I wear this gold thimble on a chain around my neck, it was a gift from my grandmother many years ago, before I was a quilter (amazingly there was such a time!). I had it made into a pendant a while back, when I learned that it could be transformed into a piece of jewelry without compromising the integrity of the piece. I treasure it as much for its beauty as for its history. Someone asked me about it one time and I could only recall a portion of the story behind its age and how my grandmother came to own it. When Nannie gave it to me she explained that it had been made for Sarah Elizabeth Barker, (it's monogrammed) it was a child's thimble, and that it had been given to my grandmother by Sarah Elizabeth's sister-in-law after Sarah's untimely death. We visited her gravestone in an historic old cemetery the week before last. It seems that Sarah Elizabeth Barker was born on May 6, 1831. She died Sarah Elizabeth Barker Wood on July 4, 1871 of complications following childbirth; her infant daughter, born and died on June 30, 1871 is buried alongside her mother. 
Her gravestone is engraved with this sentiment: "beloved in life, lamented in death" and, at the foot, "she hath done what she could". A quick brush of leaves and debris from the foot of the marker's reverse side reveals this engraving: "here in line at my feet my dear pet cat, Tommy, August 21, 1875 aged 17 years". That's a lot to take in. There's much to learn in these centuries old cemeteries, they're historical goldmines.
The story goes that after her death her husband locked the door to their home, walked away, and never returned to live there again. If the thimble belonged to Sarah at age 10 that makes it approximately 179 years old! I feel a deeper connection to Sarah now; she was a wife, mother, loved her pet, and did what she could. All this documenting one short, (too short) life on a slab of ages-old granite in a New England cemetery. I'll proudly wear this pendant with much more understanding, and heightened reverence, from now on. It's the least that I can do; for an amazing and inspiring woman, for Sarah Elizabeth Barker!
Her gravestone is engraved with this sentiment: "beloved in life, lamented in death" and, at the foot, "she hath done what she could". A quick brush of leaves and debris from the foot of the marker's reverse side reveals this engraving: "here in line at my feet my dear pet cat, Tommy, August 21, 1875 aged 17 years". That's a lot to take in. There's much to learn in these centuries old cemeteries, they're historical goldmines.
The story goes that after her death her husband locked the door to their home, walked away, and never returned to live there again. If the thimble belonged to Sarah at age 10 that makes it approximately 179 years old! I feel a deeper connection to Sarah now; she was a wife, mother, loved her pet, and did what she could. All this documenting one short, (too short) life on a slab of ages-old granite in a New England cemetery. I'll proudly wear this pendant with much more understanding, and heightened reverence, from now on. It's the least that I can do; for an amazing and inspiring woman, for Sarah Elizabeth Barker!
What would your epitaph be?
Life is Good!
10 comments:
Knowing the backstory behind Sarah's life makes your gold thimble even more precious! Thanks for sharing the story with us. Sandy at sewhigh.blogspot.com
I LOVE walking through cemeteries (that probably sounds odd to some). So many beautiful headstones and the inscribing sometimes begins to start you thinking about the person, their life, their families, etc. SO interesting that you found the original owner of your thimble and know a little more of her story.
So meaningful. I'd like to know more about how you turned the thimble into a pendant - I'd like to do that with my grandmother's thimble.
Lovely remembrance for a family member. So many women and babies lost in childbirth long ago,always sad.
This is such a meaningful remembrance. I love family history, and the story behind your thimble is touching.
wow....wonderful provenance...true, old graveyards are veritable encyclopedias of info...
How wonderful to have such a piece of family history, thank you for telling us the story behind the thimble. Having it made into a pendant and wearing it ever day certainly connects you to Sarah and the older generation.
This is awesome! ❤️❤️❤️ How beautiful!
What an inspiring story! I love that her cat was buried with her. You KNOW I will have one with me (or more). I hope that is a LONG time from now though. Hoping maybe we can meet up next month while we are in NC!
Thank-you for sharing this story about Sarah Elizabeth Barker and reminding us of how life was not too long ago. A little thimble that has so much history!
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