In a recent column I noted that one of the quilts in Nancy Gibson's presentation, "Pieces of the Past: An Overview of Carroll County Quilts," at the Historical Society of Carroll County on Jan. 19 was the 1857 Buckey eagle quilt. I've had a people ask me for more information about this historic quilt, so here goes:

This quilt is part of the HSCC's extensive textile collection, and was given to the society by Vivian Englar Barnes.

On Oct. 8, 1995, historian Jay Graybeal wrote about another lecture on quilts at the historical society, which took place that year.

Graybeal noted, "Because women traditionally provided the family's clothing and bedding, they tended to preserve textiles and pass them down to the next generation.

"For this reason most of the historical society's textile collection was donated by women."

According to Gibson, Margaret Buckey made the Buckey eagle quilt in 1857 when she was 20 years old. She made it a year before her marriage to Elhanan Englar, who was a farmer from New Windsor.

In 1995, this quilt and Buckey's sewing table were displayed at the Daughters of the American Revolution Museum, in Washington, Graybeal wrote.

Buckey "grew up in Frederick County a few miles across the county border from New Windsor and Union Bridge," and was a member of the family for which Buckeystown in Frederick County was named," noted Gibson during her talk -- which also celebrated the county's 173rd birthday.

"What makes this quilt unique is that it's possible that it was a political statement," said Gibson.

"Eagles are popular designs on Maryland quilts in the early 19th century," she said. "You see eagles on furniture, silver, ceramics, as well.

(And newspapers, too.)

"Remember that quilt makers got their designs from everyday objects around them. It was not until the third quarter of the 19th century that patterns were published nationally.

Gibson noted that the eagle may have been inspired by the anti-slavery or Know-Nothing Party, which was popular during the 1856 election.

"Events sponsored by this party were heavily advertised in the Carroll County newspapers and sometimes included an eagle similar to the one Margaret used on her quilt," she said.

Gibson said that according to Margaret Buckey's obituary, she was a member of the Brethren Church for 68 years. Elders of the church -- including her uncle, Daniel Saylor, leader of a congregation at Beaver Dam where Margaret had worshipped prior to her marriage -- were politically active, especially against slavery.

Margaret and her husband joined the Pipe Creek Brethren Church where they are both buried.

But they left us all the quilt -- another piece of the fabric of our community history.

When he not trying to figure-out how to operate an old family sewing machine, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at kevindayhoff@gmail.com or visit him at www.westminstermarylandonline.net.

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