Quaker Schoolmasters

Re Hugh Pugh (b. 1747-d. aft 1807) the pen artist who made the 1801 "True Lover's Knot" for my great great great grandmother Mary Fisher, was an itinerant Quaker Schoolmaster by profession. He migrated from southeastern PA's Chester County westward into Bedford and later Washington Counties, beginning around 1770 and into the early 19th c.

Reading about Chester Co. Quakers in the 18th c. from the book West Chester to 1865: That Elegant & Notorious Place. (Douglas R. Harper, Chester County Historical Society, 1999) Apparently, school teachers at the time were often "selected not so much for their learning but because they were men incapacitated for farm work by the effects of diseases or injuries."

Hugh was born with "but one hand" (per a mention by his father—Hugh Pugh Sr.'s last Will & Testament in the Chester Co. Archives), thus his career was essentially decided for him @ birth. His father specifically stipulated in his will that his youngest son—who was only about 2 years of age at his father's death—be educated so that he could make a living. Making it still more wondrous that he was such an excellent draftsman.

His father bequeathed him a sum of money—£80 pounds—to be dispersed to him at age 21 as well, but no property. £80 of unskilled wages in the latter 18th c. calculates to an equivalent worth in today's dollars of somewhere around $69K.

Fraktur Symposium

Attended the Fraktur Symposium yesterday held at the main branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia. A day long free (!) event featuring speakers who are expert scholars in the field.

Dr. Don Yoder, U of P, spoke in the afternoon—detailing his suggestions for advancing research on Pennsylvania's Fraktur traditions.

Thrilled to hear him suggest that research needs to be done regarding True Lover's Knots, which he termed a "parallel form to Fraktur." I was delighted to introduce myself to him after the program and showed him an image of my TLK, which he pronounced to be an important example of the form.

Looking forward to receiving a copy of his article, written some years back, specifically on the topic of Lover's Knots. I've heard of it, but haven't been fortunate enough to encounter a copy of it to date. Of course, I do hope he follows up and sends it on to me. If not, I met two other attendees who have access to a copy, so I can pursue those avenues if necessary.

This link is to just one of the 5 TLKs in the Free Library's collection, which I saw in person last year, thanks to an aid in the Rare Books Department:

http://tinyurl.com/y9md9vb

Clearly it relates to the piece I own, both in terms of geometric form and the copy included in the labyrinth bands—tho it dates a full 20 years after. All five TLKs in the PFL collection date after mine, and—unlike Hugh Pugh's—all are anonymous (unsigned) and undated.

I highly recommend a visit to the current exhibit of Fraktur in the 3rd Floor Rare Books department galleries. The exhibit is entitled Art and Artifact: Pennsylvania German Fraktur. It's on display until November 10th of this year. This links to the fantastic Digital Collection of 13,000 Fraktur in the PFL's collections:

http://libwww.freelibrary.org/fraktur/index.cfm

Appraisement Update

The appraisement for Insurance purposes of this early 19th century Lover's Knot or Valentine is complete and I've received an Affadavit Copy to that end, from Freeman's (America's Oldest Auction House) in Philadelphia, to that end from Lynda A. Cain, Appraiser.

The document states that the fixed value by her in the appraisement is the fair market values for replacement purposes, taking into consideration wear, tear and depreciation, to the best of her knowledge, information and belief, as follows:

American School, 19th Century
A Lover's Knot or Valentine for Mary Fisher
Bedford County, Pennsylvania,
signed and dated "Hugh Pugh, 1801"
watercolor and ink on laid paper,
12-3/4 inches square, framed.

$XX,XXX.XX

Note: Correspondence and accompanying
genealogy and publications.

Genealogy Guys Acknowledgment

The Genealogy Guys, George G. Morgan and Drew Smith discuss genealogy-- their podcast is the longest-running, continuous genealogy podcast in the world. ( http://www.genealogyguys.com/ )

They kindly made a follow-up mention in the June 4th '08 episode to the True Lover's Knot referencing their original story in their December '07 podcast. They generously mention the Real Simple magazine publication and link to it and this blog.

