Quaker bonnet owned and worn by Mercy Moore Carter Wood. Black silk shell on both brim and back. Back is lined with loose-weave linen scrim, pleated, and back is gathered on the top where attached to the brim. Linen tape and lining connect brim to back inside. 5"-deep brim lined in white silk.
On bonnet back at bottom is a black silk ruffled skirting trimmed above with a prominent bow. Wide black silk ties attached to base of brim, approx. 23" long, have unfinished, fraying ends.
Mercy Moore Carter Wood (b. Nov. 29, 1822 and d. Sept. 14, 1911) married James Wood in 1845, lived on a farm in Little Britain Twp. near Kirk Mills and raised 8 children. James Wood was a farmer and bank director. The Woods were members of the Eastland Friends Meeting, located in Little Britain Twp. between Wrightsdale and Kirks Mills.
Photo of Mercy Wood in file, with inscription on reverse side of frame (now discarded) is: "Mercy Moore Carter Wood/ Taken on her 80th/ Birthday 1902/ on the Wood farm at family reunion." Photo is mounted on board imprinted "C.W. Thomas/ Electric Block/ Oxford, PA."
See also G09.2.2 -- cap belonging to same owner.
Provenance
Descended in family to donor who is the great granddaughter of Mercy Wood.
Brown mildewed spotting on brim lining. Overall darkening of linen lining, especially at neck. Outer shell of bonnet has sprinkling of light mildew spots.
Object ID
G.09.02.1
Place of Origin
Little Britain Twp.
Credit
Heritage Center Collection, gift of Ruth C. Wodock
Brass buckle of the sword belt used with the Civil War uniform of Jacob Pontz (1838-1929). Rectangular buckle is cast in high relief with a raised spread eagle with E PLURIBUS UNUM banner in his beak and an olive branch in one talons and arrows of war in the other. Foliate branches undergird eagle with a "U" formation. One brass clasp/clip of belt is loose - a part that would have fit end of now-missing belt and attached via clip on back of buckle.
See Pontz Sword #2015.031.1
Provenance
Passed from Jacob through his daughter Nelle who married a Pickering to the donor, the gr gr granddaughter of the Jacob Pontz.
Woman's cap of black silk, worn by Quakeress Mercy M.C. Wood. Well-made, likely by a millinery shop that specialized in such headwear; at least some stitching seems to be hand-done. Cap was perhaps worn under bonnet (G09.2.1)
Viewed from side (collapsed), the cap front is about 6" deep (front to back) at the top. The back section is about 3.5" deep and is gathered at bottom with a draw string of 1/4"-wide black ribbon. Cap ties attached at front bottom corners are 12" long and 3" wide, but reduced by pleating. Ends have a 1"-wide hem. Stitching done in brown thread.
Mercy Moore Carter Wood (b. Nov. 29, 1822 and d. Sept. 14, 1911) married James Wood in 1845, lived on a farm in Little Britain Twp. near Kirk Mills and raised 8 children. James Wood was a farmer and bank director. The Woods were members of the Eastland Friends Meeting, located in Little Britain Twp. between Wrightsdale and Kirks Mills.
See G09.2.1 for bonnet of same owner.
Provenance
Descended in family to donor who is the great granddaughter of Mercy Wood.
See file of bonnet for: short bio on Mercy Moore Carter Wood, history of Eastland Friends Meeting, family tree, history of Little Britain Township, and "A History of the Little Britain Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, 1804-1954" by Helen Wood Shortlidge.
Credit
Heritage Center Collection, gift of Ruth C. Wodock
WW II Army hat of Elmer Kenneth Rill (27 August 1919 - 19 October 2006). Called a garrison cap, it has rectangular shape of khaki wool twill and is trimmed with blue-green piping.
Provenance
Donor inherited from father, Elmer Rill, who, he states, never saw active combat; he was slated to be sent off to Japan, but the 2 bombs caused a quick end to war. His obituary states he "served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater as a Rifleman."
WW II Army Hat of Elmer Kenneth Rill (27 August 1919 - 19 October 2006). Called a garrison cap, it has rectangular shape of khaki wool and is trimmed with blue piping. Reinforced with a 5/8" wide additional band of khaki wool along bottom edge of interior.
Provenance
Donor inherited from father, Elmer Rill, who, he states, never saw active combat; he was slated to be sent off to Japan, but the 2 bombs caused a quick end to war. His obituary states he "served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater as a Rifleman."
Photo of Elmer Rill is in the Photograph Collection.
Civil War coatee, perhaps for Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment 1, Company K, known as the Jackson Rifles. Appears to be a dress/parade uniform.
Navy blue & white wool coatee with standing collar. 3 columns of buttons on the front and on two 15-inch tails. Metallic-thread embellishments on sleeves and tails. Front of garment tapers to a slight point at the center front, ending at the waist. Back with tails is longer. This is a finely constructed and tailored garment made of quality materials.
Buttons: Bronze-colored metal buttons with "Jackson Rifles" circling a center "JR" monogram. On reverse of button is a metal loop/shank and "Pettibone Mfg. Co., Cincinnati." 26 buttons on front of garment (one is missing) in three columns of 9; and 2 at waist level on back of garment. All have a diameter .875 inch). Three .25-inch buttons along side seams on each sleeve.
