c1851 H. W. Greatorex p. v/2 Half rest,..quarter Rest,..eighth rest,..sixteenth rest.
1891 (at cited word) Quarter-rest... a rest or sign for silence, equivalent in time-value to a quarter-note; a crotchet-rest.
1998 (Nexis) 13 Dec. j1 Cantu writes a sequence of quarter-notes and quarter-rests on the chalkboard and has the kids clap the rhythm.