CECIL CO., MARYLAND NEEDLEWORK SAMPLER, silk, and possibly other thread, on linen, six alphabet and numeral rows segmented by horizontal bands of decorative stitching, lower half featuring signature that reads, "Sarah Veazey Lufby her Sam / pler made at Eleven Years / of Age August 17............", above floral vines and "Life how short / Eternity how long", all within a frame encompassed by a scrolling floral vine and outer sawtooth border, proper right edge with a vertical line of stitching. Housed under glass in a 19th century veneer frame. Late 18th century. 14 3/8" x 17 3/8" sight, 16" x 18 7/8".
Catalogue Note: Identified as Sarah Veazey Lusby who was born on May 16, 1784, along with her twin brother John Henry, in St. Stephen's Parish, Cecil Co., MD to parents Joseph Lusby (c.1750-1792) and Rebecca Veazey (1756-1792). Sarah would have finished this sampler around 1795, after both her parents passed away, likely stitching it in Cecil Co. She reportedly went on to live with her uncle Miller, presumably the husband, John Miller (1759-1810), of her mother's sister, Elisabeth Veazey (1759-1782).
The Veazeys were a prominent family of the Eastern Shore of Maryland with the initial immigrant ancestor, John Veazey, who settled on two tracts of land in Cecil Co. in the late 17th century. Sarah's mother, Rebecca, was the sister of Gov. Thomas Ward Veazey (1774-1842), who was a farmer and had a career in politics. Beginning in 1808, he was a presidential elector for James Madison and, then, a representative for Cecil Co. in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1811 to 1812. He served in the War of 1812 as a Lieutenant Colonel in command of the 49th Regiment of the Maryland Militia. Veazey returned to his farm for a time after the war, before being chosen as a member of the Governor's Council in 1833. Shortly after in 1835, the Whigs nominated Veazey as their candidate for governor, which he won the majority of ballots and was sworn into office in 1836 for a term.
Sarah Veazey Lusby had never married and appeared to live at Gov. Veazey's plantation in Cecil Co. for an unknown amount of time. A year after the Governor's death, there were four deaths in the Veazey family during the span of six weeks in 1844. This included Sarah and her cousin, Mary L. Veazey, both dying on the same day, March 7, 1844, and are buried at the Veazey Family Cemetery in Earleville, Cecil Co., MD.
For a sampler completed by Sarah's aunt, who was First Lady of Maryland, see lot 2471 in this auction.

Very good visual condition with linen having some light toning and stains, a sizable stain in center bottom edge, some small holes most notably to scrolling floral vine border which also has some light bleeding of greens, some silk thread with light fading/fugitive color but majority retains good color, frame with some scattered losses, cracks, and repairs to veneer, glass replaced. Not examined out of frame.