The Lanark County Quilt and its Families

This was purchased at a Gallery 15 auction on Monday and was a crazy quilt and made in 1902 in Lanark County. It is signed by the approximately 30 people who had a hand in making it.

mary jane phelan o’neill

Mary O’Donnell was my great aunt and Im sure she along with her sister Bernadette,my grandmother, would have been among the quilters. She was born near Sheridan’s Rapids Lanark county. She married Anthony Quinn and then lived in Perth. She actually went by May not Mary.What a lovely thing to see! Thank you so much Linda for sharing.

Kathleen Quinn-Ashton

I am also related to May O’Donnell, she would be my Great Grandmother. Her son Joseph Vincent Quinn is the father to my Daddy Terence Michael Quinn.

So exciting to see this!

Emma Playfair
Father	James Playfair
Sibling	William
Birth	Ontario 1877
Residence	1901 Bathurst Lanark (south/sud) Ontario

Karen Julian Hi Linda: When I saw the name Playfair on the quilt I contacted my friend, Katherine Quinsey (nee Playfair) and here is her response that I thought you would find interesting. “Thank you so much, Karen, for the post about the Lanark quilt. Emma is probably my grandfather Ross’s (b. 1886) older sister – but I will check on that. In the meantime, I can share this on the Playfair family FB page and send the post on to my brother Phil, who is a family historian. Thank you!”

Record information.

Name	Nellie Caldwell
Mother	Helen Caldwell
Father	John Caldwell
Sibling	Esttren Caldwell
Birth	Ontario abt 1881
Residence	Dalhousie and Sherbrooke North Lanark North Ontario

Name	Peter Delaney
Spouse	Mary Delaney
Birth	Ontario 1864
Residence	1901 Drummond Lanark (south/sud) Ontario

Minnie Closs
Birth	Dalhousie abt 1874
Death	19/11/1915 Lanark Ontario Canada

Karen Andrews

I recognized several of the names on this quilt, and have since conversed with someone in Lanark Co. who was able to tell me about some of the family connections. The names that stand out the most for me are: “Uncle Jerry and Aunt ‘Kate’ Nolan of Rainny River”. Note: Jeremiah NOLAN and Catherine (MULLALLY) Nolan were my great grandparents; early pioneers who staked claim, settled/farmed in Sleeman, Ontario.. in the Rainy River District. At that time, with the railroad coming through, the town of Beaver Mills (now known as Rainy River) was a very busy community , 7 miles to the west. The census for that era can be found in Algoma Co. I imagine that Ann Nolan, who’s name is on the same quilt, would be their daughter, Anastasia Nolan. She became a nun (Sister Alexis) and she taught in various schools in that area, as well as in Old Chelsea, Quebec. (I am so very curious as to ‘who’ cousin Lorne Nolan was, because I’ve never known of any Nolan family connections there! I’ve wondered about the Nolans who were Carleton Place, but have never known a connection there either. ) By the way, Jeremian Nolan’s mother (Anastasia (Shortt) NOLAN, a widow with two young boys: Thomas and Jeremiah) married Owen O’Donnell. Both are buried in Furguson Falls, ON. They had two children: Catherine and Michael. I have a lovely picture of Mary O’Donnell…who became Mrs. Anthony Quinn…anlso named on this quilt. It was one of the few photos that were in Jeremiah and Catherine Nolan’s old velvet photo album (which I inherited), and one of the few pictures that had a name written on the back. (I was raised across the road from their homestead, in Sleeman, then later, in Rainy River, ON. After marriage, and for the past 50+ years, we have lived in the District of Kenora, ON. ….only 100 miles from Rainy River. This article, posted yesterday, about this particular quilt, is one of the most interesting, and exciting on-line discoveries that I’ve come across during my family research. A fascinating piece of history and a major treasure!! Much appreciated!

In hindsight, I’ve just noticed that this Lanark Quilt article was just posted today! It’s truly “the luck of the Irish” for me to have discovered it so quickly; on the same day! Many thanks!

September 11, 2019

Rodena Bell from the Women’s Institute South Lanark (Balderson) added more info about names of those on the quilt:

Rufus Purdon– McDonald’s Corners

A Jackson ( Bill Jackson his son was the undertaker in McDonald’s Corners)

Bella Purdon  McDonald Corners (married Arthur Forbes)

Bessie Purdon McDonald’s Corners (married Joseph Arnett)

John Purdon– McDonald’s Corners

Mr. Legary-owned the butcher shop McDonald’s Corners

From Louise Gour

The quilt was well received at the Lanark County Quilters Guild and many were fascinated by it’s history.

I did have conversations with some of our members about the quilt and how all the names are embroidered on it.  One member mentioned that this is likely a quilt that was made as a fundraiser.  Either a church or community fundraiser.   As we looked at the quilt more closely we noticed that all the stitching looks to be very consistent.  This would indicate that likely only 1 person would  have had a “hand” in quilting/making it.  This is likely Ms Mary O’Donnell as she is noted as “made by” .  When we see quilts made as part of a “quilting bee” with many people helping to make them,  we usually notice differences in how the stitches are done.  Stitching is kind of like how everyone’s hand signatures are all slightly different from person to person. What was common in that time/era was for people to contribute materials (fabric, threads, batting) or even some money for purchase of new materials.  It’s likely that the names embroidered on the quilt are those who contributed in this way to the making of the charity quilt.

This is only our thoughts on the possible history of this great treasure. Some of the ladies in my Guild have been making quilts for a very long time.  They do know their craft well. 😉   I’ve only been Quilting for 2 years now and I’m only a novice compared to them.  I trust their knowledge on this topic.

If your museum or group would like to see this quilt or have it in your museum for two weeks– EMAIL me at sav_77@yahoo.com. I would like to see this quilt be seen by as many people in Lanark County

where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in The Townships Sun and theSherbrooke Record and and Screamin’ Mamas (USACome and visit the Lanark County Genealogical Society Facebook page– what’s there? Cool old photos–and lots of things interesting to read. Also check out The Tales of Carleton Place. Tales of Almonte and Arnprior Then and Now.

Buttons and Quilts by Sherri Iona (Lashley)