Mary Bear

This is an excellent sampler with a very unusual depiction - Adam and Eve, dressed in clothing of the 1830s period. Adam and Eve appear quite commonly on English samplers, only very rarely on American ones. And, of course, they are almost always naked. When the couple does appear on American samplers, the origin is likely Boston, New York City area or Philadelphia. We love the assertive serpent wrapped around the trunk of the apple tree, feeding an apple to Eve. 

The sampler is signed, "Mary Bear hor sampler 1836” and the names of her parents, Ephraim and Elizabeth, are stitched above that. The initials of her seven siblings, Lavinia, Louisa, Catherine, Elizabeth, Samuel, Juliann and Susanna are included as well. The large and handsome house, earnestly labeled “house”, is nicely detailed - from the brick double chimneys to the blue doorway threshold. Adam and Eve appear above the inscription "In Adams fall wee Sinned All.”

The Genealogy of Henry Baer of Leacock, Pennsylvania (Baer, Bear, Bare) by Willis N. Baer (Schlechter’s, Allentown, Pennsylvania, 1955), documents the family well. Other sources indicate that the family in Pennsylvania began with Hans Heinrich Conrad Baer, Sr (1688-1738); he was born in Switzerland and emigrated to Pennsylvania. 

Mary (1821-1848) was the third of nine children born to Ephraim and Elizabeth (Graybill) Bear of Leacock, Pennsylvania; her given name was Anna Maria Bear. Mary remained single and died at age 27. She and her parents are buried in Zion Lutheran Cemetery. 

This sampler retains its original narrow green silk ribbon. This is consistent with other fine Pennsylvania samplers made in the early 19th century. Worked in silk on linen, the sampler is in excellent condition and has been conservation mounted into its very fine original painted frame.