Two Samplers made by Caroline Schultz

How fortunate that both of Caroline Schultz’s samplers remain together after all these years! 

Caroline was born on October 23, 1826, the 2nd of 11 children born to John and Christen (Chambers) Schultz. The smaller sampler is signed, “Caroline Schultz’s work done in the 11th year of her age,” indicating that she was 10 years old. The row of queen’s-stitched strawberries shows an unusual aptitude at a young age. Caroline’s larger sampler was made three years later, and the pictorial register features a very good, stylized apple tree – a sampler motif that can be found on European and American samplers throughout the centuries. Two large birds flank the tree, with smaller flowering elements above them. Notable is the large alphabet, which was accomplished in an unusual font, Irish Convent Style lettering. 

In 1847, at age 21, Caroline married Hazard Zebulon Schlosser (1822-1906). The 1850 census records the family living in York, Pennsylvania where Hazard was a carpenter. In total, the family grew to 6 children. In 1901, The York Daily newspaper published notice that the couple celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary and that they both were in the “enjoyment of good health.” Caroline died in 1911, and is buried along with family members in Conewago Chapel Basilica Cemetery. 

Both of the samplers were worked in silk on linen and are in excellent condition. They are conservation mounted and are in molded and black painted frames.