Stokes family bedspread

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

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-72-GMOB0690
Item type
Material
Width
2060 mm
Height or length
2208 mm
Depth
2 mm
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.

Year
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

Greenough Museum and Gardens

Organisation Details
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Ellen Stokes' bedspread
Bedspread embroidered by Ellen Stokes whilst sailing to Western Australia in 1860.

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