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Writer's pictureMaggie Meahl

Field Trip: New Hampshire Antiques Show

*Originally posted August 13th 2019*



A 19th century fancy-painted chair–one of many treasures to be had at the 2019 NH Antiques Show.



Fancy painted table



Another fancy painted table


Antiques are coming back. You heard it here. I have been so worried about the antiques industry but I think (I hope) I feel a vibe coming on. Perhaps it was the significant crowd that gathered on Friday, August 9, in downtown Manchester–a beautiful summer day, I might add. The type of day for the beach or boating. But, plenty of folks thought it best to come down to the local Hilton(?) and perhaps make a memorable purchase.


My goal was to buy a piece of Connecticut schoolgirl needlework–perhaps by a girl connected to Norwich or the Huntingtons or Trumbulls, or any of the numerous families that made up prosperous New London County of the 18th century. Was I successful?



Impressive sampler wrought by Rosamond Forbes Knight (Stanton). August 1830 (11 years). From Norwich, MA, originally settled by Norwich, CT families.


Yes. After mulling it over and consulting with the seller, Barbara Boardman Johnson of Pewter & Wood Antiques, I purchased a sampler from 1830. It has staining, fading, and some threads missing–typical for something almost 200 years old. My plan is to have it minimally conserved.


Rosamond Forbes Knight grew up in Norwich, MA and was the daughter of Erastus Knight and Martha “Patty” Porter Knight (born in Hatfield, MA). She married Henry Stanton and had nine children. They were baptists and he was a deacon in their church. He died after a wagon full of logs fell on him. They are both buried in the Norwich Hill Cemetery in Huntington, MA (Hampshire County). She died in 1889 at the age of 70. I will continue to research her and may do a field trip out to Hampshire county. Questions I have: was there a needlework teacher involved, is her house still standing, what was her life like, who are her desecendents? What else can we know about Rosamond? I am so glad her needlework has survived!

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