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2023-77, Sampler
Sampler by Elizabeth J. M. Mears
2023-77, Sampler

Sampler by Elizabeth J. M. Mears

DateJune 8, 1833
Maker Elizabeth Mears (1819-1888)
OriginAmerica, Virginia, Accomack County (probably)
MediumSilk embroidery threads on a linen ground of 29 warps x 30 wefts per inch (fiber identification by microscope)
DimensionsOH: 27" x OW: 17"
Credit LineMuseum Purchase, Asplundh Textile Endowment
Object number2023-77
DescriptionThis is a large rectangular sampler worked in faded shades of brown, black, green, blue, cream, tan, pink, rust, and gold on a natural color linen ground. The sampler has selvages at sides and a ¼” hem at top and bottom. The top half of the sampler contains: Band of cross stitch/ Wide zig zag band of cross stitch/ Band of cross stitch/ Signature line: “Elizabeth J M Mear’s Work June 8 1833”/ Band of cross stitch/ “A-Z” uppercase block followed by “& M” in cross stitch/ Band of cross stitch/ “a-z” lower case block and numbers “1-[9]” in cross stitch/ Band of cross stitch/ “A-H” “J-Q” uppercase script in cross stitch/ Band of vine and bud in cross stitch/ “R-Z” uppercase script followed by “AAMMLDMMSMLA” in cross stitch/ Decorative band of double cross/ “A-O” uppercase block in double cross/ Band, undulating in eyelet stitch/ “P-Z” uppercase block in eyelet stitch followed by “JWAM” in cross stitch/ Band of four-sided and cross stitches/ and the signature line “Elizabeth J M Daughter of William & Elizabeth Mears born May 7” in cross over one/ band of queen stitch.
The third quarter of the sampler consists of a very large building of 5 stories with a cupola topped with a cross, four chimneys, six dormers, 32 windows, and a front door with steps. There are two three-story wings each with three windows, door, and cupola topped by a cross attached to each end of the building. Flanking the large building on both sides is a tall tree with a bird perched atop. Two birds sit on either side of the roofline. Two baskets of fruit are on each side of the central cupola. The ones on the left are labeled “strawberries” and “Plums”. The ones on the right are labeled “cherries” and “oranges”. Below the building in the bottom quarter of the sampler is the inscription: “The Front View of Ann Castle Roseshire Eng.” Below the inscription are eight sprays of flowers and four birds with rosebuds in their beaks. A fence finishes the bottom of the sampler.
Stitches: cross over one and two, cross variation, double cross, eyelet, four-sided reversing to cross, queen
Label TextElizabeth Mears' sampler is one of at least five samplers created by schoolgirls living in Accomack County that are characterized by Quaker motifs of fruit baskets and sprays of flowers, identical alphabet, unusual large size, and zig zag areas at top of sampler worked in cross stitch or Irish stitch. The roots of this group of samplers can be traced to samplers worked in Isle of Wight County, Virginia, as early as 1806. Although the school or teacher responsible for the Accomack samplers has not been definitively identified, one likely candidate is the Margaret Academy in Accomack, which opened its doors to students in 1807.
Elizabeth used the sewing skills she learned stitching a sampler in her adult life. The 1860 US census, listed her as a Milliner with land valued at $1000.00.
Inscribed“The Front View of Ann Castle Roseshire Eng.”
"strawberries" "Plums" "cherries" "oranges"
Markings“AAMMLDMMSMLA”
“JWAM”
Provenance[Barbara Hutson, Queenstown Sampler Designs, Queenstown, MD]; 2023-present, purchased by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Williamsburg, VA)

History of sampler maker:
Elizabeth July M. Mears was born ca. 1819, in Accomack County, Virginia, to William Mears and his second wife Elizabeth Asby Mears. Elizabeth was named in her father's will of 1824, Northampton County, Virginia, where she was given 500 pounds. She was listed as the ward of her stepdad, Hely Drummond Bagwell, when she married Samuel G. Savage (b. ca. 1810-1848) on October 9, 1837, in Northampton County. The 1840 US census lists the living in St. Georges, Accomack County. They had at least two children, John E. (b. 1840) and daughter Otelia (b. 1842). The 1860 US census, Elzabeth is listed as the head of the house, as a Milliner, with land valued at $1000.00. Elizabeth J. M. Mears Savage died July 5, 1888, age 69. It is not known where she was interred.