The Year was 1841--The Rajah vessel was loaded with 180 women convicts heading to Hobert, Australia from England. These women were given ten yards of fabric, four 'balls' of white sewing thread, a ball each of black, red and blue thread, black wool, 24 hanks of colored thread, a thimble, 100 needles, pins, scissors and two pounds of patchwork. Although there were a few seamstresses on board , most of the women were not schooled in stitchery. By the time, the boat reached its destination, the women had created one of the most profound pieces of art! It was titled Rajah Quilt and now is featured in National Gallery of Australia
The Quilt was sent back to Britain as a gift to Elizabeth Fry. It is unknown whether she ever received the quilt. The whereabouts of the quilt from then until it was rediscovered in 1987--handed over the the National Gallery of Australia as most treasured items— is unknown.
Between 1788 and 1868 about 162,000 convicts were transported from Britain and Ireland to various penal colonies in Australia. The British Government began transporting convicts overseas to American Colonies in early 18th century. The majority convicts were transported for petty crimes.
A book of the Rajah Quilt was published in 2016; also, a pattern to reproduce the quilt was published in 2014.
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