The darling child’s dress has an unusual story, especially since I hadn't heard of the owner’s name until recently; she was my first cousin 3x removed. Both the full name and dress information came to me from ladies who took the time to write, within five days of each other!
It all began with an email from Carol M. who read an obituary I posted, and knew I had a connection to her husband’s family. Carol’s information was totally new to me. My posted blog was an obituary of George Sanger Poole, and as was often common, years ago, it didn’t state the names of his three children. Carol provided me the married name of his daughter. Five days later, Sheila, of Robins in the Trundle Bed left a comment at the blog stating, "Hello! I recently purchased a lovely hand made child's dress that had a provenance attached to it. I found your blog as I was researching the Poole family." I then thought, "that dress was made by the grandmother of Carol's husband!"
The following week was spent researching the family and Carol was busy sharing other information with me pertaining to different family members. She sent me a scanned copy of Mrs. George S. Poole's obituary, shown below. (The original newspaper copy, which was glued to a piece of paper.)
Photos of the dress were taken by either Sheila or her twin sister, Sherrill. Please enjoy their antique shop's blog site, Robins in the Trundle Bed
I am glad to be the distant cousin of the little girl (wearer of the dress), and I posted her father's obituary for others to find. If the two ladies hadn’t written, I wouldn’t have known the little girl's name, and they wouldn’t have had more information either. We all benefited.
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| Buttons are embroidered! |
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| "Made by my mother -(Mrs. George S. Poole) about 1892 for me (aged 11)" |
I wonder why Edith documented her dress.
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| Obituary of the mother who made the dress for her daughter, Edith Poole Merriman. |
"Mrs. George S. Poole
Mrs. Sarah Poor Poole, widow of George S. Poole, who was president of the Warren Institution for Savings, died Tuesday at her home at 9 Washington ave. Mrs. Poole was born in Peabody, May 5, 1850, the daughter of Franklin Osborne and Nancy Poor Jacobs. She was a graduate of Abbott academy in Andover and throughout her life had been much interested in the affairs of that school.
Mrs. Poole was a resident of Mt. Vernon st., Somerville, for 40 years and had been a summer resident of Marblehead neck for more than 50 years. She was a member of and for many years active in the affairs of Winthrop church, Charlestown. Mrs. Poole leaves three children, Franklin Osborn Poole, librarian of the Bar association of New York ; Mrs. Edith Poole Merriman of this city and Irving Poole of Arlington and nine grandchildren.
The funeral was held Thursday morning at the Blake Memorial chapel, Rev. R. E. Bailey officiating. The interment was in Harmony Grove Cemetery, Salem."
POOLE--Aug. 26, Sarah Poor Osborn, widow of George S. Poole, age 80 years, at her home, 9 Washington av., Cambridge, Mass. Funeral service at the Blake Memorial Chapel, at Harmony Grove Cemetery, Salem, Mass., Thursday, Aug. 28, at 11 a. m. The family requests that no flowers be sent.