Americana & Folk Art
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Peggy McClard Antiques Americana & Folk Art |
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Scan of unframed silhouettes
Scan of backing to unframed silhouettes |
American hollow cut silhouette pair that has been framed together.
The front of the silhouettes are inscribed in graphite, "Deacon Alden
Blodgett" "and his wife Sarah seventy five years ago". The
silhouettes have been glued to the hardback covers of 19th century books
(see photo below). The black fabric protects the paper of the
silhouettes from direct contact with the book covers (which are likely
made of non-acidic rag paper anyway). However the hide glue has
left some staining to the silhouettes, as seen in the photos. The
period frame, which measures 10 1/2" x 7 1/4" has been cut and rebuilt
to accommodate the pair of silhouettes by trimming down part of the
frame to fit in the middle. There are some inscriptions on the
back of the frame, but since the frame is not original to the
silhouettes, the illegibility of the inscriptions is unimportant.
What is important is the rich genealogical background of this early
American pair. Alden Blodgett was the son of Joshua & Hannah Blodgett. He was born March 14, 1766 in Stafford, Tolland Conn. and died Sept. 13, 1848, at the age of 82, in the same city. Blodgett is buried in Old Stafford Village Cemetery. On September 11, 1788, Alden Blodgett married Sarah Abbott, who was born Aug. 30, 1767 in Woodstock, Windham Conn. Alden's great-great grandparents were Pilgrims John & Priscilla Alden who came to America on the Mayflower. Alden and Sarah lived in Stafford, Connecticut on the farm granted to his grandfather, Joshua Blodgett, when Joshua moved from Woburn Massachusetts and settled at Stafford in 1720. According to roots.com, the farm has remained in the family ever since and is now in the estate of "Mr. Thompson's uncle who recently died." Alden's Blodgett's bible is now in the possession of Mrs. Alice Smith Thompson. Sarah Abbot (or Abbott) was born in Woodstock, Windham, Conn. on Aug. 31, 1767. She was the daughter of Stephen Abbot (born about 1744 in Conn.) and Sybil Ainsworth (born Nov. 3, 1746 in Woodstock, Conn.). Stephen and Sybil married in Woodstock on May 16, 1764. Sybil Ainsworth's family can be traced as having been native-born to the US since at least 1640. I have been unable to trace her family back to pre-American roots. The children of Alden & Sarah Blodgett are listed as: Willard Blodgett (b. Jan 30, 1789), Esther Blodgett (b. Oct. 12, 1790, d. July 5, 1830), Daniel Blodgett (b. Jan. 25, 1793, d. May 2, 1855), Hannah Blodgett (b. March 11, 1795, d. Aug. 21, 1827), Alden Blodgett (b. June 25, 1799, d. Aug. 1869), Joshua Blodgett (b. Aug. 10, 1802)), Joseph Blodgett (b. Oct. 20, 1803, d. Oct. 27, 1875), Sidney Blodgett (b. Feb. 4, 1806, d. March 30, 1806), Wareham Blodgett (b. June 15, 1808, d. Jul 31, 1831), Wareham Blodgett (b. June 15, 1808, d. July 31, 1831), Rufus Leonard Blodgett (b. April 8, 1811, d. Aug. 10, 1884), stillborn Blodgett (b. & d. Jan. 21, 1814). All genealogical research will be provided to the buyer. The silhouettes are circa 1800. (#3214) $895 |
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