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Wool Spinning Wheel

Maker Garret Denise

Period1795 - 1813

MediumMaple, oak, and ash

Dimensions58.5 × 69.5 × 22 in. (148.6 × 176.5 × 55.9 cm)

SignedStamped on the upper end of the table, "G. DENISE."

ClassificationsUnusual and Specialized Furniture

Credit LineGift of Mrs. Margaret D. Bugliari, 1974

Object number1974.4.2

DescriptionThree slightly bamboo turned legs support the angled table of the wool spinning wheel, which is decorated with beaded upper sides and chip carved ends. A large baluster turned post holds the large drive wheel, which has ten turned spokes. It sits on an adjustable shoe with the same beading and chip carved decoration as the table. Another baluster turned post at the upper end of the table once held the spindle assembly.
Curatorial RemarksGarret Denise (1772 - 1813) of Freehold, Monmouth County, was a son of Denise Denise (1745 - 1797) and his second wife Catherine Schenck (b. 1756). Baptised at Old Brick Reformed Church, he later joined Old Tennent Presbyterian Church, where he is buried. Denise married Elizabeth Davis (1768 - 1854), thereby joining the Rhea - Davis - Low dynasty of carpenters, joiners, cabinetmakers, and turners. He combined work as a cabinet and spinning wheel maker with farming. Having died of yellow fever at age forty-one, an inventory of his possessions taken on 23 February 1813 came to $2,184.90, $1,344.21 of which were book debts. Denise's household contents included "1 wollen wheel, old Geers, and other articles in the old room" valued at $7.50, and "2 linnen wheels" at $6.00, plus "1 Lot of walnut & cherry Boards in the Garret" at $4.00, and "1 Lot of cherry Boards & timber in chamber" at $6.00. The shop contained "1 Lot of boards & Lumber in the Chamber" at $42.00, "23 Chisles & gouges and 1 hone" at $2.00, "1 Lott of Brass mountings & screws" at $6.75, "5 Little wheels, Rims & other stuff for wheels" at $3.50, "15 plains of Different kinds" at $6.00, "2 Work Benches" at $6.00, "2 Handsaws, Augers, squares &c." at $9.25, "1Turning Laithe & tooles with it" at $3.50, "5 Saws, Patrons & Gages" at $5.25, "Gouges, Chisles in the shop rack" at $2.00, "1 Lott of Beed plains & other tools" at $33.00, "1 tool chest, glue pot, other articles in it" at $6.50, "1 Grind Stone with the Bench" at $2.00, "6 tables & 1 Chest part made" at $13.50, "pitt saw" at $4.00, and finally "1 New bedstead & timber in the shop," and "Blocks for moveing building" combined at $4.25.NotesAt the time of its donation in 1974, Mrs. Margaret D. Bugliari (1904 - 2004) claimed that the spinning wheel and an accompanying framed Taylor genealogy chart had come from Marlpit Hall, one of the Association's historic house museums. Writing on 6 March of that year, the donor stated, "I never knew very much about the Taylor family other than Miss Taylor and my Mother were very close." She is no doubt referring to Miss Mary Holmes Taylor (1850 - 1930) of Middletown, the last of the family line to own Marlpit Hall and live adjacent to it in what is now known as the Taylor-Butler House, also a historic house museum owned by the Association. Mrs. Bugliari was a daughter of Margaret Ellen Kelly (1878 - 1965), wife of Edward Miller of Madison Township, Middlesex County. Mrs. Miller, a daughter of James Kelly (1831 - 1914) and Mary Kaney, grew up in Matawan, Monmouth County. How Mrs. Miller and Miss Taylor met is not known. As a young girl, Margaret Kelly could have been employed by Mary Holmes Taylor, perhaps as a servant. Whether Mrs. Miller acquired the Taylor genealogical chart and spinning wheel as a gift, or whether she purchased the items at a landmark auction of Miss Taylor's estate held on 20 August 1931, cannot now be determined.

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