This needlework of mine can tell / When I was young I learned well / And by my Parents I was taught / Not to spend my time for naught. / Dorcas Dennis her Sampler / Wrought in the 9 year of her Age / Portsmouth Rhode Island 1811 / Where Virtue shows / love sweetly flows. Finis. //

Maker

Dennis, Dorcas (age 9)

Date made

1811

Origin

Portsmouth, RI US

Stitches

Cross, Queen, Eyelet, Sawtooth.

In Bolton & Co.

No Verse #129. 1707. Page 271.

Foundation Cloth

Linen

Embroidery Thread

Silk

Predominent Motif

4 alphabets: each with 26 letters. One ampersand. Numbers 1-9 and 1-6. Arcaded rosebud border on both sides, arcaded strawberry border across the top.

Inscription

This needlework of mine can tell / When I was young I learned well / And by my Parents I was taught / Not to spend my time for naught. / Dorcas Dennis her Sampler / Wrought in the 9 year of her Age / Portsmouth Rhode Island 1811 / Where Virtue shows / love sweetly flows. Finis. //

Length Without Frame

16 1/2"

Length With Frame

17 1/2"

Width Without Frame

12"

Wdith With Frame

13"

Original Frame

No

Owner

NSCDA Martin House Farm, N. Swansea, MA

Owner Private

NSCDA-Martin House Farm