Abigail Moore Barnard,

A beautifully worked sampler that also features an excellent composition, this was made by Abigail Moore Barnard of Troy, New Hampshire, a town just south of Keene. A fine sawtooth inner border encloses alphabets, a classic sampler verse, a fine pictorial scene centered on a basket of flowers and the inscription, “Abigail Moore Barnard’s Sampler Aged 12 Years A.D. 1825.” A praiseworthy outer border of large blossoms on a leafy vine frames the sampler well while also further indicating Abigail’s talents in the needle arts. 

Born on November 12, 1812, Abigail was the daughter of William and Bathsheba (Goodwin) Barnard who were married in Lancaster, Massachusetts in 1801. Her ancestors included Dr. Moses Barnard (1749-1807), a noted Revolutionary War surgeon on her paternal side and Dr. Francis Moore, (1710-1783) of Boston, on her maternal side. Dr. Moore’s published obituary called him, “long an eminent Physician in that town.”

Abigail married Sylvester Dana Kimball (1808-1856) and they lived in Barton, Vermont. History of the Kimball Family in America From 1634 to 1897 (Damrell & Upham, Boston, 1897) indicates that Mr. Kimball was prominent in local politics and served as pension and bounty agent, further that, “He was of a genial disposition and had many friends.” They had seven children and Abigail died in 1877. 

The sampler was worked in silk on linen and is in excellent condition. It has been conservation mounted and is in a cherry and maple frame.