Sampler by Mary Marchant
Date1745
Maker
Mary Marchant
OriginEngland
MediumSilk embroidery thread on a worsted ground (fiber identification by eye)
Wooden frame and glass
DimensionsFramed: OW 9 1/4” x OH 12 1/4”
Actual (by sight): OW 8” x OH 12”
Actual (by sight): OW 8” x OH 12”
Credit LineGift of Beatrix T. Rumford
Object number2020-79
DescriptionThis is a framed, rectangular needlework sampler worked in shades of red, gold, green, and blue embroidery threads on a natural-color worsted ground. The sampler consists of a large block of text (The Apostles' Creed) which reads “I BELIEVE/ in God the Father Almig/ hty, Maker of heaven and/ Earth: and in Jesus Christ his only/ son our Lord, who was Conceiv/ ed by the Holy Ghost. Born of/ the Virgin Mary, suffered under/ Pontius Pilate, was crucified/ and buried. He descended into [?]/ the third Day he rose again [from] the Dead. He ascended into Heave[n]/ and sitteth [sic] at the right hand of/ God the Father Almighty from/ thence he shall come to judge the/ Quick and the Dead. I believe in/ the Holy Ghost. The holy Catholi/ ck Church. The Communion of/ Saints; The Forgiveness of Sins; The Resurrection of the Body/ And the Life everlasting. AMEN.” A decorative band of cross stitch separates this text from the following, which reads: “To God the Father, God the Son,/ and God the Spirit, Three in one,/ Be Honour, Praise, and Glory giv’n,/ By all on Earth, and all in Heav’n.” A sawtooth border worked in satin stitch separates this text from the signature line, which reads: “Mary Marchant work’d this/ Sampler in the seventh year of her/ Age, in the year of our Lord./ 1745” The year “1745” is bordered on either side by a stylized, flowering vine. The entire text is enclosed in a double sawtooth border which is in turn enclosed by an undulating, flowering vine. Another double sawtooth border encloses the entire sampler. Stitches: cross, satin
The sampler is in an old, brown, wood frame.Label TextAt the young age of six, Mary Marchant stitched this sampler, probably as a schoolroom exercise. Many samplers, like this one, included pious verses and religious texts. In addition to teaching sewing stitches, samplers reinforced religious beliefs and society's expectations for young females.Inscription(s)“I BELIEVE/ in God the Father Almig/ hty, Maker of heaven and/ Earth: and in Jesus Christ his only/ son our Lord, who was Conceiv/ ed by the Holy Ghost. Born of/ the Virgin Mary, suffered under/ Pontius Pilate, was crucified/ and buried. He descended into [?]/ the third Day he rose again [from] the Dead. He ascended into Heave[n]/ and sitteth [sic] at the right hand of/ God the Father Almighty from/ thence he shall come to judge the/ Quick and the Dead. I believe in/ the Holy Ghost. The holy Catholi/ ck Church. The Communion of/ Saints; The Forgiveness of Sins; The Resurrection of the Body/ And the Life everlasting. AMEN.” A decorative band of cross stitch separates this text from the following, which reads: “To God the Father, God the Son,/ and God the Spirit, Three in one,/ Be Honour, Praise, and Glory giv’n,/ By all on Earth, and all in Heav’n.”Mark(s)The back of the frame contains multiple inscriptions: "No. 5" "J.W. Littleton/ 4416 E. Court St./ Doylestown/ Pa" "for Elsie/ R.C.R. 1970" "J.W. Littleton/ 4416 Court Street/ Doylestown, P[?]" "This frame is fragile" "Date 1745"ProvenanceThe first recorded owner of this sampler was Julia Waters Littleton (1874-1961). Julia gave the sampler to her friend, Elsie B. Clymer (1882-1970), who later gave it to her daughter, Rose Clymer Rumford (1912-1998), who then gave it to her daughter, Beatrix T. Rumford (b. 1939). Ms. Rumford donated the sampler to Colonial Williamsburg in 2020.
