Images(5)

Sampler by Mary Duberry Berlace Beaumont

Date1820 (dated)

Maker Mary Duberry Berlace Beaumont (1806 - 1834)

OriginAmerica, Mississippi, Adams County, Natchez

MediumSilk embroidery threads on a linen ground of approximately 75 x 75 threads per inch (identification of fibers by eye)

DimensionsFramed: 13 1/2 x 12 1/2 in; Unframed: 9 3/4" x 10 3/4"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number2010-15

DescriptionThis is an almost square sampler worked in shades of green, brown, yellow, blue, and ivory silk embroidery threads on a natural color linen ground of approximately 75 threads per inch. The top fourth section of the sampler consists of:
Undulating geometric vine of buds worked in cross stitch
Simple band of cross stitch
"A-Z" uppercase block; "1-10" worked in cross stitch
Simple band of herringbone stitch
"a-r" "ss-z" lower case block; heart motif; tree motif; "MARY BEAUMONT" worked in cross stitch
Simple band worked in cross stitch
"A-I" "K-W" uppercase script worked in cross stitch
Band worked in cross stitch
"A-I" "K-U' uppercase block worked in eyelet stitch
Band worked in eyelet stitch
The center section of the sampler consists of the verse:
"An Evening Hymn
Thus far the Lord has led me orr
Thus far his power prolongs my days
And every evening should make known
Some fresh memorials of his grace
Much of my time has run to waste
And I perhaps am near my home
But he forgives my follies past
He gives me strength for days to come"
Below the verse is a centered undulating vine.
Below this is the signature line: "Mary Duberry Berlace Beaumont/ Natchez October 1820."
The bottom portion of the sampler consists of a brown and green landscape of yellow and green plants and one small tree on the right, worked in satin and outline stitches.
There is an outer border on four sides of an undulating vine in outline stitch. The sampler edges are finished with a 3 /8" hemstitched hem.

Stitches: cross (over two), eyelet, hem, herringbone, outline, satin

Label TextMary Duberry Berlace Beaumont's sampler is one of the earliest of a small handful surviving from the deep southern state of Mississippi. The quiet sophistication of the silk embroidery threads on finely woven linen gauze with a drawn-work border suggests Mary worked her sampler under the guidance of a skilled and knowledgeable teacher. The upper portion of the sampler features a strawberry border, several sets of alphabets, and a prayer about trust in God entitled "An Evening Hymn."

Mary proudly signed the sampler with her full name, the date of "1820," and her hometown of "Natchez." Founded in the early eighteenth century as a French military outpost, by the early nineteenth century Natchez had grown into a wealthy town and fashion center. The rise of the cotton industry as a result of the Whitney cotton gin and improved cotton varieties created wealthy plantations and a fast-growing population in the area. The great cotton wealth brought in a wide range of talent to Natchez from all around the country including highly advanced teachers who offered needlework instruction to the daughters of the privileged.

Mary Beaumont was the daughter of a wealthy merchant William Beaumont (ca. 1770-1814) and his wife Elizabeth Cooper (1765-1852). In 1826, she married successful businessman Henry Millard (1797-1844). The couple had two children. Mary, along with her infant daughter Matilda, died on May 30, 1834 in New Orleans.
Inscribed"An Evening Hymn
Thus far the Lord has led me orr
Thus far his power prolongs my days
And every evening should make known
Some fresh memorials of his grace
Much of my time has run to waste
And I perhaps am near my home
But he forgives my follies past
He gives me strength for days to come"
MarkingsSee signature.
ProvenanceExcoll. Amy Finkel.

History of Samplermaker:
Mary Duberry Berlance Beaumont was the daughter of a wealthy Natchez merchant William Beaumont (ca. 1770-1814) and his wife Elizabeth Cooper (1765-1852), originally from Kentucky. In 1826, she married Henry Millard 91797-1844), a successful businessman. The couple had two children. Mary and her infant daughter Matilda died on May 30, 1834 in New Orleans.

After the death of his wife, Henry Millard moved to the Texas frontier where he played an important role in the fight for Texas Independence. He formed several partnerships with Joseph Perkins Pulsifer (1805-1861) and Sam Houston. By 1838, Houston and Millard had purchased over fifty acres of land along the Neches River, which eventually became the town of Beaumont, so named for Mary Duberry Berlance Beaumont.