Elizabeth “Betsey” Weeks made this indigo wool quilt before her marriage to James Brown. According to the family, the wool for the quilt was carded, spun, and woven by Betsey. The dark blue counterpane is quilted with wool thread in a pattern of scrolling vines and large stylized flowers, 6 stitches per inch. Carded wool was used for the filling, the seams are stitched with linen thread. “As can be seen by the worn spots and the much darning it has had much use…” commented the donor.
Elizabeth (Betsey) Weeks was born on January 18, 1773 in Vermont. She married James Brown Johnson and they lived in Benson, Rutland Co., Vermont. They had one daughter, Relief (1800-1847). According to family information, Elizabeth died on July 31, 1861. She is buried in the Old Benson Cemetery, Vermont. The donor is Elizabeth’s great, great granddaughter.
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