Follow-up Information on Sarah Nunn McCrea quilt

by Patricia Cummings

Sarah Nunn McCrea's early nineteenth century quilt was featured in an article I wrote for The Quilter magazine in the September 2001 issue. At the end of the article, I said this:  "I am so grateful to those women who have preserved the name of the quiltmaker through many generations. The details of her life--where and when she was born, how many children she had, how she lived, and when she died, may never be fully uncovered, yet none of that really matters, for I can see in the work of her hands, a shining example of useful service and a tenacity of will to finish what she had set out to do."........

The Sarah Nunn McCrea's Quilt is shown here on a queen size bed, for purposes of photography, only.

Rare, Well-Preserved, Clean, Unusual Quilt with Provenance

Sarah Nunn married William McCrea. She was born on September 21, 1779 in Washington Township, Morris County, New Jersey. She died in 1859, having lived in Lebanon Township in the same county; and in Hunterdon County, NJ. She had one son, Samuel, who married Emeline Swayze, of whom Patrick Swayze, the actor, is a direct descendant. Samuel had sisters.

Thomas Nunn, the original ancestor who settled in New Jersey had married Elizabeth, and they lived in Schooley Mountain, New Jersey. His name appears in a book called The Early Germans of New Jersey.

Rare Backing of Pieced Linen

Linen was used for the backing, that I knew. Two lengths of linen sheeting were joined with a center seam. The cloth was most likely home woven, and perhaps also could have been homespun. If this proves to be true, perhaps Sarah was a spinner, and a weaver, as well as an excellent quilter.

As a writer, I seek to share this passion of mine called quilting. Nothing could be more terrific than learning more historical information about an important historical artifact. A Nunn family descendant who contacted me said that Sarah is the sister of her great, great, great, great grandfather. This kind of contact makes me realize how much words do count. They are connectors between you and I, and between quilters of the greater world, beyond our close circle of friends and family. To know that my words have added to a family's pride in their heritage is great satisfaction.

©Copyright 2002-2007. Patricia Cummings, Quilter's Muse Publications, Concord, NH.