Phebe Angell

A small and nicely appealing 18th century sampler, this has a wonderful family history. It’s signed, “Phebe Angell her Samp / ler June 24th 1794,” with the further inscription, “Phebe Angell is my name / English is my nation / Jonston [sic] is my native / place And Christ is my / salvation.” 

Phebe’s ancestry goes back to Thomas Angell (1618-1695) who was born in England and, as a young man, sailed from London to Boston on the ship Lion, arriving in 1631. Angell accompanied Roger Williams who is credited as the founder of the Colony of Rhode Island and from whom he received, in 1638, two lots in Providence. Over the years, Angell served in many public positions - Town Surveyor, Commissioner from Providence to the General Assembly of Providence Plantations, Town Constable, and others. 

Four generations later, Phebe was born on December 2, 1782 to Daniel (1741-1810) and Phebe (Olney) Angell. The Daniel Angell House in Johnston is on the National Register of Historic Places and is considered a valuable resource in the study of early Rhode Island architecture. 

In 1804, Phebe married Capt. Benjamin Whipple and they had several children. She died in 1812 and is buried in Intervale Cemetery in North Providence. 

The sampler includes another inscription, “Learning is an ornament never to be spent,” a quote that we have seen on other early samplers. It is sometimes followed by, “When land is gone and money spent, then learning proves most excellent.”

Worked in linen on linen, the sampler is in excellent condition. It has been conservation mounted and in a 19th century molded frame. 
 

photo of reverse