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Region: East Tennessee
1841 Nancy Ellis Ault
Mary Ann Long Hutsell, Teacher
Knoxville, Knox Co.
Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, Winston-Salem, NC

2214"V x 2214"H © TSS 041
fibers: silk
ground: 26 V/20 H ct. linen
Biography:
Nancy Ellis Ault (1823-1892) was fifth of ten children of Michael Ault and Mary Brown. Her father was a farmer in Knox Co. Nancy married Samuel T. Atkin in 1846. Atkin was a successful merchant and farmer. He owned several stores, a sawmill, and a lumber yard. He served as an alderman on the Knoxville City Council. The couple lived at 42 Gay Street. Nancy Atkin gave birth to twelve children, three of whom died in childhood.
Description:
Nancy made her sampler in 1841 under the tutelage of Mrs. M. A. Hutsell who may have been Mary Ann Wells Hutsell, wife of neighboring Blount County. Nancy’s text comes from a hymn by Isaac Watts.

O God my helP in ages Past,
My hoPe for years to come;
Be thou my guide While life shall last,
And my eternal home.

Wrought by
Nancy.E.Ault
Born Feb 22.
1823.

completed June 2. 1841 Under the tuition of Mrs. M. A. Hutsell.