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
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
