Alice Clark, Apple Tree Family Register

This outstanding Family Record sampler is an excellent example of one of the most unusual and visually appealing types of American samplers. The genealogical "Apple Tree" composition features a graceful, fruit-bearing tree rising from a pair of united hearts naming the married couple. The birth of each child born to this family is stitched into an apple. Deep green leaves enhance the image of the tree and provide a visual punctuation.

These samplers have been the subject of several scholarly papers and articles over the years. Most of the samplers date from about 1800 to 1830, and were made in towns within a small area of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - Lexington, Concord, Watertown, Waltham, Bedford and Acton. Several museums and historical societies own Apple Tree Samplers, including Winterthur, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, DAR Museum, Lexington Historical Society, and Concord Museum.

Alice Clark was born on March 17, 1794: she was the first child of John Clark (1766-1850), a prominent citizen of Waltham, and his wife Lydia (Sanderson) Clark (1769-1862). John served in many public offices and was highly regarded by many people, including Governor Christopher Gore who was known to refer to him as “the honest man of Waltham.” Much was published about the family in Records of the Descendants of Watertown, Mass 1640 - 1866, by John Clark (Boston, 1866). 

In 1821, Alice married Rev. Thomas Worcester (1795-1878), a graduate of Harvard College and the Divinity School. He was a man greatly regarded as a pastor and leader of his time. A Biographical Sketch of Thomas Worcester, D.D. for Nearly Fifty Years the Pastor of the Boston Society the New Jerusalem by Sampson Reed (Boston, Massachusetts, 1880) is an entire book devoted to the family. Alice (Clark) Worcester is wonderfully described in this book as well. Alice and Thomas had 8 children; she died in 1848 and is buried in Grove Hill Cemetery along with many family members. 

The sampler was in the highly significant collection of Joan Stephens and was sold as lot 2038 with her collection at Sotheby’s in January, 1997.

It was worked in silk on linen and is in excellent condition, conservation mounted and in a fine mahogany frame.