ELIZABETH COPPS, Hopkinton, Merrimack, NH, 1827
"Elizabeth Copps of Hopkinton Agd 11 yrs. / Wrought this Oct the 29th 1827 under the Inspection of Miss M. Hoit."
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Elizabeth's wonderful sampler was worked in 9 colors of silk thread on a linen ground. A horizontal oval cartouche is surrounded by trailing leaves, flowers, and berries. Within the oval, she worked two uppercase alphabets, a single bird.
VERSE: "As memory o'er this task shall wake / And retrospective pleasure take / How shall I wish but wish in vain / To enjoy youth's pleasant hours again."
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Elizabeth was the 5th of 10 children born to Moses Copps and Mary Polly George. Moses Copps was born in Plaistow, N.H., in 1777. In the course of his life he resided in Plaistow, Portsmouth, Weare, Dunbarton, Hopkinton, N.H., and Haverill, MA. He was a shoemaker and a farmer. He was deputy sheriff of Plaistow, N.H., a town selectman, and a lieutenant of militia.
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Elizabeth married Henry Dewey White on 5 Dec 1841, in Hopkinton, Merrimack, NH. They had 4 daughters that they raised in Penacook, Merrimack, NH.
M. Hoit is possibly Mary Hoit/Hoyt, b. 17 Jun 1806, in Amesbury, Essex, MA, d. of Stewart Hoyt and Mary Polly Burleigh. Mary's older sister Sally, lived in Hopkinton, 40 minutes away from where the Hoyt family lived in Sanbornton, Belknap, NH.
EXHIBITED:
PUBLISHED:
Industry and Virtue Joined: Schoolgirl Needlework of Northern New England, by Leslie Rounds
DATE:
1827
SIZE:
Frame: 15" x 19" x 1.25"
Sight: 10.75" x 14.75"
CONDITION:
Staining to left side, with foxing around cartouche. Some bleeding, and color loss to thread. Original period gilt frame has surface wear and mild loss to gesso at corners.