SARAH ELIZABETH CRAFTS’ CLOTHING & MEMORABILIA TRUNK

Born  July 8, 1841 - Died at age 11 - December 20, 1852

PARENTS OF SARAH E. CRAFTS:

Sarah Wright Knight, B Nov 1819, D age 22, Oct 1841, 3 mo. after Sarah’s birth.

Chester Crafts, B 1812 & D 1871. Chester Crafts lived with his family in “Ireland Parrish”, West Springfield, MA., now the town of Holyoke, MA.

Chester owned and operated CRAFT’S TAVERN, the social & political hub of western Massachusetts from the 1830s through the 1850s. The tavern was built in 1785, purchased by Chester in 1837. He increased its size considerably to become an inn as well as a tavern. He also added a ballroom and a post office.

1843 widower Chester Crafts married Olive Louisa Day from W. Springfield, MA.

After her death, Sarah’s clothing & memorabilia dear to her were packed in a small black painted wooden trunk, 27.5” long x 14” deep x 12.5” high.

Memorabilia Trunk of Sara Crafts

Side-laced Boots & Quilted Baby Bonnet

Bible, Merit Award & Berlin Work

Easter Bonnet & Wallpaper Box

Interior of Easter Bonnet

Unfinished Quilt Projects & Fabrics

Sarah's Two Dolls

Sarah's Mother's Reticule

Sarah's Mother's Brooch

Two Calico Dresses

Sarah's Mother's Green Shawl Letters to Sarah

TRUNK & ENTIRE CONTENTS TO BE SOLD MAY 10, 2008
OVER 75 ITEMS IN ALL

SARAH’S CLOTHING: (1) Silk Easter bonnet & original box (SEC died before she was able to wear this bonnet), butter yellow taffeta drawn bonnet, brim faced in sky blue silk w/ curled blue ribbon bouquets on sides, blue chin ties, pristine; hand printed wallpaper hatbox, good. (2) Calico dress, c. 1851, multi-colored dots on brown thatched ground, fan front, long sleeves w/ caps, Ch 25”, W 22”, L 30”, excellent. (3) Purple faded to brown small print calico dress, c. 1849, fan front, bell sleeve, Ch 23”, W 21”, L 36”, fair. (4) Dark brown side-lace boots, c. 1849-1850, wool flats w/ black patent leather toe & heel caps, 2” Wd x 9” L, good. (5) 2 cotton aprons w/ back button waistbands: 1 white w/ shaped bib, excellent; 1 woven brown, green & white windowpane, excellent. (6) Woven yellow & white gingham toddler’s dress, c. 1844, excellent. (7) Reticule, 1840s, burgundy velvet draw-string, good. (8) Quilted winter bonnet, c. 1842, brown silk w/ white pin stripe, blue & pink linings, good. (9) Baby clothes & whites: yellow wool top w/ double row navy trim, fair; baby bonnet, linen undershirt, 2 white knit day caps, 1 pair button on under-sleeves & 5 pair unfinished (no cuffs), good-excellent.

SARAH’S DOLLS: (1) 1840s 11” china shoulder head, painted face, lower body & legs linen, white kid leather arms & hands, original clothes: blue silk faille skirt & jacket w/ lace overlay, white linen drawers, excellent. (2) 1820s 10” papier mache head & body, painted face, carved wood arms & legs, original clothes: white skirt w/ green leaf print, green silk top w/ embroidered net overlay, purple & white silk plaid apron, long white drawers, linen petticoat, crack on left side of head & 1 leg detached, fair. Doll given to Sarah by her step-mother Olive Day Crafts.

SARAH’S NEEDLEWORK: Quilting: 4 pieced quilt panels, four center blocks w/ triangle border, ea. panel 7.5” x 90”, many unfinished blocks, very large assortment of calico fabrics & fragments (including pieces of fabrics used for Sarah’s 2 calico dresses, possibly made for her by her step-mother Olive Day Crafts). Berlin-work: packed in a green block printed box, 11 finished & 3 partial wool stitched cards, several w/ silk ribbons. Other hand sewn items: 1 hand painted doll’s purse or mini pin cushion & 3 small hand made needle cases w/ flannel pages.

2 CERTIFICATES OF MERIT: Both cards w/ hand colored perimeters & center printing: “Reward of Merit. This certifies that Sarah E. Crafts for diligence & attention to studies, and good conduct in school, merits my approbation and esteem” signed, “Persis F. Chaplain”. 1 certificate is under glass lid of block printed box, that holds a New Testament book that Sarah won for her merit award.

3 LETTERS TO SARAH (and 3 envelopes): 1 penciled in block letters on blue paper dated Feb. 18, 1852 from cousin Ally Knight, telling Sarah about her Christmas and inviting Sarah to her home for the upcoming school vacation. A second letter is from Ally’s mother in ink script, an exact copy of Ally’s letter. The 3^rd written letter in ink & script is a poem about a child’s death, a mother’s death, hope and “light for us above”, signed “Your Friend”.

PRINTED BOX W/ SMALL CARDS: 11 white funeral/calling cards for Sarah,
most w/ delicate black etched designs, some also hand colored & signed.

SARAH WRIGHT KNIGHT’S CLOTHING , 1819-1841(Sarah’s mother): (1) Woman’s silk day dress, 1825-1830 (SWK’s mother’s maternity dress  given to SWK after she became pregnant?), red, green & yellow plaid taffeta, front hook & eye opening, long sleeves, high waist, B 34”, W 28”,  L 50.5”, slight underarm discoloration, good. (2) Green velvet reticule, 1835-1840, draw-string U-shape, tiny white chalk bead embroidery on front & back, chalk bead twisted & looped fringe, green silk top w/ cord, silk damaged, 1 small hole, good. (3) Black silk damask mourning shawl, 56” x 56”, 7” fringe, good. (4) Green silk gauze shawl, ivory satin perimeter stripe, ivory damask floral bouquet in 1 corner, 32” x 32”, 2.25” fringe, small holes & discolored, fair. (5) 2 White cotton collars, c. 1838, both w/ scalloped edges & raised white-work embroidery, excellent. (6) 2 wood & paper fans, fair. (7) Small folding carriage parasol, blue shot silk, fair-poor. (8) Brooch, twisted steel wire in bow form, good. (9) Hair comb, silver or steel, high scalloped top w/ intricate etched design, excellent. (10) Girl’s black velvet hat, c. 1825, fitting close to head, gathered in front, narrow gold metallic braid trim, plaid silk taffeta lining, excellent.

LATE 20^th CENTURY EPHEMERA: 2 Holyoke, MA newspaper articles on the history of the Craft’s Tavern; 1 copy of genealogy page referencing Chester Crafts.