Ann Burke Dodge
New York, New York, 1792
We have a particular fondness for 18th century needlework made by very young girls; this very good sampler is signed, “Ann Burke Dodge Her work Aged 7 Years 6 Months 1792.” Along with alphabets and a numerical progression, it reads, “My Soul when I shake off this dust Lord in thy Arms I will entrust O make me thy peculiar case. Some heav’nly Mansion me prepare,” a variation of a published hymn.
Records of the life of Ann Burke Dodge inform us that she was the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Monfort) Dodge. Thomas Dodge was likely related to the Quaker family of the same name from Cow Neck, Long Island, although Thomas and family weren’t Friends. Ann Burke Dodge died at age 20 on November 4, 1804, and she was buried the next day in Houston Street Burial Ground in New York. We also know that her paternal grandparents were Thomas Dodge (1721-1789) and Sarah (Onderdonk) Dodge (1722-1800).
The sampler was worked in silk on linen and is in excellent condition. It has been conservation mounted into a mid-19th century paint decorated frame.
photo of reverse