While the Haverhill area is known for having produced a body of recognizable samplers from the 18th and 19th centuries, this particular piece bears more of a resemblance to those produced in Boston and nearby towns during that time period. One of these groups is the Family Tree form and the other, earlier group, has a deeply arcaded border at the top and sides, of which this is an example. According to Betty Ring, in Girlhood Embroideries, p. 76-77, "at least eighteen similar versions of this pattern are known as well as variant examples. Because the Essex County samplers resemble those from Middlesex County, the two are often confused. While both have deeply arcaded borders on three sides the design on the Essex county pieces is generally more triangular than on the Middlesex pieces. It is not surprising then that this sampler contains more elements that would link it to Middlesex County or perhaps even Boston even though the maker lived in Essex County. This can perhaps be explained by the number of boarding schools in both areas and the fact that the border design may have been introduced by one schoolmistress, taken up by others, and then produced with numerous variations by those young ladies who went on to teach needlework themselves. What is an interesting departure here is the fact that Abigail chose to put her floral design at the top of the piece rather than at the bottom. In any event, this is a very effective and graphic presentation and the colorful, deep borders serve to frame the alphabet and verse and provide a pleasing contrast.
While a house is most commonly depicted, there may be figures, flowerpots, trees, birds or various combinations of motifs. On this particular example we find the trees and birds as well as a very folky urn of flowers. The sampler also contains several alphabets, a verse, and is signed, Abigail Estabrooks Sampler, Wrought in the fifteenth year of her age y1803.
Abigail married David Elliot (b. July 19, 1787 in Haverhill) on June 7, 1812. He was a chaisemaker (carriage maker) by trade and died in 1840. It appears that they resided in Haverhill for their lifetime. Abigail died on May 8th 1870 and is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in East Haverhill. This sampler was passed down thru the Elliott side of the family and was eventually acquired by a member of the Peaslee family. Both Elliott and Peaslee families were landowners in Rock's Villiage for many generations, as were the Estabrooks.
This sampler is in excellent condition, conservation mounted into a figured cherry frame with a tiger maple bead and protected with Tru-Vue glass.
Size is 15-1/2" x 16 1/2"
R3C240574
0005
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