Renunciations are papers filed in the Orphans' Court by executors of an estate who do not wish to administer that estate. They show the name of the decedent, the decedent's place of residence, the name of the person renouncing administration, the name of the replacement administrator to be appointed, and date. The relationship between the decedent, the executor, and the administrator is usually shown. Arranged chronologically and then alphabetically within each year.
System of Arrangement
Arranged chronologically and then alphabetically within each year.
All cotton album quilt of 30 blocks of 12" x 12", each with a different papercut applique done in solid red and green with minor use of a mustard yellow floral print (possibly one of the chrome yellow small-scaled prints used in the 1830-1860 period.( See p. 66 of "Dating Fabrics" by E. J. Trestain.) Most appliques are floral or snowflake designs, but one stands apart, a pair of hands with a pair of scissors.
Surrounding blocks is a 7" wide pieced strip/border of white cotton, decorated with scallop-edged crescent appliques of alternating red and green.
Imaginative quilting includes hearts, cable, floral and foliate motifs. Outer border has parallel slanted lines. Batting is minimal with only tiny clumps remaining.
Attributed to George Evans Howett (31 Dec 1841 - 8 May 1864??) & mother Ann Howett. See Provenance and Notes.
Gatchellville, Fawn Twp.,York Co., Pennsylvania or Pylesville, Harford Co., Maryland
Provenance
Reported provenance of quilt: Howett family to Wright family operating a store in Gatchellville, York Co. Then to the Wright daughter who relocated to Christiana and sold it to Teressa Phillippy Brinton (1893-2002) of Christiana. Teressa wrote down the story and passed quilt and story on to donor, her granddaughter. (See NOTES).
Significant overall fading and wear, esp. evident in red fabric binding and appliques. Minor losses and small holes in binding. More significant holes in red appliques, esp. large hole (1-1.5") in one red scalloped crescent.
Overall light staining; significant dark stain on white outer border near one corner (3" x 0.25") and one small dark stain within centerfield.
Object ID
G.11.03.01
Notes
Written account passed to donor from her step-grandmother Teressa P. Brinton, states that a Civil War soldier, George E. Howett, returned from the war badly wounded to his parents' home (John and Ann Howett). To pass the time until death took him, he cut out quilt patches which his mother Ann Howett appliqued to a white ground to make an album pattern quilt top. Later, since the family needed money to settle an account at the local store, the quilt top was offered in part payment. The store operated by Mr. Wright, was located in Gatchellville, York County, PA (about 9 miles from McCall's Ferry). Mrs. Wright, the wife of the store owner, then had the top made into a quilt for $2.00.
The Wright's daughter Mary eventually moved to Christiana along with the quilt, where she sold it to Teressa Phillippy Brinton, 2nd wife of Maurice Jackson Brinton of Christiana. He was the grandfather of donor. Teressa Brinton (5 Nov 1893 - 13 May 2002) passed quilt on to granddaughter Esther H.M. Power, who then donated quilt along with the story as recorded by her step grandmother.
Copies of military documents given by donor appear to contradict George's return from battle to die at home. The repeated statement is that Howett died May 8,1864, "of wounds rec'd on the battlefield" at Spottsylvania, VA. Does "killed" mean mortally wounded but not yet deceased?
After George's birth in Drumore Twp., the family lived near Pylesville, Harford Co., VA. By 1870 census they were living in Gatchellville, Fawn Twp., York Co. All three locations are in close proximity. Other Howett relatives were living in Fawn Twp.
Credit
Gift of Esther H.M. Power, Heritage Center Collection
