Cross
Stitch
Sampler
Spotlight on our Collection
You may remember seeing a faded, counted cross-stitch sampler in the 19th century bedroom on the second floor the last time you toured the Old Fort. Mary Ann Pierson sewed the sampler in 1833 when she was 10 years old.
In 1982 Rebecca Evans gifted it to the Montgomery County Historical Society and it has been on display ever since.
The sampler caught the eye of new board member Lori Rulison, who decided to make a reproduction sampler with the idea of raffling it off as a fundraiser for the Society. (Raffle) As part of the process, she has been trying to find out more about Mary Ann Pierson. With the help of genealogist Darlene Small Gilligan, Lori has discovered a possible family connection between Mary Ann Pierson and the Evans family. It seems that in 1874 a Richard Evans married Caroline McMartin, of Joh
nstown. Caroline’s mother was Mary Ann Pierson. Ms. Gilligan is doing further research and we’ll keep you updated on what is discovered.
Now, more about the raffle. Lori has been busily stitching all winter and will be done with the sampler by spring. Once she’s done, we’ll get the raffle started with a mailing to our members, so watch your mailbo
x this spring!
Here is the original sampler. The colors have been enhanced to bring out detail, consequently, they are not accurate. To see the color correct sampler, along with the reproduction, you will just have to stop by the Fort on opening day.
In 1833, Mary Ann Pierson worked this highly decorative sampler, which features several rows of alphabet and carefully worked colorful motifs of birds, dogs, stags, flowers and trees. A very appealing verse, stitched in the center of the piece, reads as follows:
Children look and see
What care my parents took of me,
They gave me learning in my youth
That I might learn to practice truth.
The sampler is done primarily in counted cross stitch but includes more intricate stitches such as Algerian Eye, herringbone, satin, and Queen stitch. It was sewn on a linen foundation with cotton thread, and records the makers age of 10 years,as well as the date of completion,1833.
Mary Ann Pierson was born Feb 17 1823 and died Mar 29 1873. She married James I. McMartin from Scotland. Their daughter, Caroline, married Richard Evans.
The family's ancestry traces from Yorkshire England about 1549, to Buckinghamshire within the next generation. By the third generation, a direct line ancestor of Mary Ann emigrated to America before 1680 and was buried in Southampton, Suffolk County, Long Island, New York. Several generations later, we see Mary Ann's grandparents moving from Southampton, Long Island to Fulton County, New York before 1799, where her father was born. Mary Ann's parents were Eli Pierson, born Feb 20 1799, and Amanda Mason, born Oct 20, 1802.
Reproduction Sampler and Raffle
Below is the Paper written by Darlene Small Gilligan, with bibliography at end.
You may remember seeing a faded, counted cross-stitch sampler in the 19th century bedroom on the second floor the last time you toured the Old Fort. Mary Ann Pierson sewed the sampler in 1833 when she was 10 years old.
In 1982 Rebecca Evans gifted it to the Montgomery County Historical Society and it has been on display ever since.The sampler caught the eye of new board member Lori Rulison, who decided to make a reproduction sampler with the idea of raffling it off as a fundraiser for the Society. (Raffle) As part of the process, she has been trying to find out more about Mary Ann Pierson. With the help of genealogist Darlene Small Gilligan, Lori has discovered a possible family connection between Mary Ann Pierson and the Evans family. It seems that in 1874 a Richard Evans married Caroline McMartin, of Joh
nstown. Caroline’s mother was Mary Ann Pierson. Ms. Gilligan is doing further research and we’ll keep you updated on what is discovered.Now, more about the raffle. Lori has been busily stitching all winter and will be done with the sampler by spring. Once she’s done, we’ll get the raffle started with a mailing to our members, so watch your mailbo
x this spring!Here is the original sampler. The colors have been enhanced to bring out detail, consequently, they are not accurate. To see the color correct sampler, along with the reproduction, you will just have to stop by the Fort on opening day.
In 1833, Mary Ann Pierson worked this highly decorative sampler, which features several rows of alphabet and carefully worked colorful motifs of birds, dogs, stags, flowers and trees. A very appealing verse, stitched in the center of the piece, reads as follows:
Children look and see
What care my parents took of me,
They gave me learning in my youth
That I might learn to practice truth.
The sampler is done primarily in counted cross stitch but includes more intricate stitches such as Algerian Eye, herringbone, satin, and Queen stitch. It was sewn on a linen foundation with cotton thread, and records the makers age of 10 years,as well as the date of completion,1833.
Mary Ann Pierson was born Feb 17 1823 and died Mar 29 1873. She married James I. McMartin from Scotland. Their daughter, Caroline, married Richard Evans.
