A piece of Gloucester history, and a bit of a mystery as well, was recently uncovered while packing for a move. Actually, the more appropriate word might be “un-coverlet.”
Jean Corr came across the white coverlet, or bedspread, while going through a lifetime’s worth of family items at Roadview Farm in Gloucester.
The coverlet is all white, including the embroidery. In addition to a few decorative leaves, something about the embroidery caught Jean Corr’s eye—the sheet was filled with a long list of names, stitched in script, including many familiar Gloucester County surnames.
She guesses that the coverlet, may be about a century old or more, was presented to her late husband’s grandfather, the Rev. Harry L. Corr, from grateful parishioners. Only thing is, she’s not exactly sure which church, or churches, it came from.
The Rev. Mr. Corr, born in 1865 in a home on the same land where Roadview Farm now stands, served as pastor for a number of Gloucester churches during his lengthy tenure.
He was ordained at Union Baptist Church in 1902, and before his retirement from the active ministry at the age of 80 in 1946, he held pastorates at Zoar Baptist Church in Middlesex for nearly 40 years; Beech Grove at Coke for a total of 36 years; Providence Baptist for 26 years, and Ebenezer Baptist for 25 years, according to his 1951 obituary in the Gazette-Journal.
While at Providence and Ebenezer churches, he also served Mattaponi in lower King and Queen County, and Poroporone, as well. Five years of service with Beulah and Petsworth churches were also included in his career, the obituary stated.
The Corr family has given it to the Gloucester Museum of History for safekeeping. Jean Corr said it is her hope that the coverlet will be reunited with the church where it originated.
Although hard to make out in some cases, Jean Corr was able to transcribe at least some of the names on the object, including the following:
M. Harman, E. Garrett, Mrs. E. Garrett, Alice White, Sallie Williams, Henry Williams, George Williams, Garrett (?) Wright, Virg (?) Wright, Mrs. A. Fitzhugh Jr., Mrs. A. Fitzhugh, A. Fitzhugh, Mrs. M. Kemp, Mrs. Mitchell, Mrs. Deuer (?), N.M. Lewis, J.S. Baytop, S.H. Leake, G.H. Stubbs, Eliza Stubbs, Mrs. A. Martin, Leah Taliaferro, Mrs. Hayden (?), James Davis, Geo. Keyes, Razzie True, William Murray (?), Vernon Kerns, John N. Tabb, W.M. Williams, Henry Howard, Lucy Lawson, Louise Lawson, Boyd Clements, Martin Moore, Mrs. S. Pointer, Mr. Sam Pointer, Johnny Booth, Mr. S. Ware (?), Henry Elright (?), James Kennedy (?);
Also, R.J. Baily, S.B. Baily, L. Baily, C.W. Marshall, N. Williams, J.W. Smith, Maude Pace (?) Crittenden, Nina (?) Lowe, James Jackson Bratton, Ora B. Vaughan, Mrs. A.R. Moses (?), W. Evans (?), O. Hogg, J.B. Tignor (?), J.V. S (?), M. Willett, G.A. Enos, John Seawell, H.J. Gregg, J.O. (?) Fleming, (?) Fleming, M.L. Fleming, A.W. Willett, J.T. Willett, H. Willett, C.D. Willett, C. West, C. West (?), T.C. Booker, L.W. Kemp, R.A. Booker, S.J. Rowe, W.T. Robins, (?) C. Buck, J.K. West, Alvin Fleming, Bernard Fleming, Hester Fleming, Emily Fleming, Berthe Fleming, Luly (?) Fleming, J. (?) Fleming, Loney (?) Pointer, Katye (?) Graves, (?) Stubblefield, L (?) Gregg, J.D. Oldham, Ned Cox, W.J. Kemp, A.H. Leigh, G.B. Harwood, Garland Rowe, Wm. E. Wiatt, Nannie Wiatt, Nannie Seegar (?), Loulie (?) Brokenber (?) and Robert H. Wiatt.