CHESTER CO., PENNSYLVANIA QUAKER PICTORIAL NEEDLEWORK SAMPLER, silk on linen, top center featuring "An Emblem / of Love" below two birds within an octagonal frame, featuring an alphabet row above and floral motifs to the sides, center with a four-row verse surrounded by four initials and two handled flower baskets, lower third signed "Mary Ann Downing / 1832" in a foliate frame along with flower motifs and two eight-point stars, all encompassed by a vine border. Housed under glass in a veneer period frame. This lot includes genealogical research. Dated 1832. 21 1/8" x 18 1/4" sight, 26 1/4" x 23 3/8" OA. Very good overall condition with light toning of linen, light fading and fugitive color to some thread, a hole along top edge near left hand corner, frame with some wear, a few cracks with repairs to top edge, a few chips to veneer. Not examined out of frame. Provenance: From the collection of Nick Routson, Phoenix, AZ.M. Finkel & Daughter (retains dealer label).Descended in the family of Morgan Lewis of Nauvoo, IL. Catalogue Note: Mary Ann "Molly" Downing was born on December 17, 1822 to parents Joseph Downing (1876-1822) and Elizabeth Beitler (Beidler) (1794-1868), both Quakers. Her parents married on January 13, 1813, and the family resided in Uwchlan Township, Chester Co., PA. Formerly known as Milltown and Downing's Town, Downingtown was established by her fraternal great-great grandfather Thomas Dowing (1691-1772), an immigrant from Bradninch, Devonshire, England and member of the Society of Friends (Quakers). After her father died, her mother remarried to Benjamin Riter (1801-1884) of Chester Co., and became an early follower of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons). They moved to Nauvoo, Hancock Co., IL, which was a utopian town established by Mormon founder and leader Joseph Smith (1805-1844).Mary Ann married Morgan Rees Lewis (1814-1894), a Quaker from Chester Co., on December 25, 1845, they had nine children with four not surviving early childhood. The family moved to Sonora, Hancock Co., IL, close to Nauvoo, some time between 1850 and 1860 and presumably converted to Mormonism. Mary Ann died on February 6, 1875 and is buried at Old Nauvoo Burial Grounds in Nauvoo, IL.