The family's ancestry traces from Yorkshire England about 1549, to Buckinghamshire within the next generation. By the third generation, a direct line ancestor of Mary Ann emigrated to America before 1680 and was buried in Southampton, Suffolk County, Long Island, New York. Several generations later, we see Mary Ann's grandparents moving from Southampton, Long Island to Fulton County, New York before 1799, where her father was born. Mary Ann's parents were Eli Pierson, born Feb 20 1799, and Amanda Mason, born Oct 20, 1802.
Reproduction Sampler and Raffle
Below is the Paper written by Darlene Small Gilligan, with bibliography at end.
Mary Ann Pierson and the 1833 Sampler
Darlene Small Gilligan
The Montgomery County Historical Society in Fort Johnson, New York received in 1982 a sampler which had been embroidered in 1833 by a ten year old girl. The accession record 1799 states the gift was given by Mrs. Richard (Rebecca) Evans II of Johnstown, New York. While preparing the program of events for the historical society’s 100th season, the board was interested in featuring the sampler, but knew some research would be needed to find its creator.
When a researcher is given a commission to find a ten year old girl who embroidered a sampler one hundred seventy years ago, you can imagine how large your thinking cap must be. It was interesting trying to determine how to start the search. The sampler, itself, gave the first clues. Besides the normal ABCs, the numbers, the flora and fauna motifs and a small poem embroidered into the linen, it was signed. Stitched into the design was her first, middle and last name, the year the piece was embroidered, and her age — Mary Ann Pierson 1833 Age 10.
But how to find her! With access to plenty of sources, it would seem the best way would be to look up the name, Mary Ann Pierson, and begin picking out a few which would fit into the time frame. She would have to have a birth year of about 1823. That proved to be a very wrong approach. It would have taken years to sift through the hundreds (thousands?) of Mary Ann Piersons we found. We would have to find another way.
An interesting thought was, how did the sampler come into the possession of Mrs. Evans? Perhaps she found it in a trunk in her attic. Actually, this turned out to be a much more profitable approach. We would take a look at Fulton County’s Evans family records to try and find a connection to Mary Ann Pierson. It was quick work to find “The Descendants of Robert Evans” published on the Jeanette Shiel web pages in 1999. This document quickly pointed to Richard Evans, who married Caroline McMartin, daughter of James I. (McIntyre) McMartin and Mary Ann Pierson. This small piece of information sent the researcher to the Federal Census records, and to other source information in Fulton County’s cities of Johnstown and Gloversville, New York, and all the way back to England in 1517. Of course, the larger picture of the family of Mary Ann Pierson was found in the well documented records for the PIERSON family, most of which can be found in several volumes in the Schenectady County Public Library and in libraries and other documents across the country.
It took some time to collect and read through biographies, genealogy reports, census records, obituaries, city directories and other types of documents to get to know the family. We have condensed what we found to give you a picture of the families of Mary Ann Pierson, creator of the 1833 sampler. Though we have traced her families back to the sixteenth century, we are recording only two generations before Mary Ann, and three generations after Mary Ann.
The Jewel In the Crown for this search was a 1998 document we found which tells of Mary Ann’s great grandson, Richard Evans II being the benefactor of a gift of $400,000 to our local two-county community college. From a portion of this gift The Evans Library was named at Fulton-Montgomery Community College. The document also talks of Richard’s wife, Rebecca: “As a life member and onetime president of the Montgomery County Historical Society, she was instrumental in developing Fort Johnson as an important historic site.”
We have come full circle. It was necessary to start with the family of Richard Evans II, former owner of Mary Ann’s 1833 sampler, only to find in the end that the descendant families of Mary Ann Pierson, who embroidered the sampler, were thoroughly involved in the development and growth of the Fort Johnson National Historic site where the sampler now hangs.
We have prepared a short biographical for each of the three families featured in this article:
PIERSON
Mary Ann Pierson was born February 17, 1823 and died March 29, 1873. She was the daughter of Eli Pierson, Jr. and Amanda Mason.
The family's known ancestry traces from Yorkshire England about 1517, and to Buckinghamshire within the next two generations. By the following generation, a direct line ancestor of Mary Ann emigrated to America before 1680 and was buried in Southampton, Suffolk County, Long Island, New York. Several generations later, with this line still living in Suffolk County, we see Mary Ann's grandparents moving from Southampton, Long Island to Johnstown, Fulton County, New York before 1799, where her father was born.
Mary Ann’s great grandparents were Timothy PIERSON and Mary (Mollie) CULVER. Her grandparents were Eli PIERSON, Sr., born about 1775 in Southampton, Suffolk County, Long Island, New York, and Mary VEGHTE. Eli, Sr., was the first member of the PIERSON family to arrive in Fulton County, New York. Eli Pierson, Sr. and Mary Veghte’s children were James, Mary, Polly, Eli, Eleanor (Nellie), Timothy, Eliza and William.
