I received a request for help in identifying a quilt design. The quilt’s owner believes that the quilt has a date of “1840″ on the side and is signed “Elizabeth Springer.” No other details about that were provided. The appraiser thinks that the binding is wider than usual for an 1840 quilt, or an 1890 quilt, for that matter. She thinks that it may be a variation of the typical quilt pattern “Burgoyne Surrounded,” often done in blue and white.

This is a portion of the 94″ x 81″ quilt.

Close-up.

Here is a little background about the quilt known as “Burgoyne Surrounded.”

I found an interesting entry in Yvonne Khin’s book. She states that British General John Burgoyne tried to take the city of Albany, NY but was surrounded by Americans at Saratoga on October 17, 1777. The pattern, Burgoyne Surrounded, was renamed about 1850 and called Wheel of Fortune. Taken west, it came to be known as “Road to California.”

If anyone has any further information on the quilt pattern shown here, please write to me at: Thanks!

An Addendum: The initial inquirer about this quilt pattern, has found an example exactly like the quilt shown above, only in red and white. It is located on the Nebraska state site. Their quilt belongs to the International Quilt Study Center, and is simply called “Burgoyne Surrounded.” To see the quilt, visit:

and then, click on the picture, for a larger view. The red and white quilt is smaller, at 86″ x 69″ and the estimated date of its making is circa 1900-1920 which would coincide time-wise with the colonial revival period in American history. The quilt is part of the donated “James collection.”

The appraiser was most likely right about questioning the date of 1840. Sometimes, it is hard to decipher numbers on old quilts, whether they are written or “quilted in.” She wonders if Burgoyne Surrounded quilts are made today and if someone has a book. Yes, Eleanor Burns published a how-to book, and right after her book came out, I made a queen size quilt of this kind, using a wool batting.

Patricia Cummings

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