Mary Ann Seekings

This is an extremely fine and rare Quaker white-on-white darning sampler made at the renowned Ackworth School in Yorkshire, England. Mary Ann Seekings signed her sampler in tiny red silk stitches that are consistent with her very delicate darned patterns. Similar samplers are known to have been made at the school between 1799 and 1826, documented in Carol Humphrey’s excellent book, Quaker School Girl Samplers from Ackworth School (Needleprint, 2008).

Mary Ann was born on May 9, 1803, the daughter of a baker, William Seekings and his wife Mary (Read) Seekings of Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire. Ackworth School records indicate that she entered the school in 1813 and remained there until 1817.

She married Josiah Richardson (1791-1859) of Newington, Surrey and they had at least 5 children. The 1841 census finds the family in Lambeth, London where Josiah was listed as a private teacher. A file of research accompanies the sampler.

The sampler is in excellent condition and it has been conservation mounted into a modern frame.