Eli’s son, also named Eli PIERSON (Jr.), was born February 20, 1799 in Johnstown. He married in New York State in 1822, Amanda Mason, born October 20, 1802 in Dorset, Vermont. Amanda’s direct line ancestor, Samson Mason, born in Adams, Massachusetts, marched from Berkshire County, 1777, in Capt. Enos Parker's company, Col. Benjamin Simond's regiment, to re-enforce the army. He was born in Adams, Massachusetts.
Mary Ann’s father was Eli PIERSON, Jr. “He was a farmer and a tanner, continuing actively in the tannery until 1870 when he retired.”
Eli, Jr., and Amanda Mason were the parents of ten children: Mary Ann Pierson, b. 1823; Abraham Veghte Pierson, b. 1826 and died before the age of six; Alice Pamela Pierson, b. 1828; Margaret Caroline Pierson, b. 1830; William Henry Pierson, b. 1833; Abraham Veghte Pierson, b. 1835; Emily Amanda Pierson, b. 1838; John Mason Pierson, b. 1840; Charles Pierson, b. 1842; and Marcus Fayette Pierson, b. 1845. Both Eli, Jr and Amanda are buried in the Johnstown Cemetery, Johnstown, New York.
In reading Fulton County biographicals, we see that several of these family members were heavily involved in the manufacture of gloves and mittens, which has for generations been a large industry in the Mohawk Valley. Family members were also involved as board members of local businesses, in politics, and other local clubs, churches and activities.
In the 1869-70 Gazetteer of Montgomery and Fulton Counties, N.Y., pages 234 – 254, published in Syracuse, N.Y. in 1870, we see at least this listing of Mary Ann Pierson’s brothers: Abraham Veghte Pierson and his brother, John Mason Pierson, are at Pierson Bros., manufacturers of gloves and mittens on Market Street, Johnstown, New York; and Marcus Fayette Pierson is proprietor of men’s furnishing goods, hats, caps and umbrellas on the South side of Main Street, Johnstown, New York. In the 1888 – 1893 Business Directories of Johnstown and Gloversville is C. Pierson (Charles), glove manufacturer at 10 West Green Street in Johnstown.
(Mary Ann Pierson’s brother), Abraham Veghte, son of Eli and Amanda (Mason) Pierson, was born August 10, 1835, died in Johnstown, January 26, 1892. He was educated in the public schools, and after completing his studies worked with his father in the tannery until 1870, in which year Eli Pierson retired from business. In 1871 he joined with his brothers Charles and John M. Pierson in the business of glovemaking, and carried this on for some time when they dissolved. He then associated with James Dunn, who had been engaged in glove manufacturing in Johnstown since 1860. The firm of Dunn & Pierson continued a successful business career until 1888, when Mr. Pierson withdrew and retired from active business. The plant continued in operation until Mr. Dunn's death in 1889, and since that date by James D. Pierson. Abraham V. Pierson was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a Democrat. He married, October 26, 1858, Jane Dunn, born December 30, 1837, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Cuyler) Dunn.
MCMARTIN
Mary Ann Pierson married James I. (McIntyre) McMartin from Scotland. James’ father was Daniel McMartin and his grandfather was Peter McMartin. James was born in (about) 1816. Their children were Caroline, Anna, Daniel, Eli P., Archibald, James, and Mary A.
The 1870 census gives us this information about James McIntyre McMartin and Mary Ann Pierson’s family: 1870 U.S. Federal Census > New York > Fulton County > Johnstown, page 26, Date census taker visited: June 17, 1870. Assistant Marshall who signed page: J. W. Miller. Information collected directly from the census page. James is 54 and Mary Ann is 47. They have seven children from age 18 to age 5. James is a glove manufacturer and his real estate is valued at $6000. In 1870, the head of household must declare if he/she is a citizen of the U.S. over the age of 21, and is so marked for James, Mary Ann's husband.
In ten more years, oldest daughter Caroline is not at home [she was married in 1874] and Mary Ann Pierson McMartin has died at the age of 50 years. This 1880 census shows that James' wife is now named Margaret, born about 1829 and raising the remaining children at home. Mary Ann Pierson, wife of James I. McMartin, died in 1873.
1880 U. S. Federal Census > New York > Fulton County > Other townships > Enumeration District 5, pages 37, 38, Village of Johnstown, Fulton County, New York Election District 1, June 17, 1880. Enumerator: John Davidson. Information collected directly from the census page. This 1880 census also shows that Mary Ann's husband was a glove manufacturer, as well as three of their sons, Daniel, Eli P, and Archibald. The census page also shows their oldest daughter, Caroline, was no longer living at home, Anna was still at home at age 26, James’ daughter, Mary Ann, age 15 is "at school" and their son, James, at age 18, was a glove cutter. Census shows that Anna McDonough, age 26, born in Ireland, lived in the McMartin home as a servant.
