Clamshell with a Peterson's Magazine border

Quilt made by Ellen Lucinda  Bennett Welch (1842-1918), 

 Connecticut, 1861.

I found this quilt on the internet, shown years ago at a quilt show at the Senior Center in Ashford, Connecticut. The caption:

"Clam Shell, made by Ellen Bennett Welch, pieced in 1861. Ellen was married in 1862 to Merritt Welch. Her brother died in the Civil War 2 years later. Perhaps this was a patriotic dowry quilt, reflecting the concerns of the times."

http://www.micaweb.com/ashfordseniors/quilts1.html

Ellen's inspiration for the border was the Peterson's Magazine pattern for a "Stars and Stripes Bedquilt" published in July, 1861. Her red, white and blue clamshell idea is an unusual take on a traditional pattern.

Here's a review of the July issue of Peterson's.

"It contains Two Splendid Colored patterns, one of which is a Stars and Stripes Bed-Quilt. Every lady ought to have a number so as to work one of these Quilts."

Ellen is easy to find in genealogical sites. She married Merritt Manning Welch (1838-1907) in 1862. They had six children.

See more about clamshell designs in this post:

http://barbarabrackman.blogspot.com/2016/03/tessellations-9-curved-shapes.html

And more about the Peterson's pattern here:

http://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com/2011/07/30-petersons-stars-stripes.html

The star borders were quite the thing.