Sampler

Object/Artifact

-

Saco Museum

Name/Title

Sampler

Entry/Object ID

2010.10.1

Description

Family register sampler made by Martha Waterhouse in 1812. Work in silk thread on linen in cross, straight, and satin stitches in shades of blue and gray, with black thread used for death dates. Geometric border in blue and gray. embroidery thread on linen. Embroidered in blue thread for living relatives, black thread for deceased. Borders worked in shades of blue and grey. Embroidered text reads: Family Record John, son of Wm. and Elizabeth Waterhouse was born in Portland May 13th AD 1768 - Married Martha dau. of John & Martha Brooks born at Portland Aug. 15th 1769 ----------------- Their Descendants are Wm. Waterhouse born at Falmouth March 10, 1788 John ----Feb. 12, 1791 & Died Feb. 21st, 1791 Martha Dec. 12, 1791 & Died Oct. 12th, 1792 John ----Oct. 25, 1792 X Mary A ---- July 15, 1804 Samuel B. Feb. 8, 1795 X Died Sept. 22, 1805 Charles ---- Jan. 8. 1797 X Thomas ----June 13, 1806 Died Oct. 15, 1798 X Died June 13, 1806 Martha Sep. 6, 1798 X Mary A ---- Dec. 31, 1807 Charles ---- Sep. 16, 1800 X Eliza B. ---- July 27, 1810 Nayler ---- July 28, 1802 X & Died at Saco June, 11 1811 Eliza B ---- June 11, 1818 Time like an ever-rolling stream Bears all its sons away They fly forgotten as a dream Dies at the op'ning day -------------- Almighty God reveal thy love And not thy wrath alone O let our sweet experiene prove The mercles of thy throne -------------- Our souls would learn the heavenly art I improve the hours we have That we nat act the wiser part And live beyond the grave ------------ Wrought by Martha Waterhouse at S. Moodys School, Saco, 1812

Made/Created

Artist Information

Artist

Waterhouse, Martha

Role

Needleworker

Date made

1812

Dimensions

Height

31-1/2 in

Width

21-1/4 in

Material

silk thread on linen

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

Martha Waterhouse stitched her sampler in the school of Sarah Moody of Saco. We only know of Sarah’s fairly short-lived school because she is named as the instructor on this sampler. The contrast is sharp between the designs of Sarah and those being created just a short distance away in Portland. Sarah clearly was not, like Mary Rea, looking to sophisticated city schools to influence her work. Martha was one of the large Waterhouse family from the Stroudwater village, near Portland. The family later relocated to Saco for a period of time. There, Martha married James Coffin of Deerfield, New Hampshire. After their marriage, there is no further conclusive record of Martha or James.