Katharine Randolph Vail

An endearing and carefully made little Quaker sampler, this is signed, “Katharine R. Vail aged eight Years 26th 10th Month 1828,” indicating that she completed the sampler precisely on her eighth birthday as she was born on October 26, 1820. The phrasing that she stitched on the sampler employs the Quaker tradition of using “10th Month” for October. 

An uppercase alphabet was stitched on the first three lines and a fine border of strawberries on a leafy vine frames the sampler well. A blue bowknot provides a sweet element at the top border in the center. 

The sampler is accompanied by a very complete file of genealogical research. The Vail family was very prominent within the history of American Quaker families, beginning with Thomas Vail in Salem, Massachusetts circa 1640. By 1685, a branch of the family had settled in New Jersey. Seven generations later, Katharine Randolph Vail was born, the 10th of 11 children of Joel and Katharine (Miller) Vail, who were living in Green Brook. He was a hatter, farmer and merchant. Genealogy of some of the Vail Family Descended from Thomas Vail at Salem, Massachusetts 1640, by Wm. Penn Vail, M.D., 1937 provides a detailed family history and photocopies accompany the sampler.

In 1848, Katharine married Reune Runyon Fitz Randolph. She died a year later, likely in childbirth, and is in buried in the Friends Meeting House Cemetery in Plainfield, Union County, New Jersey. 

The sampler is worked in silk on linen and is in excellent condition. It has been conservation mounted and is in a 19th century frame. 

photo of reverse