Lianne’s Great-great-great-GREAT grandmother, Hannah Epes, completed this sampler on June 26th, 1806, when she was 10 years old.  It came to us in the sweet old handkerchief box her grandmother kept it in, above, a keepsake.

I like hearing the history of the pieces from our clients, and
Lianne is willing to let me share it.  Hannah had a rough life.
She married Charles Whitmarsh in 1814 when she was just 18.
Their first daughter was born two years later, and died at
4 1/2 months, the same age their fourth son also died.
Their second daughter was born in 1817 and died when she was 9 years old.
They had three sons and two more daughters, all  of whom lived to adulthood,
though the eldest daughter died young.  Charles died in 1838.
She remarried a man named John Hornby in 1841.
He died in 1856, and Hannah died in 1867.

7 3/4 inches x 11 inches, the sampler was dirty,
though Lianne had tried cleaning it herself.

There was a small hole in the linen on the back in the hem,
but otherwise, no loose or broken threads or other structural damage
was found that might affect the cleaning process.

Cleaning seems a simple item, but can permanently damage a textile.
It is important that a proper conservator determine cleaning protocol.
Embroidery threads were assessed for dye movement,
and as none was found, the sampler was gently cleaned.
Dust and dirt was released from the sampler into a proper solution.
The process of cleaning was repeated three times,
then the sampler was thoroughly rinsed, and laid to dry flat.

Acid free tissue will wrap the sampler.
Remember to change the acid free tissue once a year,
as the tissue will absorb acids in the environment.

No job too small.
Your items are important to us!

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