Historic 1888 Shaftsbury Signature Quilt

Quilt Block #43 - Quilt Signers:

Robert L. Stickles

Mary Sophia (Buck) Stickles

Mrs. Robert L. Stickles maiden name was Mary Sophia Buck. She was born 1 July 1819 and died 20 January 1908 at the age of 88. Her parents were Supply and Phoebe (Matteson) Buck of Shaftsbury.

This researcher was unable to find a marriage license for Robert and Mary but did find a death certificate for their first born daughter, Mary J., who passed 10 May 1851 at the age of 3 mos. 22 days. In the 1860 Federal Census Robert (39) and Mary (41) are still living in Shaftsbury with three children: Lydia (8), Walter (5) and Mary (3). This second daughter named Mary could have been named after the first daughter they lost or the Jennie, that appears in the 1870 census, went by the name Jennie Mary/May. Other people in the 1860 household were Lorin Wright (25), a laborer, Andrew Ford (18), unknown relationship, and Eugene Cole (27). Eugene was Robert and Mary's nephew; the son of Robert's sister Caroline (Stickle) and David Cole.

In the 1870 Census Robert and Mary's children were identified as Lillian/Lydia (18) Walter (16), Jennie (13) and Emma (7). Mary Sophia was 69 years old when her name was placed on the 1888 Signature Quilt.

Mr. Robert L. (Livingston) Stickle was the son of Frederick Peter and Jane (Shaw) Stickle (1786-1834). Robert's mother was NOT the famous quilt maker. The maker of the Stickle quilt was Jane (Blakely) Stickle (1817-1896) who was married to Robert's brother Walter P. Stickle (1816-1883). Robert was born 1 January 1821 in Hillsdale, New York. What makes this family especially confusing is there were two Jane Stickles in one family.

Robert passes first in Shaftsbury on 8 July 1898 of Bright's Disease (an inflammatory disease of the kidneys now known as acute glomerular nephritis) shortly after his name was written on the 1888 Signature quilt. Robert was 67 when it was signed. According to the census of 1900 Mary was a widow living in Bennington with her daughter Lydia (Stickle) (48) and her husband Albert Sanders (50). Sometime between 1900 and 1910 Lydia and her husband move to Massachusetts with their young family and Mary (80). Her obituary found in The Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, MA) newspaper states at the time of her death she was living with daughter in Lanesboro, MA. Mary's surviving son, Walter E. Stickle was named after his Uncle Walter P. Stickle who was married to the quilt maker, Jane (Blakely) Stickle. Find-a-grave has inaccurately identified Mary's death as 1868 at the age of 48-49. Mary's death certificate accurately records her death at the age of 88 yrs 6 mo and 19 days on 1 January 1908 from gradual degeneration of the nervous system In Lanesboro, Massachusetts.

Both Robert and Mary Sophia (Buck) Stickles are buried in Shaftsbury Center Cemetery. Also, in the same cemetery are Robert's brother, Walter P. and Jane A. (Blakely) Stickle, who made the Civil War quilt which belongs to the Bennington Museum. A replica of her quilt is on display at the Jonas Galusha House in Shaftsbury. Jane's parents, Erastus and Sarah Sally (Rein) Blakely, are also buried in Center Shaftsbury.