Mary Lewis Maum Ellis, Teacher

Marble Hill Academy (Green and Pink Group)

Bellevue, Davidson Co.

Caroline Frances DeMoss (1819-1891) was the eldest child of Abraham DeMoss Jr. and Elizabeth Newsom. The family settled in the western part of Davidson Co. overlooking the Harpeth River. Caroline’s parents build a house there, called Belle Vue, the year she was born. Caroline married twice, first to George W. Harding and after his death to Dr. George Divers Crosthwait.

Caroline may have made her sampler at the Marble Hill Female Academy (also called Mrs. Ellis’ Female Academy) as it is very similar to the c. 1832 Mary Elizabeth Boon(e) sampler (TSS 081) and the 1833 Ellen Mordaunt Oldham sampler (TSS 190). The school, run by Jesse and Mary Lewis Maum Ellis, was located ten miles southwest of Nashville near the DeMoss home. Ornamental needlework cost $15 extra per session.