The sampler has nine rows of alphabets and numbers separated by simple crossbands. The date “1837” is at the end of the sixth line and her initials, “C. M. L” are at the end of the ninth line. The signature line is at the bottom of the sampler and reads:
Cecilia M. T. Loomis Aged 10 Years. Nazareth. K.y. Nov. 23rd 1837

Silk on linen with cross, Algerian eye, and straight stitches; thread count: 28/inch horizontal, 28/inch vertical

Cecilia M. T. Loomis was born on December 21, 1827, in Triadelphia, Ohio County, West Virginia to Erastus [Lt] Loomis (1793-1844) of Lebanon, Connecticut and Rachel Cecilia Thompson (?-1844) of Georgetown, District of Columbia (m. June 4, 1816, Washington, DC). No other offspring of this union are known to AKS.

Cecilia married Joseph Reed Spriggs (1821-1876), from Washington, Pennsylvania and their offspring included Ada Spriggs (1854-1934). Ada married Cornelius Curran (1850-1923) and their child was John Joseph Curran, Sr. (1890-1964) (see below). No other offspring of this union are known to AKS.

According to the superlative help AKS has received from the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, specifically Ms. Kelly McDaniel, Archivist, Sisters of Charity Nazareth Archival Center, (SCN Archival Center), Cecilia came to Nazareth on March 9, 1837 and left on February 24, 1841, was a Catholic, and she and her parents were from Washington, Virginia (see the Student Card in the ancillary images for Cecilia from the Sisters of Charity Nazareth Archival Center). Because of the close proximity of Triadelphia, Ohio County, West Virginia (then Virginia) and Washington, Washington County, Pennsylvania (and the relative distance, and lack of any reference to the relatively distant Washington, Virginia or current day Washington, West Virginia), AKS very respectively suggests that the Student Card of the sampler maker seen in the ancillary image is in error: the Loomis family residence is suggested to be in Washington, Pennsylvania (see map in the ancillary images). This is further suggested by the fact that several family members are referenced to Washington, Pennsylvania (Joseph Reed Spriggs and Charles C. Curran, Sr.).

Ms. McDaniel of the (SCN Archival Center) informs AKS it was not at all unusual for girls to travel extensive distances from their home to Nazareth, Nelson County, Kentucky (such as the 386.5 miles from Washington, Washington County, Pennsylvania to Nazareth, Kentucky)!
Please note the quaint comments on the bottom of the Nazareth Student Card in the ancillary images which makes reference to the visits by the above-mentioned Charles C. Curran, Sr. (grandson of the sampler maker) and his wife Catherine Curran who visited Nazareth on August, 24, 1959 as well as the sampler maker’s great grandson, William C. McCool in 1969. The 1926 application of this same Charles C. Curran, Sr. for membership into The Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the American Revolution is seen in the ancillary images and is interesting reading.

Cecilia M. T. Loomis died in West Alexander, Pennsylvania (just east of the West Virginia/Pennsylvania border and one third of the way to Washington, Washington County, Pennsylvania from Triadelphia, Ohio County, West Virginia), on February 8, 1871.