Shelbyville Female Academy

Shelbyville, Bedford Co.

Tennessee State Museum, Nashville

Sarah Crawford (abt. 1814-?) may have been the daughter of William Crawford and his wife (name unknown). William Crawford owned land in Bedford County by 1810. His property was located on the Garrison Fork of the Duck River. Crawford does not appear in any census records, but his name does appear on an 1812 Tax List for Bedford County. As this area is close to Shelbyville, it is possible that Sarah may have attended school there. Her father most likely died before 1854, because Sarah Crawford and her two brothers were listed in the court records (Jan. 1854) as having partial interest in land on the waters of Big Flat Creek in District 24. As no married name is listed for Sarah, it is possible she never married.

Free embroidery, like that used for the flowers at the bottom, is unusual in Tennessee samplers. The stitcher used unraveled silk for the satin stitch to give the flowers more texture. Sarah certainly attended a school, probably the Shelbyville Female Academy. None of the samplers associated with the Shelbyville Female Academy resemble one another, perhaps reflecting a change in staff.