Needlework sampler made by Alison Molison, c. 1823

Category

Museums & Galleries Item

Item no

52316

Title

Needlework sampler made by Alison Molison aged 9, c. 1823

Description

Rectangular red and green sampler " alphabets, numerals, initials, "Allison Molison 9", rows of stitching, row of coloured crowns in satin stitch.

Accession number

MC163.79

Copyright

The City of Edinburgh Council Museums & Galleries

This sampler is part of a collection of items related to Margaret Catherine Grant Blackie. She was the fourth child born to David Blackie, a gas meter manufacturer, and his wife Elizabeth Henrietta Grant who married in 1869. The family lived in Edinburgh. They had five children together, although the first child at only six months. Elizabeth died in 1884, and four years later, David married Isabella Smith. They had two children.

The photographs are of the eldest children, Alison, David, Margaret and Vincent. It would seem that they were all taken on the same occasion. Certainly, Alison and David who appear in more than one photograph, are wearing the same clothes.

One of the samplers was made by Margaret in 1887. Another may have been made by her sister Alison but it has no date and the name on it is Agnes Blackie so that's not certain. People didn't always use their given name and the common practice of handing down family names can often cause confusion too.

Another sampler was made by Margaret's aunt, Alison Blackie Grant in 1849. Alison was the sister of Margaret's mother (Elizabeth) and was listed as a milliner in the 1861 census

There are two samplers bearing the name Molison. One was made by Alison Molison and is undated. Alison Molison was the mother of Alison and Elizabeth Grant. The other was made by Elizabeth Molison in 1837. she was Alison’s younger sister. Their father was Frances Molison (or Molyson) who was a shoemaker living at Lochend Close at the time of Alison's marriage in 1835.

The last sampler was made by Anne Blackie in 1800. Curators have yet to discover how Anne is related to the rest of the family. She could be related to David Blackie (father of the donors) or she could be related to the family of Elizabeth Blackie nee Grant. Alison Molison's middle name was Blackie so that name runs through two family lines.

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