Stokes family bedspread

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Ellen Stokes

1860

Overview

Lightweight, white, embossed floral pattern bedspread

Historical information

William Stokes (1808-16/05/1881) was a private in the 30th Regiment. About 1839 he married Ellen O’Neill. Before coming to WA as an Enrolled Pensioner Guard, he also served as a lighthouse keeper on the Falkland Islands for seven years. It is presumed Ellen was with him as the following children were born to the couple:- Sarah b.1839, d.1840, William b.1841, d.1845, John b.1843, d.1871, Ellen d.1849, Louisa d.1901, Henry b.1850, James b.1852, d.1927, Evelina b.1854, d.1952, and Mary b.1859, d.1921. The Stokes sailed to Western Australia on a convict ship in 1860.

It is family tradition that this bedspread was embroidered on that voyage by Ellen (uncertain whether this is mother or daughter). William was granted land at Greenough. Here, the youngest child Thomas was born in 1865, d.1930. Following Ellen’s death on 2 November 1878, William and children moved to Geraldton.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-72-GMOB0690

Item type

Bedding

Material

Linen (Material)

Width

2060 mm

Height or length

2208 mm

Depth

2 mm

Themes

Immigration

People

Social History

Contextual Information

Whilst embroidered bedspreads from this era are not rare, this bedspread is unique in that it has an association with a Pensioner Guard family who came to Australia on the convict ships. The voyage took several months, so there was opportunity for passengers to take on time-consuming tasks like this and so create something that was evidence of their skill and also of practical use.

Keywords

Stokes, bedspread, Pensioner Guard

Year

1860

Primary significance criteria

Artistic or aesthetic significance

Social or spiritual significance

Comparative significance criteria

Object’s condition or completeness

Rare or representative

Well provenanced

Greenough Museum and Gardens