Two specific samplers were discussed. Ann Calton attended the Royal Freemason School as she was the daughter of a Freemason. She was born legitimately in 1820 when her father, a grocer, when he was 53. By the time she was 10 her parents were unable to care for her and she remained at the school between 1830-35 as a pupil, then 1835-40 as a pupil teacher. Girls were taught to sew, made and mended their own clothes, and made small items for sale. Every year their work was presented to the School Governors and the public for approval. On 24/7/1834 Ann Calton won the needlework prize, which was usually a morocco workbox. In the Fitzwilliam collection there were some very large, framed, samplers worked by Ann Calton and on one in particular, her name is at the top of a list of stitchers, implying she was the pupil teacher in charge of the project, although the list is headed as "Children", even though by this to e she was in her late teens. documentation shows she became a Governess and seamstress and died in1855, having been looked after by the Freemasons all her life.
Mary Ann Tipper entered Ashley Down Orphanage in 1863. She was born in 1852, her father died when she was 5 and her mother when she was 11. Documentation proved she was legitimate and she was accepted into this orphanage on this basis. This orphanage had a wider curriculum than most, supported by George Muller, who was criticised by society figures for educating girls above their station ie basic writing (not just reading the Bible) and basic arithmetic. Followed Bristol & District Needlework scheme which gave instructions to make samplers and small accessories. Samplers were very linear, often 3 columns in minuscule cross stitch, band patterns, rows of letters and numbers in different script styles, and paired initials. Mary Ann became a housemaid.
A very interesting trip out.
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