The sampler has a circumferential vine, leaf and flower border with prominent flowers in each corner with only the lower flowers embellished with more slightly more vibrant color (green). Centrally there are five rows of alphabets and numbers separated by mildly decorative crossbands. A verse and the signature, separated by an incompletely finished decorative band, are seen more inferiorly and read:
Friends by this needle-work you see
The pains my teacher took with me
That by my parents I was taught
Not to spend my time for naught

Sarah F leGrand aged 10

Sarah Francis leGrand was born in Smith County, Tennessee in 1828 to Obediah Woodson leGrand (1785-1857) and Sarah “Sally” T. Richey (1782-1862). Her siblings included Obadiah Woodson (Jr) (1813-1877), George Washington (1815-1897) and Susan (1823-1878). William (1843-?), Lucinda (1846-?), and Hannah (1849-1876) leGrand are sometimes listed as siblings but this is questioned as Sarah “Sally” T. Richey leGrand would have given birth to William at 61 years old. Another debated sibling is Abram Bowen (1809-1872).
Shortly after Sarah’s birth, the family removed to Warren County, Kentucky.

Sarah F leGrand married William Henry Burris (1929-?) on April 20, 1851 in Warren County, Kentucky. They had two children, Sanders J. (1852-?) and Sally Taylor (1854-?), both suggested to have died in infancy.

AKS could find neither the date of death nor the burial site of Sarah Francis leGrand nor William Henry Burris.