Annzalette Hussey's Sampler

Two block alphabets of 26 letters. One script alphabet with no "J," and "O" instead of "Z"; numbers to 19. Alphabets and numbers colored in pairs or groups with all these rows separated by simple geometric crossbands. In lower half of sampler, flower basket on rectangular base, flanked by two eight-sided lozenges decorated with swags and tassels containing inscription and date. Border of geometric flowering vine on all four sides. Silk embroidery thread on linen ground. STITCHES: cross, crosslet, outline, stem, chain, satin. THREAD COUNT: warp 22, weft 25/in.

"Annzalette
Hussey
aged 9

In the year of
our Lord
1821"

Anzolette was born on April 7, 1812, to Captain Andrew (1783–1861) and Mary Tredick Hussey in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She married Ebenezer Knight on June 15, 1835, and they had five daughters—Mary, Ariadne, Hannah E., Sarah K., and Abby. Anzolette died on November 20, 1895, in Washington, D.C., but is buried in Portsmouth. In 1827, at the age of fourteen, she was a student in the First Female School of Portsmouth. On this sampler she spelled her name Annzalette, and throughout her life she used the two different spellings for her first name. This sampler is very different from her other one and was probably worked at a different school. See Anzolette Hussey for her other sampler.

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