In both 1890 and 1892 Mary Ann’s husband is listed in the Gloversville, New York Directory:
James I. McMartin lives in the city of Johnstown, New York. His glove manufacturing company’s name is J. I. McMartin & Sons at 10 Montgomery Street.
EVANS
The biographical of Richard and Robert Evans is from“Descendants of Richard Evans” published on Jeanette Shiel’s web pages in 1999.
James I. McMartin and Mary Ann Pierson’s daughter, Caroline, married Richard Evans October 15, 1874. Caroline was the grand-daughter of Daniel McMartin, and great-granddaughter of Peter McMartin, born in Scotland.
“Richard Evans, son of Robert (2) and Mary Lois (Phillips) Evans, was born in Gloversville, Fulton County, New York, November 11, 1852, and died December 20, 1908. He was educated in the public schools, Gloversville Seminary, Johnstown Academy and under private tutors, all of which was preparatory to his admission to Cornell University, being a member of the first freshman class ever admitted to that now famous institution (1868). After leaving the university, Richard associated with his brother, Robert J. Evans and began the manufacture of gloves. In 1874, the firm of R. J. & R. Evans was formed and continued in successful operation until January 1898, when Robert J. Evans retired from the firm.
Robert J.'s place was taken by two sons of Richard Evans, whom he (Richard) with himself, constituted the new company, Richard Evans & Sons. Mr. (Richard) Evans Sr. continued in active business until his death. The sons succeeded him and continued the business.
Richard Evans was interested in other affairs of Johnstown. He was one of the promoters and treasurer of the Johnstown Electric Light and Power Company; trustee of the Presbyterian Church; member of school board for many years; and a director of the People's Bank. He was a liberal supporter of the Young Men's Christian Association. He was an able business man and polished gentleman, having many warm friends.”
Caroline and Richard Evans’ children were: Richard Malcolm Evans, James McMartin Evans, Archibald “Archie” Evans, Charles Phillips Evans, and Caroline Lois Evans.
Bibliography – Pierson, McMartin and Evans
Ancestry.com (LDS) Records
Biographical ibid., Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs: Pierson, edited by Cuyler Reynolds (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1911); Pierson Millennium.
Gazetteer of Montgomery and Fulton Counties, N.Y. 1869-70, pages 234-254, Business & Residences of Johnstown, 1869-70, Syracuse, 1870.
Dempster Records, 1778 – 1803, A register of Baptisms in Montgomery County, New York
Descendants of Robert Evans, http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyfulton/evans.html Copyright ©1999, Jeanette Shiel. Source: Reynolds, Cuyler. "Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs," 1911.
Gilligan, Darlene Small, Re-created Genealogy Report, Descendants of Timothy Pierson, 2004.
Glen Telephone Company – May 1917.
Gloversville, New York Directories, 1890-93
History of Southampton, L.I., NY, "The Early History of Southampton, L.I., New York, with Genealogies" by George Rogers Howell, M.A. (Yale University) 1887
Johnstown Businesses in 1907
http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyfulton/Communities/johns1907a.html
Johnstown, New York Cemetery Records, Fulton County, 1799 - 1950.
"Manual of the Presbyterian Church of Johnstown, N.Y. Containing a List of the Officers and Members thereof, to October 1, 1874", printed for the use of the Members of the Church, Johnstown: Journal Book and Job Printing House, 1874.
Naming of a Library - The Evans Library, FMCC,
http://fmcc.suny.edu/library/name.htm
National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Vol. 38, page 335; Vol. 56, page 371; Vol. 83, page 250.
New York Times, January 31, 1929
Death Notice and News Article for James M. Evans.
Pearson, Carol E. - 7 Penwood Dr, Apt 6, Penacook, NH 03303<HEPN58A@prodigy.com> - 2/95
Pierson, Richard E. and Pierson, Jennifer, "Pierson Millennium" Heritage Books, Inc. 1997.
Pierson Genealogical Records and Pierson Genealogy - "Pierson Genealogical Records" collected and compiled by Lizzie B. Pierson of Andover, Mass. - Albany, N.Y., Joel Munsell, Printer - 1878 preface by Geo. R. Howell. (Library of Congress call # CS71.P362 1878)
Richard E. Pierson and Jennifer Pierson, Heritage Books, Inc. 1997
Rootsweb’s WorldConnect web by Douglas Hanke
http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=SHOW&db=dhanke&recno=41736
U.S. Federal Censuses - Images on-line Ancestry.com, 1870, 1880, Fulton County, New York