HomeMy WebLinkAbouttravis quilt letter (2013_12_13 15_50_21 UTC)THE MARTHA FROST QUILT
In late September 2006, Debbie Rappleye, residing at 9601 Rt. 414, Lodi, New
York 14860, telephone no. 607-582-6428, with a business called "Country
Quilts," called me as President of the Enfield Historical Society to explain that
she had the Martha Frost Quilt. She explained that Martha Frost had brought
her a quilt top about a year ago that had been stored in a trunk, and that it had
belonged to her grandmother. Martha was 88 years old, in poor health, and
died several months later.
Mrs. Rappleye completed the quilt, and contacted Martha's closest relative, a
cousin, but the cousin had no interest in the Quilt. A corner block of the quilt
has the following inscription, "Presented to Abagail Travis by her friends in the
year 1851 Enfield Tompkins Co." Each of the large quilt blocks (90) contain a
signed verse by friends in Enfield, together with friends from Newfield and
Genoa..
In a conversation with Debbie Rappleye's sister, Diane Wood (Hector, Tel.
607-546-2554) she was able to furnish a little more information about Martha.
She grew up in Mecklenberg in a house reported to have been "in back of
church.". Her father was Myron Frost and her mother's maiden name was
Wallenback (sp.?). Her father worked in a feed store in Ithaca. Martha worked in
Rothchild's in Ithaca. Martha also had an uncle named Dana Wallenback.
Martha never married. Her most recent address was listed in the telephone
as 3728 County Road 2, Burdett, N. Y. book
Debbie Rappleye searched the Internet for Enfield Historical Society, and found
my name, and I talked with her and agreed to pick up the quilt. I did ask if
was a charge for her work. Her response was "none." Calvin and I icke there
quilt up on October l O, 2006. p d the