Margaret Palfrey, 1739
Name/Title
Margaret Palfrey, 1739Entry/Object ID
2012.2.2Tags
Colonial British America, Counted-thread embroidery, Embroidery, SamplerDescription
The large central flower flanked by trees and smaller flowers and with two different verses, one above with an alphabet, and one below, with a stylized floral meander border on all sides; painted black frame. This sampler has one of the most endearing verses on early samplers, "When I am dead and all my bones are rotten/if this you see remember me and never be forgotten"Use
To record patterns and verses and practice letters.Context
This sampler is an early American Colonial sampler. It is transitioning from the band samplers of the 17th century, to a more pictorial and stylized form with the central area floral motifs and a border surrounding the entire sampler. Margaret Palfrey was eighth among the twelve children of Boston sailmaker William Palfrey (1682-1766) and Abigail Briscow. She was born November 12, 1725; she married feltmaker William Cunningham (1722-1755) in the New South Church on November 15, 1744, and died before her father wrote his will on April 1, 1766. She had five children. This sampler was exhibited at American Needlework Treasures: Samplers and Silk Embroideries from the Collection of Betty Ring at the Museum of American Folk Art in New York (pictured fig. 5, pg. 4)Collection
ERS Sampler CollectionCategory
Sampler