Martha M. Turner

Signed, “Wrought by Martha M. Turner at the John St Sewing School aged twelve years Providence May sixth 1853,” this engaging sampler documents a school that has not been known previously. Actually, we haven’t known of any school that called itself a “Sewing School” before this one! John Street is in the Fox Point neighborhood of Providence, Rhode Island, with origins in the 18th century.

The samplermaker, Martha Turner, was the daughter of Enoch and Ann Turner. She was born in Nova Scotia, Canada and the family emigrated in 1841 when Martha was 4 years old, arriving in Providence on the ship, Lucretia.

On January 3, 1861, she married the wonderfully named Hampden Dunkerly and they remained in Providence. Martha died in 1923 and is buried in North Street Burial Ground.

The sampler was worked in silk on linen and is in excellent condition, with a few weak stitches. It has been conservation mounted and is in a burl frame.