Sampler by Hannah Hoyle

Date1837 (dated)

Maker Hannah Hoyle (b. 1827)

OriginAmerica, Missouri, St. Louis (possibly)

MediumSilk embroidery threads on a linen ground of 28 x 29 threads per inch (identification of fibers by eye)

DimensionsOW: 20 1/2"; OL: 22 1/4"

Credit LinePartially funded by Friends of the Textile Collection (Ruth and Paul Lundstedt, Kim Ivey, Christy & David Bennett, Hoffman Media, Marie Bonacorsi-Ruggiero, "Questers")

Object number2004-14

DescriptionThis is a large almost square needlework sampler worked in shades of blue, green, ivory, black, brown, yellow, and tan silk threads on a darkened natural color linen ground.
The sampler consists of an outer border of double cross stitch with an inner border of vine and bud worked in queen stitch.
The rectangular center section of the sampler is enclosed in a border of long arm cross. At the top of this section is a verse flanked by realistically worked sprays of flowers and leaves. The verse reads, "Prepare my soul to meet the day/ When i must quit this house of/ Clay leave all my dearest Friends/ Behind to Share the Fate of/ Human kind/ Then may i always ready/ stand with my Lamp/ Burning in my hand/ May i at the sight of / Heaven rejoice When eer/ I hear the bridegrooms voice."
Centered below the verse is a moth/butterfly perched on top of a basket of roses, which are flanked by flying birds.
The bottom area of this center section consists of a two-storied house with two chimneys, center door, and nine windows, on a lawn of flat (Roumanian) stitch. Realistically worked sprays of flowers flank the house.
Below the house is the signature line: "Hannah Hoyle aged 10 1837" and three small motifs.

Stitches: cross (over two threads), double cross, flat (Roumanian), four-sided, long arm cross, outline, queen, satin, and straight

Label TextLittle is known about the needlework produced west of the Mississippi during the first half of the nineteenth century. Only a few Missouri samplers have been identified as worked by schoolgirls before 1840.

Family history states that Hannah Hoyle was born in Manchester, England, to Lawrence and Hannah Clegg Hoyle in 1827. The family moved to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1829. Lawrence became a citizen of the United States five years later. The sampler and history descended from a daughter.

Inscribed"Prepare my soul to meet the day/ When i must quit this house of/ Clay leave all my dearest Friends/ Behind to Share the Fate of/ Human kind/ Then may i always ready/ stand with my Lamp/ Burning in my hand/ May i at the sight of / Heaven rejoice When eer/ I hear the bridegrooms voice"
ProvenanceA typed-written document (see folder) on the back of the sampler written by Margaret A. Hastings states that Hannah Hoyle was born in Manchester, England in 1827, to Lawrence and Hannah Clegg Hoyle. The family moved to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1829. In 1846, Hannah married Tobias P. Cubblerly and they moved to Louisiana, Missouri. Hannah and Tobias had five children. The sampler descended from Hannah's daughter, Anna Ruth Cubberly Nichols to Hannah's granddaughter Eleanor Nichols Alman to Hannah's great granddaughter Margaret Alman Hastings of Rancho Palos Verdes, California.
The sampler sold at Ken Farmer's Auction in the winter of 2004.