History
The quilt was made by Grace Nicholas in 1853 on board the 'Monteagle' between England and Australia. Grace (married name Cole) passed it to her daughter, Mary Jane Williams (born Cole) and it then went to her daughter Grace Williamson (born Williams). From Grace the quilt went to the parents of the present owner as William Harold James Cole was a cousin of Grace Williamson. "Grace Nicholas was born in Lelant, Cornwall on 20 February 1834. After her father died in 1849, her mother lost possession of the family farm (it passed to another male member of the Nicholas family). Her mother Mary Nicholas (nee Travener) migrated to Melbourne with her seven children aged between 24 and 8. They came on the 'Monteagle' arriving on 12 April 1853. There were 52 deaths on board. Grace married Arscott Cole of Clawton, Devon at St. James old cathedral on 30 September 1854. Grace and Arscott Cole (blacksmith) lived at Darebin Creek where seven of their children were born. Their 8th child was born at Yan Yean in 1873. Arscott was at that time working at 'Hazel Glen' farm in Doreen (owned by the Reid family). Around 1876 the family moved to Waggarandal where they had a farm and also a smithy which was on the corner of the Benalla-Tocumwal Rd and the St. James Road. In the 1890s they moved to Lardner, Warragul where they probably lived with their daughter Mary-Jane Williams or their son Samuel Cole. "For some time my mother had the quilt on a bed in the 'spare' room. My father died in 1983. My mother remarried and moved to another house, the quilt at that stage going into 'storage'. She passed it on to me just recently." [Jan Hanslow, 4 February 2002]
Description
Hexagon quilt with 60mm hexagons in cottons. No particular design or pattern. Patches are plain and patterned in reds, blues, pinks, browns and greys. There is a 70mm wide lace trim. The quilt is padded and the backing is wholecloth green with a floral design in pink and cream.
1860 x 1640mm
