Historic 1888 Shaftsbury Signature Quilt

Quilt Block #36 - Quilt Signers:

Mrs. Lottie A (Peck) Randall

Mary E. Hulett

Mrs. Mary E. Hulett is believed to be the wife of Herbert A. Hulet. Her maiden name was Mary Ellen Sampson but, went by “Nellie”. Sometimes Hulett is spelled with two ts, and sometimes one. There is a discrepancy in the spelling of Sampson as well, sometimes there is a p and sometimes not. According to her death certificate she was born 30 May 1874 in Greenwich, Connecticut to Augustus and Adeline (Forbush) Sampson The 1880 Federal Census shows Mary Ellen (6) as living in Greenwich, Connecticut with her father, Augustus (49), mother Adeline Forbush (43), and siblings; Frederick Augustus (16), Annie Hubbard (10), Ada Forbush (8), and Alice Belle (3). Her father's occupation was carman (perhaps a salesman or mechanic.)

The Census of 1870 records Mary's future husband, Herbert Hulett (8) living in Arlington with his recently widowed mother Lucina (40). His father Hopkins Hulett died 2 April 1870 at the age of 41 from bowel inflammation. In the household were Herbert's siblings George C. (10), Chancey (6), and Almore (4). Also, listed was John Hopkins (26) but this researcher was unable to discover his relationship to the family. After her husband's death Luciana becomes a teacher in Arlington to support her young family.

By the1910 Federal Census Nellie S. Hulett (35) and Herbert A. Hulett (47)w ere living on Imperial Avenue in Bennington. Also, documented were their three children; Hopkins (8), Thurston (5) and Lucina (1) who was named after Herbert's mother. Grace Sampson (19), the niece of Nellie lives in the house, as well as a boarder Walter B. Randall (18). Walter is the future husband of Lottie A. Randall (Charlotte Peck Randall) who shares this block with Nellie. Nellie and Herbert unfortunately lose their 17 year old son, Hopkins to the Spanish Flu on 6 November 1918.

Herbert's death certificate Herbert confirms him to be the son of Hopkins and Lucina C. (Samson) Hulett. He was born 19 July 1861 and died 4 October 1935 at the age of 74 years, 2 months and 15 days from a cerebral hemorrhage. He was a salesman and farmer during his lifetime. An obituary printed in the Bennington Banner clarifies that he was a Mason and had graduated from Burr and Burton Seminary in Manchester and the Eastman Business College. Once retired he returned to farming in the southern part of Arlington. Herbert was one of three children. His siblings were George Edward (1858-1883), Chauncey L. (1861-1935) and Almon Sampson (1865-1929). His father, Hopkins Hulet, was one of eleven children; Angeline (1833-1875), Aaron (1835-1894), Daniel J. (1837-1873), Lyman A. (1839-1907), Moses (1840-1917), Dudley J. (1844-1878), Phebe Nancy (Hulet) Lincoln (1846-1927), Josephine (Hulet) Hale (1849-1928), Mary Jane (Hulet) Perkins (1853-1906), and an infant daughter Hulet (1855-1855).

Mary E. “Nellie” Hulett died 12 June 1959 in Bennington from a pulmonary thrombosis and cancer of the rectum. She was 84 and had been a widow for twenty-four years. When their names were placed on the quilt she was a married woman at the age of 14 and he was 27. They are both buried in Center Shaftsbury Cemetery. His parents and other family members are buried in the Hulett plot as well.

*Note: There were three other Mary Huletts/Hulets in and close to Shaftsbury in 1888. One was born in 1836, one in 1851 and another in 1877. This researcher choose to write about Mary Ellen (Sampson) Hulett due to her sharing this block with Lottie Randall.