Abija Hall
Mary Balch's school
Providence, Rhode Island dated 1785
This is the earliest sampler known to survive from Mary Balch's school. It was worked by Abija Hall when she
was about 14 years old. She was the older sister of Nancy Hall who also worked an important sampler while attending
the Balch school.
It features a center-hall house and the arched columns that have become ubiquitous with Provi-dence, RI samplers.
The sampler is embellished with six people, and a myriad of animals, flow-ers, trees, and a pair of love birds
perched above a heart.
At the bottom it is inscribed; ABIJA HALLS/ WORK/ 1785
Abija Hall (1772-1864) was the daughter of Levi Hall and Sally Hunt. Her father was a leather dresser at the Sign
of the Buck. After his death, Sally continued the business.
Abiji at age 32 married Caption Stephen Stone who was a mariner and later became a leather dresser. Abija died
at age ninety one without ever having children.
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STEPHEN & CAROL HUBER
(860) 388-6809
Hubers@AntiqueSamplers.com
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