Frances Lee

A particularly fine sampler, this was made by a Quaker girl whose ancestry on both sides can be traced back to prominent founding families of Berks County, Pennsylvania. The inscription, “Frances Lees Sampler Made In The Tenth Year Of Her Age AD 1794,” is nicely incorporated into the bottom border of the sampler. Frances was born in January of 1784 to a Quaker minister, Amos Lee (1754-1832), and his wife, Sarah (Pim) Lee (1757-1823), members of the Exeter Monthly Meeting. 

Interestingly, the sampler exhibits characteristics of two distinct cultures. On the fine samplers made in Philadelphia in the 18th century, the first letter of each word of the verse or religious hymns were often worked in a contrasting color floss, and Frances employed this throughout. And in her register of motifs, the samplermaking traditions of the Pennsylvania Germans is very much apparent. The latter is a reflection of the strong cultural influence in the Oley Valley. 

Frances stitched the initials of some of her siblings, along with those of her parents: Amos, Sarah, Thomas, Anna, Sarah, Eleanor, Rachel and Joseph. She remained single and died in 1850; she is buried in Exeter Friends Cemetery along with many family members. 

The provenance of Frances’ sampler is interesting as well. It was in the noted collection of Margaret S. Bedell who bequeathed her samplers to the Brooklyn Museum in 1932. Many years later the museum deaccessioned them.

The sampler was worked in silk on linen and is in excellent condition. It has been conservation mounted and is in a fine period gold leaf frame.