Upholstered wingback commode chair has four turned Sheraton legs. Has replacement of original soiled handsewn homespun linen (remnants in this file), now an orange fabric with potted and vining flower design. Solid pinewood seat under cushion has center hole with fitted removable wooden disc.
This chair was from the Pownall home at Gap, where it was used by Dickinson Gorsuch, Maryland slaveholder, during his recovery from wounds sustained during the Christiana Riot of Sept. 11, 1851. His father and two others were killed during the skirmish at the home of freedman William Parker, and Dickinson was transported to the Pownall home for recovery. William Parker later published his story in the "Atlantic Monthly" in 1866, making it highly publicized.
This incident "is an important example of the struggle over the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act and the escalating tension between the North and the South. This act gave slave owners broad powers to recapture runaway slaves". (ExplorePAhistory.com)
Polaroid photos of chair before re-upholstery, in file.
Likely Lancaster or Chester Co.
Provenance
Provenance: Chair owned by the Pownall family & given in 1973 to the Lancaster County Historical Society by Mrs. Levi Pownall of Lancashire Hall (569-7279).
It was initially loaned to the Heritage Center (# L.77.9 and # 161.64.80) but soon donated to HCLC. Board minutes of Dec. 8, 1975 include Richard F. Smith's Museum Committee report noting a donation of a "Sheraton armed wing chair commode, used by the Pownall home in nursing Dickinson Gorsuch following Christiana Riot in 1851." Later unsigned note (Bruce Shoemaker?) states John Aungst of LCHS was consulted & chair was removed 11/9/84 from list on LCHS loan form, settling an apparent question of ownership.
Bound with An address, &c. recommendations to the states by the United States in Congress assembled. Philadelphia: printed by David C. Claypoole, 1788 -- An examination of the Constitution for the United States of America, submitted to the people fy the General Convention....Philadelphia: Printed by Zacharariah Poulson, Junr...1788 -- Proceedings in the House of Representatives of the United States of America respecting the contested election for the eastern district of Georgia. : Philadelphia, printed by Parry Hall...1792 -- A calm appeal to the people of the State of Delaware. ... Philadelphia: Printed by Zachariah Poulson, Junr... date not specified -- An enquiry into the principles and tendency of certain public measures. Philadelphia: Printed by Thomas Dobson... 1784; -- A vindication of Mr. Randophs's resignation. Philadelphia: printed by Samuel Smith...1795 -- The pretensions of Thomas Jefferson to the presidency examined; and the charges against John Adams refuted...United States, October 1796 -- Observations on the speech of Albert Gallatin, in the House of Representatives of the United States, on the foreign intercourse bill. Washington: Printed by John Colerick, 1798 -- The speech of Mr. Bayard on the foreign intecourse bill delivered in the House of Representatives of the United States on the third day of March 1798. -- The address of the minority in the Virginia Legislature to the people of that state; containing a vindication of the constitutionality of the alien and sedition laws Printer not specified, date not specified -- Letter from the Secfretary of State enclosing the reports of the late and present director of the mint....Philadelphia: Printed by Francis and Robert Bailey...1795 -- Proceedings of the Virginia Assembly, on the answers of sundry states to their resolutions, passed in December, 1798. Philadelphia, printed by James Carey, 1800.
Bound with An address, &c. recommendations to the states by the United States in Congress assembled. Philadelphia: printed by David C. Claypoole, 1783 -- An examination of the Constitution for the United States of America, submitted to the people fy the General Convention....Philadelphia: Printed by Zacharariah Poulson, Junr...1788 -- Proceedings in the House of Representatives of the United States of America respecting the contested election for the eastern district of Georgia. : Philadelphia, printed by Parry Hall...1792 -- A calm appeal to the people of the State of Delaware. ... Philadelphia: Printed by Zachariah Poulson, Junr... date not specified -- An enquiry into the principles and tendency of certain public measures. Philadelphia: Printed by Thomas Dobson... 1784; -- A vindication of Mr. Randophs's resignation. Philadelphia: printed by Samuel Smith...1795 -- The pretensions of Thomas Jefferson to the presidency examined; and the charges against John Adams refuted...United States, October 1796 -- Observations on the speech of Albert Gallatin, in the House of Representatives of the United States, on the foreign intercourse bill. Washington: Printed by John Colerick, 1798 -- The speech of Mr. Bayard on the foreign intecourse bill delivered in the House of Representatives of the United States on the third day of March 1798. -- The address of the minority in the Virginia Legislature to the people of that state; containing a vindication of the constitutionality of the alien and sedition laws Printer not specified, date not specified -- Letter from the Secfretary of State enclosing the reports of the late and present director of the mint....Philadelphia: Printed by Francis and Robert Bailey...1795 -- Analysis of the report of the committee of the Virginia Assembly, on the preceedings of sundry of the other States in answer to their resolutions. Philadelphia, printed by Zachariah Poulson, junior, 1800
Proceedings of the manufacturers, mechanics, merchants, traders and others of the City and County of Philadelphia signers of the memorial to Congress asking for the return of the government deposites to the Bank of the United States : with a report of the delegates appointed to represent at Washington the views and wishes of the memorialists, and a statement of their interview with Andrew Jackson
Geistliches Gewürz-Gärtlein heilsuchender Seelen : oder, kurzgefassten Betrachtungen ueber einige auserlesene Sprüche der heiligen Schrift, in gebundenen Schluss-Reimen und geistlice Prosamen, zur Erweckung, Stärkung und Erquickung, auf das innere Leben gerichtet, von einem Kinde in der Schule Iesu Christi, nebst einem Anhang, bestehend aus geistlichen Lieder und Andachten, aus Licht gegeben