Sampler (Band or marking sampler)

Description

This band or marking sampler was worked by Anna Green in 1741 with silk threads on a linen ground. Anna lived in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Portsmouth, settled by the English in 1630, was first called Piscataqua for its location along the banks of the river. It was renamed to Portsmouth in 1653. Anna identifies Piscataqua on her sampler, but it is not clear if she was referring to the original name of her town or to the Piscataqua River. This sampler, worked in a variety of stitches, shows a strong English influence with crown and heraldic lion motifs. The verse in the central band is taken from an old English poem advocating the proper use of one's time. There are eight stanzas in the poem whereby the first line of each stanza is borrowed to create the following phrase as it appears on Anna's sampler: "Behold alas Ovr days we Spend / How Vain They be how Soon they end." Anna then signs her work: "Anna Green her Samplar 1741 Piscataqua.