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2023-133, Sampler
Sampler by Betsy Burnett, Shaker
2023-133, Sampler

Sampler by Betsy Burnett, Shaker

Dateca. 1820
Maker Betsy Burnett (1806 - 1882)
OriginAmerica, Kentucky, Mercer County, Harrodsburg, Pleasant Hill Shaker Village
MediumSilk embroidery threads on a linen and cotton ground of 41 x 43 threads per inch (fiber identification by microscope)
DimensionsOH: 12 3/4" x OW: 10 1/2"
Credit LineMuseum Purchase and The Loudoun Sampler Guild
Object number2023-133
DescriptionSmall rectangular sampler worked in shades of red, green, blue, black, brown, gold/rust, and yellow on a natural color linen and cotton ground. The sampler consists of ten sets of uppercase block alphabets; two sets of lower case block alphabets; two partial lowercase block alphabets, a-e; one partial uppercase block alphabet, A-V; and sets of numerals, 1-15, 18, 19, 1/ 0-15, 18, 1-15, 1/ 1-15, 13, 1-4, 15, 6-9. The bottom five rows of the sampler contain two signature lines and letters that may represent initials of family, schoolmates, and/or members of the Shaker community: “BETSY BURNETT WAS BORN JULY THE/ 14 1806 MSBBJBMSPPNMASPBLCPRPBLC/ MHSLBTLLEWCRARLMSMMTPRJRCB/ TVNRSR.” The bottom signature line in lowercase block alphabets is enclosed in a simple cross-stitched border: “Betcy [sic] burnett was born july the 14 1805.” The sampler is enclosed on four sides with a single cross-stitched border. It is finished on four sides with a 1/8” to ¼” hem.
Stitch: cross over 2
Label TextThis Shaker alphabet sampler was created by Betsy Burnett. In 1809, Betsy Burnett (born July 14, 1806) arrived with her parents at the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill in Mercer County, Kentucky. Their records indicate that she “absconded” on May 29, 1829. Typical of Shaker samplers is the plain, unadorned format and craftsmanship of this sampler, reflecting the simplicity and practical nature of Shaker life. Samplers from this community are extremely rare with only a handful known to survive.
Markings"MSBBJBMSPPNMASPBLCPRPBLC/ MHSLBTLLEWCRARLMSMMTPRJRCB/ TVNRSR”
ProvenanceOther than vendor, there is no known provenance.

History of sampler maker:
Born July 1, 1806, Betsy Burnett (Elizabeth) was the daughter of Benjamin Bond Burnett and Elizabeth Teruah Small-Burnette. In 1809, she, her parents, and siblings arrived at the Shaker Community of Pleasant Hill in Mercer County, Kentucky. Betsy did not take her permanent Shaker vows. Their records indicate that she "absconded" on May 29, 1829 (correspondence between Bill Subjack and Becky Soules, Curator of Collections, Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill). On December 22, 1831 she married Rev. Thomas Henderson Small, Jr. (1810-1901). They had nine children between the years 1832 and 1851. Betsy died on October 21, 1882 in Silverton, Marion County, Oregon.