THE FRANCES BLISS & LYDIA HINCKLEY SAMPLERS

From the collection of Old Sturbridge Village , this pair of early American marking samplers are somewhat similar in color scheme and linen type, but they differ considerably in what we know of their background. Lydia Hinckley's sampler came to the museum from Rhode Island, and little else is known of it. It was worked on a darkened homespun linen in 1774, in cross and eyelet stitches. Frances Bliss, on the other hand, we know was born in Springfield, Massachusetts on May 10, 1772, to the Hon. Moses and Abigail (Metcalf) Bliss, the fifth of nine children. Her rather eccentric and patriotic father was a preacher for awhile, then abandoned the ministry to become a barrister. Frances married the Rev. Henry Rowland of Windsor, CT, when she was 27 years old. They had eight children. She died on January 18th, 1833, at the age of sixty.
Both samplers are included in the kit and graph pack. Frances Bliss' sampler measures 4-3/4"x7-1/4", and Lydia Hinckley's is 3-1/4"x7-1/4".

Origin and date: Rhode Island 1774, unknown, 1778
Rated: Beginning
Linen count: 25 count unbleached (our exclusive weave)
Finished size Frances Bliss 4-3/4"x7-1/4", Lydia Hinckley 3-1/4"x7-1/4"
Stitches: Cross, eyelet
Source: Old Sturbridge Village collection

Kit with cotton floss: $23.00
Kit with silk floss: $42.00
Graph Only: $7.00

No longer available

Photo Gallery

Click on the photo above or any thumbnail below to display a larger image. Click on the right side of the larger image to display the next picture and the left side to return to the previous picture.