Sampler (Alphabet sampler)

Description

This is an alphabet sampler worked in 1798 by Martha Taylor of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Martha attended Leah Bratten Galligher's school, which opened in Lancaster early in 1797. While in attendance at this particular school, Martha also worked a fancy sampler, dated March 2, 1797. Her fancy sampler is the earliest known example from Mrs. Galligher's school, and was wrought even before the school's opening was advertised. Oddly, Martha's fancy sampler seems to have been worked before her marking sampler. The inscription on her marking sampler reads: "Martha Taylor Made / this sampler in the 12 / year of her age in / Mrss Galligher.s School / by her Direction in the year of our Lord / 1798" with the devotional hymn at the bottom: "And Must this body die / this mortal frame deca[y] / And Must these active / limbs of mine lie / mouldring in the clay"