Sampler by Virginia Ann Godwin

Date1812 (dated)

Artist/Maker Virginia Ann Godwin

OriginAmerica, Virginia, Isle of Wight County, Smithfield

MediumSilk embroidery threads on a linen ground of 29 weft x 30 warp threads per inch (identification of fibers by eye)

Dimensions21"x 21"

Credit LinePartially funded by the Friends of the Textile Collection (Patricia E. Kaemingk, Marie Bonacorsi-Ruggiero and William Ruggiero)

Object number2001-808

DescriptionThis is a large square needlework sampler worked in faded shades of cream, tan, blue, green, brown, black, yellow, pink, and apricot/orange silk embroidery threads on a natural color linen ground. The sampler has selvages at sides and is hemstitched at top and bottom in a 3/16" hem.
The top third of the sampler consists of six rows of alphabets, numerals, decorative bands, and "Sampler made 1812":
"A-Z" upper case block, "&" small diamond motif, "1-11" worked in marking cross and cross stitches
Blue and cream decorative band worked in cross and marking cross stitches
"a-ss-z," small diamond motif, "a-i k-u w" worked in cross and marking stitches
Dark blue and tan decorative band worked in cross and marking cross stitches
"A-I K-Z" upper case block worked in four-sided; "Sampler made 1812" worked in cross stitches
Green and tan decorative band in four-sided stitch
"A-H J-X" upper case script, worked in cross stitch
Blue and cream decorative band of two rows of double cross stitch
"A-I K-V" uppercase block, worked in double cross
Band of two rows of eyelet stitch
"A-U" uppercase block, worked in eyelet stitch
Blue, green, and blue decorative band of three rows of double cross stitch
The middle section of the sampler is divided in half vertically by a cross-stitched line and contains two verses, initials, and a signature line. The verse to the left reads: "Twill save us from a thousand snares/ To mind religion young WHG EG J[G or C]/ It will preserve our following years/ And make our virtue strong [JS TS]." The verse to the right reads: "In books or work or health/ ful play/ Let my first years be past/ that I may give for every/ day/ Some good account at last."
Below the verses is the signature line: "Virginia Ann Godwin Daugh of Elisha and Elizabeth his wife/ was born September the 25 1800 And made at M[r]s Cuningham." Beneath signature line is a decorative band of queen stitch.
The bottom third of the sampler consists of a prominently centered two-story house with two chimneys, five half-opened shuttered windows, and a figure of a woman standing in the open doorway. Scattered on either side of the house are isolated motifs including two birdcages with birds, cow, baskets of flowers, birds, two figures of a woman, vase of flowers, large rose bud sprig, and figure of a seated woman at a spinning wheel. The following initials appear above the chimney of the house: "MBG BG AGG." The following initials appear to the left of the house: "MKR" "EKR" "LRR" "PPM" "AP' "AC" "AC" "SB" "SAS" "MES" "SS" "AMH" "JA" "SC" "ES" "AEP" and "EWJ." The following initials appear to the right of the house: "EEC" "CMC" "SBF" "CF" "IRC" "PC" "TSS" "MC" "PV" "CB" "MB" "MG" and "RV."
At the bottom of the sampler is a fence border. At top and half way down the sampler sides is a simple undulating vine border.

Stitches: cross over one and two threads, double cross, eyelet, four-sided, hem, marking cross, and queen

Label TextThis sampler records the maker's parents and school teacher, and thirty-three sets of initials, probably those of relatives. The verses that appear in the second quadrant of the sampler are from Divine Songs for Children written by the Reverend Isaac Watts. First published in 1715, Watts's songs were intended to entertain children while pointing them to the path of virtue. Appearing on many samplers, they were especially popular from 1775 to1850.

Virginia Ann Godwin was the daughter of Elisha and Elizabeth Stoakley Godwin of Isle of Wight and Nansemond Counties, Virginia. It's likely that Virginia Ann never married because her marriage record was not found and a Virginia Godwin is listed in the 1840 and 1870 censuses for Isle of Wight and Norfolk Counties, respectively.

Virginia Ann Godwin marked her sampler "made at Mrs. Cuningham," a reference to the Mrs. Rachel Cunningham who advertised her school in a Norfolk newspaper in 1816 and 1817. Her "Seminary for Young ladies" was on "Red Point, opposite to Smithfield, Isle of Wight," where she taught spelling, reading, writing, drawing, painting, and needlework. Mrs. Cunningham taught until at least 1818, when Margaret G. Kelly worked a family record sampler with the inscription "sampler made at Mrs. Cunningham's School."

Inscribed"Sampler made 1812"
"Twill save us from a thousand snares/ To mind religion young WHG EG J[G or C]/ It will preserve our following years/ And make our virtue strong [JS TS]"
"In books or work or health/ ful play/ Let my first years be past/ that I may give for every/ day/ Some good account at last"
The following initials appear above the chimney of the house: "MBG BG AGG." The following initials appear to the left of the house: "MKR" "EKR" "LRR" "PPM" "AP' "AC" "AC" "SB" "SAS" "MES" "SS" "AMH" "JA" "SC" "ES" "AEP" and "EWJ." The following initials appear to the right of the house: "EEC" "CMC" "SBF" "CF" "IRC" "PC" "TSS" "MC" "PV" "CB" "MB" "MG" and "RV."
ProvenanceThe sampler was located in Tennessee and recorded by MESDA in August, 1983.
History of sampler maker:
Virginia Ann Godwin was the daughter of Elisha and Elizabeth Stoakley Godwin of Isle of Wight County and Nansemond County, Virginia. The marriage of Elisha and Elizabeth Godwin on July 28, 1795, is recorded in the marriages of Isle of Wight County. However, in the 1783 Nansemond County census, Elisha Godwin is recorded as living in Buxtons Company, Nansemond County.
The War of 1812 Service Records indicate that Elisha Godwin served in the 29 Reg't (Ballard's) Virginia Militia as a private. Virginia Godwin may never have married as a Virginia Godwin is listed in the 1840 and 1870 censuses for Isle of Wight and Norfolk Counties, respectively.

Mrs. Cunningham may be the Rachel Reade who married John Cunningham on January 2, 1802, in Isle of Wight County. She advertised her Isle of Wight ladies seminary in a Norfolk newspaper in 1816. The Isle of Wight census lists a Rachel Cunningham in the New Port parish in 1820.