Freelove Hazard 1792

Description

This sampler was probably made in Rhode Island, a poor sister, perhaps, to the magnificent creations coming out of the girls’ schools in Newport, Providence and Bristol at this same period, but bearing some similar “signatures”. The squat, long-tailed bird at the top appears on many of the more famous Rhode Island examples, as well as more elaborate versions of the vining floral border, springing from a lower central cartouche (or vase) upon which is inscribed the maker’s name, age, or other relevant information. Originally stitched on a coarse homespun linen with silk flosses, the reproduction, worked on 25 count unbleached linen, will very closely approximate the size of the original sampler, at 7-1/2″x11-1/2″. It is worked entirely in cross stitch over one and two threads of linen.

One of her decendants, Necia Yehia, has recently provided us with further information on Freelove. Her father was George Hazard (1724-1797) and her mother was Jane Tweedy. Her father was the mayor of Newport, Rhode Island. Jane Tweedy was George’s second marriage and there were five children from this union: Elizabeth, Freelove Sophia, Carder, Nathaniel and William Tweedy Hazard. Freelove married Peleg Peckham on August 25th, 1810, in Providence, RI. She is buried in the Middletown Cemetery, Middletown, Newport County, Rhode Island. I have been told that there is a photo of her gravestone that can be seen at “Find-A-Grave” but as it is very old the inscription is not clear.