Valuable

Fabric swatch labelled:" Piece of a curtain from Gen Washington's home Mt Vernon

Pierced (or punched) tin lantern (also called a "Paul Revere" lantern).
According to Lois Macy this lantern belonged to John Goldsbury, Esq. (1728 - 1802) who was a trustee and founder of the New Salem Academy. The school was established in 1795. For more information about such lanterns click here.
Lantern located on top of glass display case, south wall, room 1a

Fabric swatch two and a half inches by four inches. White brocade with silver thread embroidery. Label in box says: "piece of the wedding dress of Madam Washington - Presented by Mrs. Lindsley, of Nashville, Tennessee. Label on back of box says: "Piece of Mrs. Geo. Washington's wedding dress By Mrs Lindsley".
Probably part of the William Howard, Sr. collection.

About the dress:

"Martha was married in a yellow brocade dress that was trimmed with lace at the neck and sleeves. Some historians describe her wedding dress as a gold damask dress.

Underneath her gown she wore a white silk petticoat with silver threads. Her shoes were purple satin and trimmed in silver metallic lace and sequins. She wore pearls in her hair.

George wore "a blue suit with a white satin waistcoast and blue buckles on his shoes.""
Source: Ruth Ashby, George & Martha Washington, page 17.

It seems likely that our swatch came from the petticoat.

As to this being a genuine piece of her dress, this discussion from the Washington Post on February 2, 2009:

Brigid Schulte: The curators at Mt. Vernon said that many of Martha's descendants decided to cut up her clothes so that each could have a piece of her, so to speak. Along with the shoes is an oddly shaped piece of cloth, believed to be part of her gold damask wedding dress.

Piece of fabric with label attached:"Old Glory--a piece of the flag from Mr Wm Driver."
Probably part of the William Howard, Sr. collection.

For more information about "Old Glory" and Wm Driver click here.

An empty envelope addressed to the Chairman of Selectmen, Warwick, Massachusetts. Postmarked Boston, date unknown. Stamp issued in 1860's, so-called "Black Jack". Two cent black with portrait of Andrew Jackson.

Civil War Records located left unit, wooden cabinet, room 1a

Linen sampler, 17 1/2" x 16 1/2", embroidered in silk polychrome on single ply hand woven linen. Sampler illustrates family record of Calvin Allen and Abigail Richards, married 1801. Two embroidered areas topped with embroidered urns and birds holding leaf branches. Within the areas are embroidered the names and dates , from 1802 to 1822 of the births (on the left side area) and deaths (on the right side area) of the children of Calvin and Abigail. The left side of the sampler is embroidered with a willow tree arching over the top ; the right side is embroidered with a field? or water?

Three envelopes:
1. Self-addressed: "Miss R.A. Cook, 175 Pleasant Street, Holyoke, MA" with 2 cent uncanceled embossed stamp
2. Envelope addressed in R.A.C. hand to "Rev. C. L. Percy, Charlton, MA" with 2 cent uncanceled postage stamp
3. Blank envelope with uncanceled embossed 1 cent stamp

Small ivory handled Malay kriss
Probably part of William Howard Sr collection

Ivory handled Malay kriss
Probably part of the William Howard Sr. Collection

Dagger with ivory tipped handle and ivory tipped casing.
Probably part of the William Howard Sr. collection.