Ruth Huntington - age 10 Needlework Sampler Norwich, CT dated 1787 Solidly filled black background samplers are rare, and are a characteristic of early Norwich Connecticut samplers. This ambitious example is comprised of the usual alphabets and numbers, and has unbalanced borders with random sprigs of flowers and strawberries. A variety of stitches and designs are incorporated in the entirely filled background. Ten year old Ruth undoubtedly attended school with her eight year old cousin Elizabeth Huntington who made a very similar sampler. Ruth's sampler exhibits a similar floral border and asymmetrical inner border with the content worked in bands, and a filled in background. Both are worked in a variety of stitches. Ruth Huntington (1776-1798) was born December 9, 1776, the second child and only daughter of four children born to Elisha (1745-1810) and Mrs. Anna Ryan, in Norwich, Connecticut. Her father was a sea captain and owned his own vessel. Their oldest son George (1775-1790) was a carpenter and died single at Demerara, West Indies. An obituary in the February 13, 1798, Norwich Packet states that Ruth died in Lansingburgh, New York, at age 21 "occasioned by a fall from a sleigh." Ruth's fifth great-grandmother was Mary Wentworth who crossed on the Mayflower. As the rofe breatheth fweetnefs from its own/ nature fo the benevolent heart produceth good/ works/ Ruth Huntington's Sampler made in the 11th/ year of her age 1787 Exhibited at the Florence Griswold Museum 2010-11, Illustrated in With Needle and Brush (pg 26) Silk on linen; 9 ¾ x 12 ¾ inches sight, 12 ½ x 15 ½ framed. $23,000 Note: Sampler by Ruth's cousin, Elizabeth Huntington Link STEPHEN & CAROL HUBER (860) 388-6809 Hubers@AntiqueSamplers.com View Other Samplers