Martha Ann Erskine Ricks
Liberian quilter / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Martha Ann Harris Ricks (born Erskine, c. 1817–1901) was an Americo-Liberian woman among the early colonists. Born into slavery in Tennessee, she was freed by her father, George Erskine and emigrated at age 13 with him and her family to Liberia in 1830.
While chiefly working in agriculture there, Ricks also was known for her needlework and became an expert quilter. She became interested in Queen Victoria and worked for more than two decades on a quilt for her. In 1892 Ricks traveled with former First Lady Jane Roberts to England, where she received a Royal Audience with Queen Victoria, who personally gave her the quilt.