Woven Coverlets
Description:
Woven Coverlet, Float work, before 1821
Warp: natural cotton. Binder: natural cotton. Pattern: blue dyed wool. The lower right hand corner block of this float work coverlet is marked in red cross-stitch: ""H.B."" (possibly for Hylah Bevier). The coverlet is seamed down the center.
If the identity of the mark is correct, this may date the coverlet to before 1821 when Hylah Bevier married Levi Hasbrouck. The donor of this coverlet was the great grand daughter of Hylah Bevier Hasbrouck (1795-1874). Hylah Bevier was born to Captain Philip Dubois Bevier and Ann Dewitt in 1795. Sometime around 1811 Hylah, along with her sisters, attended the Litchfield Female Academy in Litchfield, Connecticut. By 1821 Hylah married Levi Hasbrouck, and resided at Locust Lawn in Gardiner, New York. She was the mother of four daughter and one son. Hylah died at the age of 78, in 1874 at Locust Lawn.
Description:
Woven Coverlet, Double Cloth (Geometric), 1780-1840
Warp: natural cotton and blue dyed wool. Filling (weft): natural cotton and blue dyed wool. The geometric design of this coverlet is becoming pictorial. The intersections between the forty-eight blocks create a four-petal flower or leaf shape. The composition is well balanced and symmetrical. The coverlet has a border on all four sides (characteristic of New York coverlets). The warp threads make up the self-fringe on the bottom end. The coverlet is seamed down the center. ""BG"" cross-stitched in gold on View 1 near the left hand corner. This coverlet probably has Hasbrouck or Bevier family history from Ulster County, New York.
Description:
Woven Coverlet, Double Cloth (Geometric), 1780-1840
Warp: natural cotton and blue dyed wool. Filling (weft): natural cotton and blue dyed wool. The coverlet takes on a carpet like quality. Its slightly rounded blocks are similar to the large repeat medallion motifs seen in ingrain or Scotch carpeting. This is not surprising since many professional coverlet weavers were trained in the carpet weaving industry, thus the name ""carpet"" coverlet was sometimes applied to these double cloth, geometric patterned bed coverings. The top and bottom hems have been bound with overshot tape which has faded to brown and white, but was originally blue or purple and white. The coverlet is seamed down the center.
Similar blue and white woven tape has been found in the Locust Lawn collection on aprons and in a bundle on a wooden winder. Tapes were used for binding on clothing, quilts, carpets, etc. Tapes were woven on small looms that sat on a table.
Description:
Woven Coverlet, Double Cloth (Figured), Hylah Hasbrouck 1834
Warp: natural cotton and blue dyed wool. Filling: natural cotton and blue dyed wool. Corner block inscription reads: HYLAH HASBROUCK 1834. Nine oval medallions contain stylized tulips and berries. The eagle and "Independence Hall" border are similar to other groups of coverlets woven in the area. The coverlet is seamed down the center. It may have been made in Orange County, N.Y. This coverlet was made for Hylah (Bevier) Hasbrouck (1795-1874).
Hylah Bevier was born to Captain Philip Dubois Bevier and Ann Dewitt in 1795. Sometime around 1811 Hylah, along with her sisters, attended the Litchfield Female Academy in Litchfield, Connecticut. By 1821 Hylah married Levi Hasbrouck, and resided at Locust Lawn in Gardiner, New York. She was the mother of four daughter and one son. Hylah died at the age of 78, in 1874 at Locust Lawn.
Description:
Receipt, John Alexander to C. Reeve and Co., March 12th 1834
This receipt documents the weaving and finishing of three coverlets for a total of $16.00. John Alexander was a business partner with his brother James Alexander and may have been a weaver. This receipt suggests that these coverlets were sold through C. Reeve and Company (Newburgh, N.Y.) to Levi Hasbrouck or that Reeve was acting as an agent for Alexander.; John Alexander was the brother of James Alexander. James married Catherine F. Bullard and was an important New York State coverlet weaver. He was born in 1770 in Belfast, Ireland of Scottish parents. Already a skilled trader weaver when he came to America in 1789, Alexander eventually moved to Little Britain (Orange County), NY, where he farmed and set up a workshop employing several weavers. Alexander retired from weaving sometime around 1828 (the last year entries are made in his account book) and resumed his life as a farmer. He died just short of his 100th birthday in 1870. He is buried in the St. George's Cemetery in Newburgh, N.Y.