America’s Tapestry
The New York State Panel
America’s Tapestry is a national project to embroider panels that celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, with one panel for each of the 13 original colonies. Stitching started in 2025 and will be completed in 2026. The inaugural display will be at William & Mary’s historic campus – a stone’s throw away from Colonial Williamsburg.
The New York panel is pictured above. It was designed in collaboration with the Fraunces Tavern Museum in New York City and illustrates the Birch Trials, which emancipated nearly 3,000 Black Loyalists for their service to the Crown and sent them to Canada.
The top left depicts a man advocating for his service to the British Crown to a table of British and American generals. The center motif depicts the various roles enslaved people played in the British Army: fighting in the Ethiopian Regiment, building barracks, and making shoes. The lower left motif illustrates the harbor of New York City and Fraunces Tavern. The family on the ship in the bottom right depicts a family, now freed, boarding a ship to begin their new lives in Nova Scotia.
Chapter member Jenni Paperman volunteered to serve as the State Director for New York panel. Chapter members are excited to
participate in this project.
We will be stitching at the Van Schaick Mansion when it is open to the public at the following dates and times:
Saturday, June 14th (1:00pm to 6:00pm)
Sunday. June 22nd (1:00pm to 4:00pm)
Sunday. July 13th (1:00pm to 4:00pm)
Sunday. August 17th (1:00pm to 4:00pm)
Sunday. September 21st (1:00pm to 4:00pm)
Sunday, October 19th (1:00pm to 4:00pm)
In addition, we will be stitching at times when the Van Schaick Mansion is not open to the public. If you are interested in participating, contact Jennifer Paperman.
Van Schaick Mansion
The Van Schaick Mansion is one of the most historic homes in New York State with a rich history that is tied to both the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. Built circa 1735, the house was used as the military headquarters by several English generals
during the French and Indian War. During the American Revolution, the mansion once again served as military headquarters. This mansion is where the plans for the battle of Saratoga were formulated. The General Peter Gansevoort Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution has graciously offered to host the stitching of America’s Tapestry.
For more information about the Mansion, visit:
http://www.vanschaickmansion.org/
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Meeting at the Niskayuna Library to examine the panel and devise a stitch guide.
