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Red, Appliqué and embroidered bed cover, patchwork quilt made by Emily Seward (1863 – 1893) daughter of Farm Bailiff, Newcourt. When she made the quilt in 1889 Emily was living with her parents at Newcourt Lodge. The 1891 census records her visiting “The Valiant Soldier”, a pub on the way into Exeter, with her occupation being a dressmaker. Two and a half years later she died and was buried in Topsham Cemetery on October 22nd, 1893. Her father had died earlier in the year. . After Emily had died, her mother Elizabeth moved to Pollards Court, off Fore Street where the 1901 census records her living with her son Walter who at that time was not married. The possible location of the quilt after Emily's and her parents’ deaths and could have been with brother Albert’s family, especially as his children would probably have had some Newman relatives. According to the Museum records the quilt was donated by the Misses Seward and Mrs Newman. Another possibility is that the quilt went to Edward’s (another brother) widow, Sarah Ann, the needleworker who was living on High Street a few doors away from Albert.

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embroidery
quilt
patchwork

Seward Emily; Newcourt House

Textiles