Sampler, Family Record by Sarah Barnum

Date1838

Artist/Maker Sarah Barnum (1828 - 1913)

MediumSilk embroidery threads on a linen ground of 31 x 30 threads per inch (fiber identification by Textile Lab)

DimensionsActual: OH 16 1/2" x OW 17 1/4" (by sight) Framed: OH 17 7/8" x OW 18 1/2"

Credit LineGift of the Sealantic Fund

Object number1988-302

DescriptionThis is an almost square family record sampler worked in shades of brown, gold, ivory, and green silk embroidery threads on a natural color linen ground. It is under glass in a maple frame. The sampler has raw edges on all four sides.

From top the sampler consists of:

"A-R" upper case script worked in cross stitch
Band worked in cross stitch
"S-Z" upper case script worked in cross stitch; followed by three interlocking hearts; followed by the numbers "1-12" worked in cross stitch
Band worked in cross stitch
"A-Z&" upper case block worked in cross stitch followed by a rectangular motif
Band worked in cross stitch
A diamond motif followed by "a-z" lower case done in cross stitch; followed by a rectangular motif
Band worked in cross stitch
"Family Record"

The rest of the sampler is divided into two columns; on the left is:

"Births"
Band worked in cross stitch
"Daniel Barnum was born June 22 1799"
"Sarah Williams Jan 22 1797"
"Charlotte Shepard August 27 1807"
"Isaac W Barnum Dec 7 1807"
"Sarah Barnum March 29 1828"
"Joanna Barnum March 20 1830"
"Oliver S Barnum August 22 1834"
"Frederick S Barnum Feb 3 1837"
Band worked in cross stitch
"Julia S Barnum July 5 1839."
Band worked in cross stitch
"The morning flowers display their sweets"
"And gay their silken leaves unfold"
"As careless of the noontide heats"
"As fearless of the evening cold"

The right column reads:

"Marriages"
Band worked in cross stitch
"Daniel Barnum and Sarah Barnum"
"were married Feb 22 1824"
"Daniel Barnum and Charlotte Shepard"
"were married Jan 17 1827"
"Deaths"
"Sarah Barnum died April 20 1825"
Band worked in cross stitch
"The work of"
"Sarah Barnum"
"wrought AD 1838"
"in the 11 year of her"
"age."

The sampler is enclosed in a narrow outer border of flowers.
Label TextOn her family record sampler, Sarah recorded the names of her six siblings (Isaac, Joanna, Emily, Oliver, Frederick, and Julia). Julia's name was added one year after the sampler was completed; however, Sarah never added the name of her seventh sibling, Edmund. Sarah also included the names of her parents (Daniel and Charlotte Shepard). Additionally, Sarah stitched the name of her father's first wife, Sarah, who was the mother of her brother, Isaac. The verse that Sarah chose is a hymn that was written by Charles Wesley, a leader of the Methodist movement during the 18th century.
Inscribed"Births"

"Daniel Barnum was born June 22 1799/Sarah Williams Jan 22 1797/Charlotte Shepard August 27 1807/Isaac W Barnum Dec 7 1807/Sarah Barnum March 29 1828/Joanna Barnum March 20 1830/Oliver S Barnum August 22 1834/Frederick S Barnum Feb 3 1837"

"Julia S Barnum July 5 1839."

"The morning flowers display their sweets/And gay their silken leaves unfold/As careless of the noontide heats/As fearless of the evening cold"

"Marriages"

"Daniel Barnum and Sarah Barnum/were married Feb 22 1824/Daniel Barnum and Charlotte Shepard/were married Jan 17 1827/Deaths/Sarah Barnum died April 20 1825"
ProvenanceFrom the McCrea Collection at Carter's Grove; gift of Sealantic Fund.

History of Maker:
Sarah Barnum was born to Daniel Barnum and Charlotte Shepard on March 29, 1828 in Fairfield, Connecticut. She married Stephen B. Wickens and died on February 7, 1913 in New York.