Quilt, Pieced Brunswick Star

Date1860-1880

Maker Lucy Gregory Moorhead (1861 - 1890)

Maker Sarah Van Natta Gregory (1840 - 1869)

OriginAmerica, Illinois (probably)

MediumPlain and printed cottons

Dimensions76"H x 69"W (193 x 175 cm)

Credit LineGift of Mr. & Mrs. Milton Schaible

Object number1973.609.4

DescriptionThis is a rectangular quilt pieced from printed and plain cottons. The design features 16 diamonds or squares on point, each containing an 8-pointed star in brown, blue, and white predominating. The star pattern is sometimes known as the Brunswick Star. The pieced stars alternate with dark blue printed diamonds with a small ring-pattern print. The narrow 3/4-inch binding is from the same textile that forms the alternating blocks in the quilt. The bedcovering is quilted through cotton batting to white cotton backing in patterns of diamonds and parallel lines, 6-7 running stitches per inch.
Label TextThe basic block of this quilt is an eight-pointed star surrounded by eight squares and eight diamonds, all within a larger diamond. This pattern is sometimes known as Brunswick Star. One diamond in the right bottom block is of a patterned fabric that is found nowhere else in the quilt. It is probable that the quilt maker simply substituted a fabric for one she had run out of or wished to make a quilt block that was totally unique to her. The quilt descended through the donor’s family of Greene County, Pennsylvania, and Illinois and was believed to have been created by Lucy B. Gregory Moorhead or her mother, Sarah Van Natta Gregory

ProvenanceThe quilt probably belonged to Mrs. Milton Schaible's grandmother, Lucy B. Gregory Moorehead, born May 9, 1860 in Green County, Pennsylvania. After her father's death, she moved with her mother to Illinois in 1863. She married Warren Moorehead in 1881. He died in 1888 and she died in 1890, leaving one child, Mabel.

Mrs. Schaible wrote out the history as follows:
Belonged to my grandmother Lucy B. Gregory Moorhead (probably Lucinda as the genealogy shows many Lucindas).
She was born in Green Co., Pa. May 9, 1860. Her father went out with the 18th. Pennsylvania Cavalry; was taken prisoner and died in Libby prison. Lucy came with her Mother to Illinois in 1863. She was married to Warren Moorhead in 1881. He died in 1888. Mrs. Moorhead died 2 years later (1890) leaving their only child, "Little Mabel," (my Mother.)
As she was married such a short time, perhaps the quilt belonged to her Mother (my great grandmother, Sarah Van Natta Gregory (4/17/1840-2/15/1867).
The quilt was in quite good condition and as it probably was a companion piece to another one I have (in excellent condition) could have been made by her mother and given to her for her new home when she was married in 1881.