Narrow crossbands separate the eight rows of alphabets and numbers except between the first and second row of letters and numbers where the crossband is a prominent chevron or flame stitch. Traversing the full width of the sampler, this is only seen on one other AKS Kentucky sampler (Lucinda Ellis). The entirety of the sampler is surrounded by a vine and flower pattern and at the bottom the signature reads:
Francis Mary Darnaby’s Sampler 1831

Francis Mary Darnaby was born in January 1818 in Fayette County, Kentucky when her father, Edward (1793-1852), was twenty four years old, and her mother, Catherine Smith (1798-1858) was twenty. Her siblings included Julia/Judith Ann (1821-1870), Catherine Lydia (1823->1870), Elizabeth E. (1826-1891/4), William Henry (1828-1879), Malinda Caroline (1830-1866 vs 1826-1894), Sidney S. (1832-?), and Edward Fabricus/Fabians (1837-1910).

Francis married Orville Marshall Yates Johnson (1810-1874) on June 9, 1835, in Fayette County, Kentucky. They had eight children in fifteen years including Catherine (1837-1907), Ann Elizabeth. (1838-1906), Edward (1841-1863), Lucy B. (1843-1843), Sarah Caroline (1845-1915), Richard Jones (1848-1930), Henry (1850-?), Francis “Ollie” Marion (1850-1926), and William Sydney (1853-1925).

Francis Mary Darnaby died on February 14, 1854 vs April 18, 1854, in Fayette County, Kentucky at the age of thirty six years.