Historic 1888 Shaftsbury Signature Quilt

Quilt Block #40 - Quilt Signers:

George Buck

Amy (Green) Harrington

Joel Harrington

George Buck was born in Shaftsbury on 28 August 1834 to Eliphalet and Beatrice/Patience (Green) Buck. George married Emily R. Taft, daughter of William D. and Ruth (Harrington) Taft. She was born in Shaftsbury 7 November 1839. George's father Eliphalet Buck was a Captain in the Revolutionary War. Both Eliphalet and his mother, Patience (Green) Buck are buried in Maple Hill Cemetery. George is not named as one of their children on the Find-a-Grave website but their names do appear on his death certificate.

The census of 1860 records Lifolett/Eliphalet (63), and Patience (60) living in Shaftsbury with four of their children Emily (23) Lieflet (26) Clarrissa (26) and Percilla (16). In this census Liefiet (24) is the same age as George E. as they were both born in 1834. This researcher is under the assumption George E. Buck's middle name was Eliphalet and to avoid confusion in the family he went by George instead of Eliphalet Buck. To confuse things even further there is another Census of 1860 where George E. Buck (11) born about 1849, is living in Bennington with his parents Charles (44) and Esenett/Annette (35) Buck. His siblings were Amy A. (8), and Frances M. (5). The relationship of Harriet A. Stanton (10) to the family is unknown. Perhaps the two George E. Bucks were cousins and hopefully a descendant might know the answer.

George E. Buck's future wife, Emily, was the youngest of nine children born to William D. and Ruth (Harrington) Taft. Emily's siblings were Bethyer Taft (unknown- 1832), William D. (unknown-1832), Rhoda (Taft) Hewes (181-1886), Clarinda (Taft) Waite (1822-1894), Paul Taft (1823-1897), Alonzo Taft (1827-1892), John Penderson Taft (1832-1915), Sarah M. (Taft) Montgomery (1835-1911) and Emily R. (Taft) Buck (1839-1926). Emily's parents are buried in Waite Cemetery in Shaftsbury.

George's name appears in the Civil War Draft Registration Books of the Grand Army of the Republic 1 July 1863 under the direction of Capt. C. R. Crane Provost Marshall. There are no military records of him being called to serve. He was married when he enlisted and he had one daughter, Florence. His other two daughters Mabel (Buck) Cole (1865-1846) and Birdella Buck (1873-1963) were born after the Civil War.

The Federal Census of 1880 records George (48) and Emily (40) living in Shaftsbury with their three daughters; Florence R. (18), Mabel C. (15) and Bardella/Birdella (6). George is a farmer, as were most residents in rural Shaftsbury at the time. When the quilt was signed in 1888 George was 54 while Emily was 49.

The last Census George E. (65) appears in was completed in 1900. It also documents his wife Emily (60), daughter Birdella S. (26) and two servants Allie Spencer (26) and Ottis G. Moffit (14).

George passes 21 May 1905 at the age of 70 from grippe, cystitis and senile arteries. George's obituary in the Bennington Banner proclaims him as, “one of the best known men in the county and had a large number of acquaintances by whom he will be missed.” Emily lives to the age of 86 yrs. 10 mos. 5 days. Her cause of death on 7 November 1839 was cancer of the liver and senility. George and Emily are buried in Shaftsbury Village Cemetery.

Mrs. Amy (Green) Harrington was the wife of Joel Harrington (the husband and wife pair share BLOCK: 8. In support of the church Amy must have purchase three ½ blocks. See Quilt BLOCK: 8 for more information on Amy.