Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

Needlework Sampler
1812
Belinda Sears
USA
Silk on linen
overall: 9 1/2 x 7 x 1/8 in.; 24.13 x 17.78 x .3175 cm
Gift of Mrs. John G. Fleck and Mrs. Robert T. Musgrave
75.55

Needlework sampler stitched over two threads on bleached 40-count fabric. All edges are turned under and hemmed. Outer border on all sides in yellow cross-stitch. Body of sampler is composed of nine rows. In between the first seven rows are horizontal dividers in cross-stitch, two rows are dark brown, one is green and three are yellow. The first two rows have an upper-case alphabet and the numbers 1 and 2. Most of the letters are cross-stitched in yellow, but a few of the letters and both numbers are cross-stitched in dark brown. The next row is a lower-case alphabet (no j) in green and yellow cross-stitch. The following three rows are an upper-case, cursive style alphabet (no J) cross-stitched in yellow, green and dark brown. The next section is two rows, without a divider in between them. A signature is cross-stitched in dark brown with a few yellow letters at the end. The signature reads "Belinda Sears aged 10 yr / s. May 18th A.D. 1812." Below this is a cross-stitch chain motif in green and yellow. The remainder of the sampler has a floral vine with green satin stitch leaves, yellow stem stitch vine and yellow satin stitch petaled flowers.

Belinda Sears was born March 28, 1802, on Cape Cod, the daughter of Seth Sears (1767-1806) and Sarah Hurd (1774-1812). She married Gould Hurd (b. 1799), son of Benjamin Hurd and Phoebe Gould, on November 15, 1821. They had a daughter, Belinda Hurd, in Orleans, MA, on September 18, 1826, and a son, Benjamin Hurd, in Brewster, MA, on December 16, 1840. Daughter Belinda Hurd married William Eaton Richardson (b. 1823) and had two children: Frederick (b. 1862) and Frank Crosby Andrews (the grandfather of the donor). According to the 1860 U.S. Census, Belinda and Gould Hurd were living in Brewster, MA. Gould Hurd was a farmer with real estate valued at $1000 and a personal estate valued at $300. Their son, Benjamin, is also listed in their household, as a mariner. In addition, 72-year-old Polly Crosby was living with them. By the 1880 U.S. Census, Gould and Belinda were living alone in Brewster, MA. Gould is listed as a "retired shipmaster" and Belinda as "keeping house."