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2020-79, Sampler
Sampler by Mary Marchant
2020-79, Sampler

Sampler by Mary Marchant

Date1745
Maker Mary Marchant
OriginEngland
MediumSilk embroidery thread on a worsted ground (fiber identification by eye) Wooden frame and glass
DimensionsFramed: OW 9 1/4” x OH 12 1/4” Actual (by sight): OW 8” x OH 12”
Credit LineGift of Beatrix T. Rumford
Object number2020-79
DescriptionThis is a framed, rectangular needlework sampler worked in shades of red, gold, green, and blue embroidery threads on a natural-color worsted ground. The sampler consists of a large block of text (The Apostles' Creed) which reads “I BELIEVE/ in God the Father Almig/ hty, Maker of heaven and/ Earth: and in Jesus Christ his only/ son our Lord, who was Conceiv/ ed by the Holy Ghost. Born of/ the Virgin Mary, suffered under/ Pontius Pilate, was crucified/ and buried. He descended into [?]/ the third Day he rose again [from] the Dead. He ascended into Heave[n]/ and sitteth [sic] at the right hand of/ God the Father Almighty from/ thence he shall come to judge the/ Quick and the Dead. I believe in/ the Holy Ghost. The holy Catholi/ ck Church. The Communion of/ Saints; The Forgiveness of Sins; The Resurrection of the Body/ And the Life everlasting. AMEN.” A decorative band of cross stitch separates this text from the following, which reads: “To God the Father, God the Son,/ and God the Spirit, Three in one,/ Be Honour, Praise, and Glory giv’n,/ By all on Earth, and all in Heav’n.” A sawtooth border worked in satin stitch separates this text from the signature line, which reads: “Mary Marchant work’d this/ Sampler in the seventh year of her/ Age, in the year of our Lord./ 1745” The year “1745” is bordered on either side by a stylized, flowering vine. The entire text is enclosed in a double sawtooth border which is in turn enclosed by an undulating, flowering vine. Another double sawtooth border encloses the entire sampler.
Stitches: cross, satin

The sampler is in an old, brown, wood frame.
Label TextAt the young age of six, Mary Marchant stitched this sampler, probably as a schoolroom exercise. Many samplers, like this one, included pious verses and religious texts. In addition to teaching sewing stitches, samplers reinforced religious beliefs and society's expectations for young females.
Inscribed“I BELIEVE/ in God the Father Almig/ hty, Maker of heaven and/ Earth: and in Jesus Christ his only/ son our Lord, who was Conceiv/ ed by the Holy Ghost. Born of/ the Virgin Mary, suffered under/ Pontius Pilate, was crucified/ and buried. He descended into [?]/ the third Day he rose again [from] the Dead. He ascended into Heave[n]/ and sitteth [sic] at the right hand of/ God the Father Almighty from/ thence he shall come to judge the/ Quick and the Dead. I believe in/ the Holy Ghost. The holy Catholi/ ck Church. The Communion of/ Saints; The Forgiveness of Sins; The Resurrection of the Body/ And the Life everlasting. AMEN.” A decorative band of cross stitch separates this text from the following, which reads: “To God the Father, God the Son,/ and God the Spirit, Three in one,/ Be Honour, Praise, and Glory giv’n,/ By all on Earth, and all in Heav’n.”
MarkingsThe back of the frame contains multiple inscriptions:

"No. 5"
"J.W. Littleton/ 4416 E. Court St./ Doylestown/ Pa"
"for Elsie/ R.C.R. 1970"
"J.W. Littleton/ 4416 Court Street/ Doylestown, P[?]"
"This frame is fragile"
"Date 1745"
ProvenanceThe first recorded owner of this sampler was Julia Waters Littleton (1874-1961). Julia gave the sampler to her friend, Elsie B. Clymer (1882-1970), who later gave it to her daughter, Rose Clymer Rumford (1912-1998), who then gave it to her daughter, Beatrix T. Rumford (b. 1939). Ms. Rumford donated the sampler to Colonial Williamsburg in 2020.