32. Clark-Willson Quilt

This chintz appliqué quilt was made by Sarah Clark Willson (c.1782-1835), c.1820. She was the eldest daughter of John G. Clark (1752-1802), who laid out lots for the upper Montgomery County town of Clarksburg in 1780. After Clark’s death in 1802, his general store was taken over by Sarah’s husband, William Willson, whom she had married in 1797 at the age of 15. This quilt, with notches for the footposts of a four-post bed, was made from costly fabrics, probably obtained from the family store.

A central bouquet was created from pieces cut from several block-printed fabrics and applied to the finely quilted white ground fabric. Green color was brushed on to the leaves and stems of one fabric, while leaves were textured with dotted pinwork on another. Entries in a ledger from Willson’s store indicate that the blue chintz fabric used for two medallion rings and the framing panels would have cost from 60-70 cents per yard, while calico, a frequently used quilting fabric, would have cost only 25 cents. Its excellent condition suggests that this quilt likely was a show piece for special occasions.

John G. Clark’s general store was located on the site of an Indian trading post established by his Scottish-born grandfather. Across the main road between Georgetown and Frederick (Route 355) stands the Clark-Waters house, the rear log portion of which is the original home of John and Ann Clark and afterwards Sarah and William Willson. The front of the house was added by their descendants – Sarah’s daughter Mary married Dr. William A. Waters in 1863. The quilt was donated in 1989 by Sarah’s great-great-granddaughter Marion Jacobs.

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