The Alphabet Sampler |
This Victorian alphabet sampler was made by Florence's grandmother, Esther Elliss. Young girls of that time period learned needlework and samplers were a way that they practiced and honed their skills. Alphabet samplers, also called school or marking samplers, were used to teach the basic lettering and numbers required for marking household linens. The sampler has the alphabet in capital letters, followed by the numbers 1 through 14, followed by the alphabet in lower case letters. The bottom third of the piece has various nature motifs including trees, birds and flowers. Though some threads are missing or faded and can barely be seen, still clearly readable in the middle of the piece is Esther's "signature":
Esther Elliss Her Work October 1840
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Esther Elliss was born in Gloucestershire, England in 1832 or 1833. Her mother was Hester Jenkins and her father was William Elliss. Esther was only 7 or 8 years old when she made the sampler! In 1856, when Esther was 23, she married Joseph Cooper in Lydbrook. Joseph was 27 years old and a farmer. A few months later Esther gave birth to a daughter, Esther Cooper (Florence's mother), on August 26, 1856. Esther Elliss Cooper died 8 days after her daughter was born, on September 3, 1856, from complications related to childbirth. She was just 23. Joseph Cooper was left with an infant to care for. He eventually remarried and had six more children. |
Aunt Flo brought the sampler with her when she immigrated to the United States. She eventually passed it on to her niece, Ruby (Esther's daughter). At some point, it was framed in a charming tea tray frame. Though Esther Elliss was in this world only a very short time, she managed to leave a very lasting mark: She gave birth to a baby girl who lived a long and productive life and had several children--if it weren’t for baby Esther Cooper, there would be no us! In addition, she left this amazing piece of handwork created when she was just a child that has survived, traveled thousands of miles, and been cherished by her descendants for over one hundred and seventy years!
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