NSCA Quilts: The Machette/Vallette Families

As we continue our research into the Northern Style Cut-out Applique Quilts (NSCA), we will examine the influence of the Machette/Vallettes family. Besides Hetty Coe Taylor, the other prominent inscription was Edwin Vallette Machette, possibly the groom in our working theory of an engagement coverlet and he married Hetty two years later.

Mr. Edwin Vallette Machette was a hardware merchant in Philadelphia from 1847-1859 at Machette & Raiguel store which sold hardware and cutlery both foreign imported and domestic. In 1859, he and his partner sold all the goods of the store and E.V. Machette had no listed job in the business directory. However, E.V. Machette was involved in Whig politics, served on the Common Council, and a cemetery board. In his obituary he preferred to be known as a “leading life insurance agent” a position he didn’t hold until 1862. The ceremonies were conducted by a Bishop elect and a local pastor. A committee from the Mutual Benefit Insurance Company of Newark New Jersey did attend the funeral.

Obviously with the middle name of Vallette the two families were joined, when two sisters Ruth and Susan Nice each married into one of the families. Ruth Nice married Navy Chaplain Elie Valette in 1801. She was his second wife and became stepmother to a large family with multi-generational involvement in the US Navy. Susan Nice married Samuel Tucker Machette Sr. and gave birth to seven children, including Edwin Vallette Machette. All of Edwin’s brothers and sisters inscriptions are included on the Machette/Taylor Coverlet.

The Machette/Vallette families were also involved in at least one other NSCA coverlet. Stella Rubin advertised the coverlet with a closeup block of Rosina Machette. Rosina is Edwin Vallette Machette’s sister, so her inscriptions are found on both coverlets. Of the few inscriptions we could see in the ad, Rosina Vallette is another inscription that matches the families. (Yes, multiple family members have the same name.) Unfortunately, we don’t have all the names from this quilt. If you are the owner of the quilt or if you know who the current owner is, please contact me at Lori@quiltandtextilecollections.com as we’d like to share our research with you.