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Sampler, Map of the Eastern Half of the United States by Ann E. Colson

Date1809

Maker Ann E. Colson (1789-1867) (1789 - 1867)

OriginAmerica, New York, Dutchess County, Pleasant Valley School

MediumSilk and silk chenille embroidery threads with paint and ink on a silk ground (fiber identification by eye)

DimensionsUnframed: OH: 25 1/2" x OW: 27 1/2"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase, The Friends of Colonial Williamsburg Collections Fund

Object number2019-70

DescriptionThis is a large map sampler of the eastern half of the United States worked in silk and silk chenille embroidery threads with paint and ink on a fine silk ground. States and territories named are: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Florida, East Florida, North Western Territory, and Louisiana. Random place names appear within the states. The states, territories, and countries are outlined in silk chenille threads. The lettering of place names is in hair-fine black silk stitches. Various mountain ranges and bodies of water are shown including the Alleghany Mountain Range, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mississippi River. The Great Lakes (Ontario, Erie, Huron, Michigan, and Superior) are beautifully rendered. The shorelines of water are edged in blue paint. In the lower right corner is a painted banner decorated with embroidered flowers and leaves; it reads: "ANN E. / UNITED STATES / COLSON 1809." The vertical line that marks the longitudinal position of Philadelphia is labeled twice; along the top edge of the map it is labeled according to its relationship to the Greenwich Meridian or the "Longitude West from London" and along the bottom edge of the map it is labeled as the "Meridian of Philadelphia".

Stitches: couched, satin, straight
Label TextThe tradition of working map samplers originated in England and appeared in America by 1775. The popularity of map samplers accompanied the emergence of geography as an essential component of a girl's education. Ann E. Colson completed this map sampler while attending the Pleasant Valley School in Dutchess County, New York. Although many schools assigned map samplers as part of their curriculum, only a handful can now be attributed to a recognizable group. The Pleasant Valley maps share a number of characteristics: continents or countries are usually outlined with chenille, all lettering is worked in black silk, and shorelines are accentuated with blue paint. Currently, twenty-five map samplers produced between 1803 and 1824 survive from the Pleasant Valley group; among these are maps of the eastern and western hemispheres, North America, the United States and the state of New York.

Ann E. Colson based her map on Samuel Lewis' A Map of the United States, which was published in Carey’s General Atlas in 1796. This was the first General Atlas published in the United States and differs from Carey's Guthrie Atlas (1795) in the addition of a map of the United States. Of note is the inclusion of two measures of longitude; in addition to the Meridian of Greenwich, this map also measures longitude from the Meridian of Philadelphia. The towns of Catskill and Athens in New York are not included on the original map and were likely added due to their personal significance to the maker.
InscribedStates and Territories: MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, MASSACHUSETTS, CONNECTICUT, RHODE ISLAND, NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, NEW JERSEY, MARYLAND, DELAWARE, VIRGINIA, KENTUCKY, TENNESSEE, NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, GEORGIA, EAST FLORIDA, WEST FLORIDA, LOUISIANA, NORTHWESTERN TERRITORY, BRITISH TERRITORY, CANADA, QUEBEC

Bodies of Water: ATLANTIC OCEAN, GULF OF MEXICO, LAKE SUPERIOR, West Bay, LAKE MICHIGAN, GREEN PUAN[‘S] BAY, LAKE HURON, L S Cla[ir], LAKE ERIE, LAKE ONTARIO, Lake St Franci[s], Lake St Pete[r], River St Lawrence, BAY OF FUNDY, River St Croix, Penobscot Bay, Casco Bay, DELAWARE B., CHESAPEAK [sic] BAY, Pocomo[ke] R., Pamticoe Sound, Roanoke Inl., Long Bay, Helena Sound, Catherine Sound, Mohocks River, Canada C., Lake Champlain, Susquehanna R., Ohio River, Cumberland R., Wolf R., Tennessee R., Duck R., Caney Cr., Roanoke R., Peedee R., Santee [R.], Savannah River, Broad R., Satilla, Koosa R., Amite R., Pearl R., White R., Yaszoo R., Apalachicola R., MISSISSIPPI RIVER, Missouri River, Illinois River, Rapids, Huron River, Main Fork, Blue R., Saw Pine R., Grand R., Red R., Little R., Fox R., Canoe R., Black R., Help R., Lake Pepin, Vermillion C., Stoney C., Goddard R., Providence Lake

Place Names: Belfast, C. Elizabeth, Portsmouth, CAPE ANN, Washingt[on], Norwi[ch], Bedford, Montague, Worcester, BOSTON, Plymouth, Cape Codd [sic], Nantucket, Providence, Block I., New Haven, Hartford, Long Island, E. Hampton, New York, Esopus, Catsk[ill], Athens, Albany, Schenectady, Crow[n] Poin[t], Ft Schuyler, Oswego Fort, Amboy, Trenton, PHILADELPHIA, Wilkesbarre, York, Bedford, Chester, Baltimore, WASHINGTON, Milf[ord], C. Charles, C. Henry, Smithfield, The Allegany Mountains, Cumberland, Lexington, Clarksville, Nashville, RALEIGH, Halifax, Edenton, Newbern, Cape Hatteras, Portsmouth, Cape Lookout, Brunswick, Cape Fear, CHARLESTON, Port Royal, Kingston, George T., Ninety Six, Augusta, Mt Pleasant, Savannah, Coleraine, Hichatas, Vans T., Tallassee King, Tombigbee, Crow Town, Natches, New Orleans, Ft Massac, Ft Washington, WASHINGTON COUNTY, Detroit T., Ft St Joseph, Rich level Lands, Large fine Meadows, Round I., Isle Royal, Round I., Grand I., Little I., St George’s I., St Joseph’s I.
ProvenanceJoan Stephens acquired this piece in 1987 at Sotheby's, New York (sale 5622, lot 325). The piece sold again ten years later in 1997 at Sotheby's, New York (sale 6942, lot 2068). Colonial Williamsburg acquired the piece from Bill and Joyce Subjack in 2019.

History of Sampler Maker:
Ann E. Colson (1789-1867), also known as Anna, was born in Newtown, Connecticut in 1789. Her father was Joseph Colson. Her mother is unknown, although a likely candidate is Hephzibah Hubell who was born in Newtown, Connecticut on January 23, 1748/49, died in Athens, NY in 1813, and married second Joseph Colson. The family moved to Athens, Greene County, New York, where her father was a prominent hotel owner. On May 12, 1810, Ann married James G. Foster (1788-1864) , a sea captain. They settled in Athens where James operated a brick-making business and later a store, which he ran until his death. They also owned a farm. Ann and James had at least three children: Ann Netterville Nichols (1814-1895), Mary (b. 1829), and James Prescott (1830-1904). Ann died on February 3, 1867, and is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Athens, New York.