Birth Record for Samual Asay (1806-1891)

Dateca. 1830

OriginAmerica, New Jersey, Burlington County

MediumWatercolor and ink on wove paper

DimensionsPrimary Support: 8 15/16 x 7 1/8in. (22.7 x 18.1cm) and Framed: 11 1/8 x 9 1/2in.

Credit LineGift of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller

Object number1933.305.2

DescriptionA simple birth record with four short lines of text enclosed in a central oval. The oval "hovers" in the sky over green, hilly terrain that dips to form a valley or declivity in the middle of the composition. Tall vines bearing rosebuds sprout from horizon lin. A conical green tree appears on the horizon line at each side. The land appears terraced below. A yellow house occupies the middle ground, and several people appear in its vicinity. A sign board hangs from a post in the yard to the left, between the house and an outbuilding. A horse seems to be tied to the sign pole. In the foreground, two horsemen ride from left to right on parallel tracks; a man stands near the head of each horse, and additional men are seen at the far right. Artist unidentified.

The 1 5/16-inch flat mahogany frame is possibly a mid-nineteenth century replacement.

Label TextBirth and family records produced by and for non-Germans in America are often highly individualistic in format and subject. Samuel Asay's record and another by the same hand --- done for his wife, Rebecca Hammell --- were made by the same as-yet-unidentified artist, probably about the time of the couple's marriage. (The date of that event has not yet been determined.) Samuel's record features a delightful horse race, whereas Rebecca's features a stag hunting scene.

Samuel was a farmer. He and Rebecca were buried in the Jacobstown Methodist Episcopal Cemetery in Burlington County, New Jersey.

InscribedIn dark brown ink in script within a central oval is: "Samuel Asay./ Was, Born,/ August 31st/ 1806".
MarkingsA watermark in the primary support reads "J M."
ProvenanceEdith Gregor Halpert, Downtown Gallery, New York, NY; sold to Mrs. John D. Rockefeller Jr., by whom given to CWF.