Mary Crandal

We always appreciate a sampler that is wonderfully well-documented within the inscription as is the case with this very good Connecticut sampler which is signed, “Mary Crandal her Sampler made in the 15 year of her age in the year of her Lord 1816 N Stonington.” The family is the subject of the book, Elder John Crandall of Rhode Island and His Descendants by John Cortland Crandall (New Woodstock, NY, 1949) which informs us that the family in America began when John Crandall (born 1612) of Monmouthshire arrived in Boston in 1634. He settled in Rhode Island and is considered a colonial pioneer and statesman, having served in many positions of leadership. 

Five generations later, John Crandal of Westerly, Rhode Island married Nancy Lamphere of nearby Stonington, Connecticut and they maintained ties to both Rhode Island and Connecticut. Mary was born on September 1, 1801, the 3rd of their 10 children. 

Along with alphabets and a numerical progression, Mary stitched a wonderful couplet that was published as a psalm in the period, “Not earth nor all the sky can one delight afford / no not a drop of real joy, without thy presence Lord.” Mary remained single and died in 1890. She is buried in Rhode Island. 

The sampler was worked in silk on linen and is in excellent condition. It has been conservation mounted and is in a black painted oak frame.