Photograph of dress belonging to Sarah Benson Walker: 1812-1893, Hobart, Tasmania

Abstract

Sarah Benson Walker was the daughter of Methodists, Robert and Ann Mather, who joined the Quakers in 1834. That same year Sarah agreed to marry George Washinton Walker, despite once referring to him and James Backhouse as those 'pesky Quakers'. Sarah had ten children and served on Jane's Franklin's visiting committee to the Cascades Female Factory, and regularly participated in Monthly Meetings. Photograph titled Sarah Benson Walker's Dress - is Sarah Walker's grey Quaker dress (held by Society of Friends' Meeting House Collection). Photograph titled Detail of Handsewn Lining of dress - is a detailed close up of the dress' lining (held by Society of Friends' Meeting House Collection). Photograph titled Detail of Smocked front of dress - is a detailed close up of the smocking on the front of the dress (held by Society of Friends' Meeting House Collection). Biographical Text Source: Quaker Life in Tasmania: The First Hundred Years. Michael Bennett, University of Tasmania Library, 2007, p. 19.