
Eliza Gray Paterson married John Cunningham Boyd (born 185?, died 1926) on the 17.3.1880 and they had 7 children. The first child was James Houston Boyd born 9.12.1880 and he married Eliza Mitchell on 22.5.1900. They had 2 children by his 1st marriage, John Boyd and Merryn Eliza Born (9.8.1903) (my grandmother). She married Charles Henry Brook on 17.3.28 and they had 2 sons: Graham James and Maxwell Charles (my father).
On the death of my grandmother (Merryn Eliza) it was decided by the Brook family to donate the quilt to the Euroa Historical Society.
As a child I can remember the crazy quilt on the spare double bed in the centre of my grandparents house.
How my grandmother got this quilt is a mystery. The quilt may have been handed down by Jesse Boyd (great grandfather's sister) or himself (James Houston Boyd). My father can recall a Nina Patersons name being mentioned but is unable to say what actually happened."
[Robyn A.Snowdon (Great, Great, Great Grand-daughter of Janet Blanche Paterson) February 1998]
References: Paterson Family Genealogy compiled by Geoffrey M. Young 14.5.75.
"N.B.* Flo Rollison is another descendant, she did have a quilt but it was burnt in a fire, she still has the sachet.
*Joy Lane descendant of Jessie Paterson has a quilt and sachet.
*Sheila Porter from East Malvern rang me last year, she has a quilt. Janet Paterson was her Great, Great Grandmother."
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Each of the patchwork pieces (there are several thousand present) are sewn together with very fine overcasting stitches. The quilt is entirely hand sewn. There is some evidence that templates from the hexagon pieces possibly blotting paper, remain in situ���The quilt is not padded or quilted. The lining is fine twill weave cotton printed in pink and pale purple. The design follows William Morris's 'Strawberry Thief design'." [NGA] 2075 x 1911mm
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The patches are joined with hand sewing and embroidery, however the 12 panels are joined with machine stitching (chainstitch machine stitching). The blue silk lining was hand sewn into position with silk thread." [NGA]
"The quilt does consist of three layers but the central layer is not padding. The crazy patch pieces were sewn together and this was lined with white cotton fabric prior to the embroidery at the edges of the 12 panels being placed. This in turn was lined with a fine blue silk." [NGA] 1810 x 1460 mm