Lydia M. Chandler

The History of New Ipswich New Hampshire 1735 – 1914 With Genealogical Records of Principal Families, by Charles Henry Chandler (1914) publishes much information about the Chandler family, which originated with Roger Chandler (circa 1637-1717). Four generations later Roger Chandler (1770-1845) and his wife Lydia (Marshall) Chandler (1774-1868) raised their ten children in this town, southwest of Manchester. Their fourth child was a daughter Lydia Maria Chandler, born on December 2, 1806, and named after her mother. At age 13 Lydia worked this outstanding sampler entitled “A Family Record.” Many New England schoolgirls worked genealogical needlework in the popular, chart-like format that featured the family’s vital statistics stitched in black silk onto pale linen, the inspiration for which came from pen and inked family records on paper or on pages of a family bible. 

They lived on the family farm and Roger Chandler devoted much of his time to the first cotton mill and factory in New Ipswich, as well as one in nearby Ashburnham, Massachusetts. Lydia died at age 20, unmarried. The History of New Ipswich informs us of the accomplishments later in life of some of Lydia’s brothers who are listed on her sampler: Seth, her twin brother, became a Unitarian pastor and town treasurer, George became a mason and farmer, and Daniel served as selectman and representative to the legislature and then later removed to Kansas where he became a medical steward and then surgeon for the 3rd Cherokee Regiment and, afterward, mayor of Ogden, Kansas.

Lydia’s sampler features an outstanding border. The meandering vine is embellished with a wonderful assortment of large and small flower blossoms and leaves, indicating that Lydia perfected her decorative embroidery along with her letter-perfect stitching on this sampler. 

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