Jan and John Maggs Antiques

The Nathan Lane Blanket Box

One of the “Recent finds” in last month’s Newsletter was a six-board blanket box that we found at Brimfield. Not only was it petite, attractive, and pure, but on its back were written the words:

Killingworth. June 10th A.D. 1843
Nathan Lane

With the help of a friend we were able to determine that the chest – about one hundred years older that the dedication – was probably given to Nathan Lane and Emily Doolittle, on the occasion of their marriage, on June 18th.

Within a few hours of putting the Newsletter on line, we received a call from a friend in Killingworth. “Consider it sold,” he said. “I’m trying to call a neighbor, who will probably want to buy it, but if he doesn’t, we will.”

Soon afterwards we received a call from the friend, who is the author of several historical studies of Killingworth and, like our friends, the owners of an early home in “Lane District", the section of town where Nathan Lane lived and farmed. There is a strong likelihood that the blanket box once resided in his home and was decorated by the owners as a wedding present for a neighbor.

Thanks to the Internet and the thoughtfulness of our mutual friend, the little box has been brought home. After enjoying it for a few years, the new owner expects to donate it to the Killingworth Historical Society.

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