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.
Prepared by Wm. W. Britton, begun 1734, completed May 30, 1935 ;
Date of Publication
1734 - 1935.
Physical Description
4 reels ; 35 mm.
Notes
Microfilmed in 1957. Contains 20 volumes. Lancaster County warrants are on V. 16.
Labeled on box # 257 - # 261.
Material arranged by county and includes names of warrantee, date, acreage, location, date of return, name of patentee, where patent recorded, and where survey is copied.
verdeutschet von Martin Luther, mit kurzen Summarien oder Inhalt jedes Psalmen und mit vielen Parallelen oder gleichen Schrift-stellen.
Edition
6. Aufl.
Place of Publication
Germantaun
Publisher
Gedruckt bey Michael Billmeyer,
Date of Publication
1804.
Physical Description
252 pages ; 14 cm
Notes
The Book of Psalms in German.
Printed in single column, verse form, title and Psalm number at top of page with page number, above single rule. Rule between each Psalm. Headings to the Psalms. References between verses.
United Bible Societies language: German.
From the collection of the Heritage Center Museum, P00.31.3.
A hand-drawn bookplate on front flyleaf reading:"Dieser/ Psalter gebort/ Esther Neff/ im Jahr des herrn 1809, Bleibe fromm und haltge/ dich recht; dann solchen/ wirds, zulezt wohl yehen."