Slat Back Arm Chair
Owner
Elizabeth "Betty" Dorn
Periodca. 1775 - 1810
MediumMaple, ash or oak, with rush seat
Dimensions33.75 × 18.5 × 18 in. (85.7 × 47 × 45.7 cm)
ClassificationsSeating Furniture
Credit LineGift of Amelia Vredenburgh Knight, 1932
Object number207
DescriptionThree slat arm chair with plain elongated baluster-turned arm supports on the front legs, undercut arms, large ball finials with an extra cap or nipple turned at their tip, and a band of carved facets under the ball. The arms are chamfered on their upper and lower corners, and there is inscribed decoration on the handle terminals. The slats are straight on their bottom edge, and curved on their top edge. Two plain stretchers appear on the front of the chair, as well as on the two sides. A single stretcher is found on the rear of the chair.Curatorial RemarksA very plain example of a type of chair made in Monmouth County in the last half of the 18th century, and into the 19th century.NotesAccording to Association records, the donor indicated that this chair belonged to Betty Dorn. Elizabeth "Betty" Dorn, an African-American, was born about 1760, possibly in Monmouth County. She worked for the family of Esek Hartshorne (1728 - 1795), a successful farmer who owned almost 800 acres of the family estate called Portland, plus a half interest in Sandy Hook. At some point after Hartshorne's death, Betty moved to the home of his daughter Elizabeth (1771 - 1849) and her husband Tylee Williams (1768 - 1828) in Shrewsbury. Her presence must have been welcomed as between 1792 and 1818 Elizabeth gave birth to eleven children. After the death of her husband, the widow Williams joined the household of her eldest son, Edmund Tylee Williams (1804 - 1888). Apparently so did Betty Dorn, as she was listed there in the 1830 census as a female "55 and Under 100" in the "Free Colored Persons" category. The 1850 census again listed her, this time by her full name "Elizabeth Dorn," age 90, and a "free black female" still living with the Williams family. Betty Dorn died on 28 September 1850. Her obituary appeared in a local newspaper, "On the 28th Sept. last, very suddenly, at the residence of Edmund T. Williams, Shrewsbury, N. J., Betty, aged about 85 years, an honored and faithful domestic in the family of Tylee Williams, Dec'd, upwards of 55 years, and previously in that of his father-in-law Esek Hartshorne dec'd for an indefinite time. She was remarkable for honesty, fidelity, and strong attachment to the family, participating alike in their joy and sorrow. She was interred in the Friends burial ground, Shrewsbury, attended by the children, great-grandchildren, and other relatives of the deceased employers. Long will her memory be cherished."
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