Sarah Goddard

[Eliza Ann Sullivan]

I have a darning sampler supposedly from Oswaldtwistle Lancashire.  It has 5 darns and two sets of initials plus 1794.  On the rear of the frame there is a beautiful copperplate signature of Sarah Goddard December 16th 1794.  I was told the initial F. R. and S. G. make this a wedding sampler.  Don't know if this is true as never heard of this before.  Also over the top of the initials there are small crowns which makes me think it might be from Scotland.  Can any one find any marriage between a Sarah Goddard and a F. R. in 1794.  Thank you

[Alan of Kaslo]

There is a couple William Goddard marriages around the time but zero female Goddard in all of Scotland between the years 1780-1800.

In England seeing a bunch of Sarah Goddard marriages but none with a F first name in any years around the time.

[Eliza Ann Sullivan]

She was Sarah Goddard and she married someone with initials F. R.  Can't imagine how I can trace her without a new married name.  She must have married in 1794 or it wouldn't be on her sampler.

[rosie99]

I have a darning sampler supposedly from Oswaldtwistle Lancashire. 

LancashireOPC has no 'Goddard' records for baptism, marriage or burial at Oswaldtwistle until 2 in the 1890's.   There are only 2 results for a Sarah Goddard marriage 1794 =/- 5 on that site and they are both 1792 and not to a F.R

[Girl Guide]

You won't be able to now, but have you considered taking it to a museum to see if they can shed any light on the sampler?

Have you tried uploading an image of it on to google to see if there is a match at all?

[Eliza Ann Sullivan]

I'd love to take it to a British Museum but I'm in Australia and they are not too flash on samplers.  Might just have to look out for a Sarah Goddard around 1794  - it must be an important date for her and F. R.

[Girl Guide]

Okay, how about taking some pictures of it.  The whole thing and then close ups of each section.

There is a museum in the UK called the Fitzwilliam Museum that have tapestries.

https://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/aboutus/contact

The above link shows the various contacts, I would suggest you email the reception one.  Explain why you are writing and could they help as you live in Australia and can't visit in person.

The below link is about their samplers.  There is a list on the left giving information about samplers.

https://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/gallery/samplers/

You can then see the samplers they know about.

Try it, you have nothing to lose.  It may take them some time to respond.  They say they are aiming to reopen on Tuesday 18th May 2021.