Name/Title
Sarah Osbourn SamplerEntry/Object ID
2025.007.001Description
Framed mounted sampler created by Shepherdstown resident Sarah Osbourn. Sampler includes rows of hand emproidered alphabets in different cases and fonts, as well as numbers, patterns and a an embroidered image near the bottom that looks like a bowl of flowers (which has green and pink threads). Thread is mostly light, blue, dark blue, and colors that have faded into various shades of beige. At the bottom is embroidered "Sarah Osbouns Sampler / Shepherd's Town Virginia October 22nd / 1817 the 41st of AmeRcan Independence"Context
Note from the donor:
This framed sampler was completed by Mr. Hiett's great-great-great grandmother Sarah Osboun (Osbourn). Sarah was born on December 16, 1802, and lived in Shepherdstown, Virginia (currently West Virginia). She completed her sampler on October 22, 1817 at the age of 14. As she indicates in the body of the sampler, this was the 41st year of our Independence. Later in life she married John Adams Link III on May 24, 1824 and they had 7 children all of which resided in Jefferson County, Virginia.
Sadly, she was killed on May 29, 1838, on the Maryland side of Harper's Ferry at the age of 35. On that fatal day the family had visited the railroad yards for the purpose of viewing the trains. Trains were relatively new at that time and quite the attraction. Sarah crossed the bridge with her husband and was standing on one of the tracks that were not being used. A newspaper account of the day reports that "as a locomotive approached, one of the switches was changed causing part of the train to become disengaged. She was crushed between the cars and died instantly." A later newspaper article reflected that, "The event caused great horror to the spectators and has awakened a general sympathy". Sarah is buried in the St. Peter's Lutheran graveyard in Shepherdstown, West VirginiaAcquisition
Accession
2025.007Source or Donor
Hiett, Jan KennethAcquisition Method
GiftMade/Created
Date made
1817Place
* Untyped Place
Shepherd's-Town, VA