Back of garment: White wool along outer & inner edges of both 15-inch long tails. A hook & eye sewn where tails meet in center to align and hold tails together. Both decorated with branches with 13 star-like leaves sewn in metallic threads.
Sleeves: Both underarm and sides seams. (A torn seam opening reveals padding beneath sewn button shanks to anchor them.) Three .25-inch buttons sewn 2, 3.5 & 5 inches from cuff along underarm seam. Sleeves lined with tan silk-like fabric with woven plant designs.
Inside body of coatee: "31" in black inked onto batting at back neck. Remaining threads beneath indicate that a sewn-in tag was removed. A fabric loop for hanging the garment is sewn onto the collar. Garment is lined with grid-stitched batting. 6-inch slash pockets on left front and one on each tail.
Executioner's hood, or cap, of "black Albert twill serge", was made by John C. Dinan and mentioned twice in the June 29 New Era article "MURDERERS PAY PENALTY." It was worn by Lee Furman, convicted murderer, for his hanging on June 29, 1905.
Hood is form-fitted to a round head shape, with a protrusion at the middle of side (for nose?). Hood narrows at the neck and flares strongly out to shoulders and extends to mid-chest in length. Vertical flap extends from bottom to perhaps jaw line, where there is a small, circular opening, likely to accomodate the rope. Flap is secured by 3 cloth-covered buttons. Expertly sewn, likely by a local seamstress or tailor.
Also included with gift is a postal card postmarked Sept. 9, 1905 from H.S. Eckels & Co. in Philadelphia to Mr. J. Fred. Fisher at 128 N. Duke St., Lancaster, PA. message is handwritten in black ink: "Hood use(d) on Lee Furman Hung Thursday June 29, 1905 for the killing of Samuel Ressler "Toll gate Keeper" July 1, 1904." See NOTES on Fisher.
Provenance
Hood was purchased by Mayor Smithgall for $100 from a woman whose father reportedly had acquired it from the mortician. Postal card is unexplained (J. Frederick Fisher was a clerk for the P.R.R. and boarded at 504 N. Queen St. according to the 1890 Directory.
WW II Army dress uniform jacket of Lancaster resident Elmer Kenneth Rill (27 August 1919 - 19 October 2006). Fitted, waist-length, olive-colored wool, with front flap breast pockets, buckles at sides of waist band with flap snap closure at front. Tag inside neck has size "38R".
At left breast are pinned medals. At top is a bar with raised rifle on blue field; below are 2 multicolored gros-grain ribbon bars. Pinned to left pocket flap is a metal badge w/ Maltese cross within a wreath with 2 hanging bars: "RIFLE" and "MACHINE GUN". The 2-ring bullseye on cross indicates "Expert" marksman. Upper left sleeve has round embroidered patch with red arrow and 2 cluster of stars on dark blue field (Western Pacific). A green triple chevron insignia (Sergeant) is on both upper sleeves and small service insignia on lower left sleeve is 2 gold bars on red field indicating service overseas. Rill served from 30 Nov 1944 to 12 April 1946.
Provenance
Donor inherited from father, Elmer Rill, who he states never saw active combat; he was slated to be sent off to Japan, but the 2 bombs caused a quick end to war. His obituary states he "served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater as a Rifleman."
Pair of WW II Army spats / gaiters / leggings. Tan canvas body with brown leather contoured vertical panel on one side, upper trim and foot straps. Each has one lacing cord used with brass hooks and eyelets. A large "3" is stencilled inside of each.
Provenance
Donor inherited from father, Elmer Rill, who, he states, never saw active combat; he was slated to be sent off to Japan, but the 2 bombs caused a quick end to war. His obituary states he "served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater as a Rifleman."
Some stains on canvas, significant wear on foot straps and the leather panels have moderate wear/soil and creasing. Lace on one (B) is shortened and knotted. Inside area against shoe has significant soiling.
Picture of a newspaper clippiing that appeared in the Lancaster New Era of two pictures - A Country Miller and the Country Miller's Wife. Description as follows: Country Miller, attired in a typical mid 18th century clothing of sull-sleeved blouse wih no collar, long vest, loose pants that fall to just below the knees and wide-brimmed hat, is captured in this drawing by Mrs. Freda Fitz. Millers Wife went about her colonial duties usually outfitted in a mob cap, long skirt and loose-fitting blouse, and a fichu which was a piece of material worn around the shoulders and tucked into or pinned to the front of her apron.
WW II Army Dress Shirt of Elmer Kenneth Rill (27 August 1919 - 19 October 2006); olive drab, long sleeve twill flannel of wool, size 42 1/2 - 33. Inside manufacturer's tag info includes: "June 1942". Plastic buttons; two breast pockets with flap.
At top of left sleeve is a round embroidered patch with red arrow & white stars on dark blue field (served in Western Pacific). A green triple chevron insignia (Sergeant) is on both upper sleeves.
Blue fabric tag stapled to back of shirt bottom, handwritten, "RILL / 39575 / x 22".
Provenance
Donor inherited from father, Elmer Rill, who, he states, never saw active combat; he was slated to be sent off to Japan, but the 2 bombs caused a quick end to war. His obituary states he "served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater as a Rifleman."