(The story begins at about the 14th minute into the recording.)

Here's the link to that particular mp3 Direct download:
genealogyguys-2008-06-04.mp3

And here's the original podcast story from the Guys' December '07 episode mp3 Direct download:
genealogyguys-2007-12-29.mp3

Keep it or Sell it?

I submitted the Knot to Real Simple magazine, via a contact at Time, Inc., last year. As a result, its image was published along with a brief caption in the June 2008 issue which hit the newstands the week of May 11th.

It also appears online at this link:

http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/gallery/0,21863,1739324-9,00.html

The article, "Keep It or Sell It?" appeared in the Home section and was subtitled: "Sometimes only an expert can tell whether an object is worth $350 or $3.50. Nine Real Simple readers find out the value of their stuff."

The image and the copy relating to the Knot appeared in the 9th, last column, of the 4-page piece. I suppose it was the penultimate placement, as it was the piece with potentially the most monetary value attached to it.

The article was written by Nicole Sforza, the editor of the Home section, and Kendell Cronstrom. The appraisers they enlisted to examine the submissions included two who were quoted regarding the Knot's value-- and their opinions differed.

Susan Bednar Long, a principal of Tocar Interior Design in NYC, suggested it could be worth thousands, but that it "probably has more sentimental value"... while Jim Antone, owner of Pleasant Cove Antiques in Florida, disagreed, suggesting it "belongs in a museum" and estimating its worth at tens of thousands.

Today, I followed up my email correspondence with Samuel T. Freeman of Freeman's -- "America's Oldest Auction House" on Chestnut Street in downtown Philadelphhia.

I met with two representatives at their bi-monthly Wednesday open appraisal days-- Amy Parenti, the Coordinator and Jim Buckley, the Executive Vice President.

They seemed intrigued, and suggested that I leave the piece-- yes, I got a receipt!-- for review by one of their Americana experts in the field. I should have their appraisal in writing in about two weeks. In the meantime, the Lover's Knot resides in their temperature-controlled vault until I can retrieve it.

I supplied them with lots of "provenance" materials for reference, which they made copies of as well. I feel that I'm doing the right thing, protecting this family asset by having it properly appraised, and ultimately insured.

Hugh Pugh's fine work is now published nationally and I'm thrilled to have brought his legacy into the light of day.

Provenance

This "fraktur"-style artifact was made for my maternal great, great, great grandmother Mary Fisher BOWEN (b. 1781 - d. 1850, St. Clair, Bedford Co., PA). by her itinerant schoolmaster, Hugh PUGH (b. 1747/48 Uwchlan, Chester Co., PA - d. aft. 1807, place unknown).

Date: December 9th, 1801
Medium: Brown writing inks; red, green, brown watercolor
Support: Laid paper
Size (H x W) 12-3/4" sq.

Mary FISHER's (maiden) name appears four times within the text.
Hugh PUGH's monogram -- "H Pugh" -- appears twice.

English text interwoven, (partial) transposed from the Knot

A true Lovers Knot to thee my Dear I send, An Emblem of true Love without an end, Crossing turning, winding in and out, Never ceasing turning round about. And as thee sees its Linkes and Crosses here, so hath thy Beauty prov'd to me a Snare, By observation of true Love I find I am bereaved of both heart and mind.

Most lovely fair one look with pity down, And do not on thy faithful Lover frown, But pardon him who ever doth thy Love desire, And ever will thy Beauteous form admire.

Therefore thou Lovely fair one let thy Beauty shine, With Beams of Comfort ravishing and divine, That so my raving Soul may by thy Love, Pass into Bliss if we both constant prove, Then shall these Crosses in this Knot of Love, Be all disdain'd if thou consenting prove.

Here is an Impression of my heart thee may see, Within this Knot that I present, to thee, Therefore thee may imagine that I am in grief, And none but thee can yield to me Relief, My ravished Soul doth ever long to see, The Marriage Knot so firmly ty'd between thee and me.