Born in New Jersey on 24 February 1719, Rebekah
Watson stitched this unique sampler when she was 14 years old. The verse is
especially curious, and almost certainly has a double entendre:
The higher the Tree the riper the PLUMB the richer the Cobbler the
blacker his Thumb
Following the brilliant Irish stitched section at the center is a series of
family initials. IW and AW refer to her parents, John and Abigail Watson. EK
is probably her elder, married sister, Elizabeth Kostor. In 1737, Rebekah
married Joseph Scattergood of Burlington, New Jersey. She died in
Philadelphia on February 22,1800. The sampler was given to The Scarlet
Letter by Mrs. Dorothy Scattergood, a direct descendent of Rebekah Watson
Scattergood.
Stitches used are cross, satin, back, Irish,
stem, and eyelet. Stitched on 35 count linen, the finished size will be
approximately 10"x10", closely approximating the original. The project is
recommended for intermediate level needle workers. |