The Winterthur Library

 The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

 

 

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

 

Creator:          Cazenove-Lee Family                                      

Title:               Papers

Dates:             1617-1970

Call No.:         Col. 83

Acc. No.:         [various – see detailed description]

Quantity:        19 boxes

Location:        34 L 2-5, Map Case 3, Drawer 1

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

The Cazenove family dates back to the 15th century in the South of France.  Family members were Huguenots who sought refuge in Geneva, Switzerland, after the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre.  Active in international commerce, branches of the family settled in England, Italy, Spain, and the United States.  Items in this collection primarily concern the forebears and descendants of Anthony-Charles Cazenove (1775-1852), who settled in Alexandria, Virginia, after emigrating to the United States.  His granddaughters married into the other families represented in the collection, particularly the Lee and du Pont families.

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

The collection consists of letters, photographs, marriage records, business papers, medical prescriptions, and other documents, mostly relating to family history and genealogy.  The bulk of material is from the 19th century and offers evidence of an upper class lifestyle, particularly in Virginia and Washington, D.C. Families represented include the Cazenoves, Lees, du Ponts, Hendersons, and Gardners.

 

 

SERIES

 

The collection has been divided into seven series:

 

            1. Early Cazenove family documents

            2. Commercial and  legal documents and letters from the papers of Cazenove G. Lee, Jr.

            3. Inventory of Henderson family papers

            4. Anthony-Charles Cazenove Correspondence

            5. Mrs. Cassius F. Lee--Mrs. Samuel F. du Pont Correspondence

            6. Cazenove G. Lee--Marguerite Lammot du Pont Lee Correspondence

     7. Photographs.

 

Most of the accessions in this collection were organized and arranged by John Askling for Dorothy Vandegrift Lee.  To the extent possible, the original organization of the materials has been preserved.

 

 

ORGANIZATION

 

A brief explanation of the contents of each series is given below.  A fuller description of the contents and more details on individual family members are provided in the description of each series of the collection.

 

Series 1: Early Cazenove Family Documents

 

Consists of letters, marriage contracts and certificates, wills, business contracts, and other miscellaneous documents that record the activities of the Cazenove family in Geneva from 1693 to 1801, but a few papers date into the 1820s.  The highlight is thirty-five letters written from Elizabeth Bessonnet Cazenove to her son Paul, while he was in Paris.  She conveys data on her life and offers him encouragement and advice as he tries to make his way into the world.

 

2. Commercial and legal documents and letters from the papers of Cazenove G. Lee, Jr.

 

These original letters and documents interpret or refer to commercial, mercantile, and legal problems between 1672 and 1841  The bulk of the material relates to the Turberville family of "Hickory Hill" and "Peckatone" in Westmoreland County, Virginia.   A group of letters from Dr. George Steptoe, physician to the Turberville family, contains prescriptions and medical advice.

 

3. Inventory of Henderson family papers

 

Alexander Henderson was the first member of the family to emigrate to the United States from Glasgow, Scotland in 1756.  Descendants married into the Casenove, du Pont, and Lee families.  The inventory includes biographical and genealogical information on the Hendersons and related families along with brief descriptions of the items in the collection.  (The location of the original documents is unknown at this time.)  A name index to the inventory is also available at this repository.  

 

4. Anthony-Charles Cazenove Correspondence

 

Anthony-Charles Cazenove was the second son of Paul Cazenove and Jeanne Elizabeth Martin.  He was born in Geneva, Switzerland in 1775.  In 1790, he went to London to work in the counting house of James Cazenove & Co.  He and his brother, John Anthony (Jean-Antoine) emigrated to the Philadelphia, Pa. in 1794 and eventually settled in Alexandria, Virginia.  The bulk of the material consists of letters received by Anthony-Charles Cazenove from friends, contemporaries, and relatives between the years 1791 and 1794 while he was employed in the Counting Office of his cousin James (Jacques) Cazenove in London.  Also included are the first letters he received in America after his arrival in Philadelphia in November, 1794. 

 

5. Mrs. Cassius F. Lee and Mrs. Samuel F. du Pont Correspondence

 

Cassius F. Lee (1808-1890) was the sixth child of Edmund Jennings Lee.  His second wife was Anne Eliza Gardner, daughter of William Collins Gardner and Eliza Francis Cazenove.  She died in 1885.

 

Sophie Madeleine du Pont (1810-1888) was the youngest daughter of Eleuthere Irenee and Sophie Dalmas du Pont.  In 1833, she married her cousin, Samuel Francis du Pont (1812-1865), who became an admiral in the United States Navy.

 

The bulk of this series contains letters written by Mrs. Cassius F. Lee, at her home, Menokin farm, near Alexandria, Va. to her friend Mrs. Samuel Francis du Pont, at Upper Louviers, on the Brandywine, near Wilmington, De. from 1846 to 1878.  Additional letters and documents about the Cazenove, Gardner, and Lee families are also included in this series. 

 

6. Cazenove G. Lee and Marguerite Lammot du Pont Lee

 

Cazenove Gardner Lee was born in 1850.  In 1881, he married Marguerite du Pont, a cousin.  She was born in 1862, the daughter of Eleuthere Irenée du Pont and Charlotte Henderson, who was the granddaughter of Anthony-Charles Cazenove.  They settled in Washington, D.C.

 

The bulk of this series contains letters written by Cazenove Lee and Marguerite du Pont while they were courting in 1880 and 1881.  Many letters were written while Marguerite was in Europe on a grand tour.  Additional letters were written after the couple's marriage during their brief periods of separation. Other materials in this series include letters written by other members of both families to these correspondents or by them to other family members.

 

7. Photographs.

 

This series features over two hundred photographs of members of the Cazenove and related families, most of whom are represented in other parts of the collection.  For the early generations, the photographs are of portraits owned by family members.  Information from envelopes that contained the photographs has been included in the finding aid to identify people and their family relationships.  Of particular note are a mourning picture of a child in her coffin (1853) and a few wedding photographs. Cazenove and Lee family homes are also depicted in photographs. 

 

 

PROVENANCE

 

Acquired from various sources.

 

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

            People:

                        Askling, John.

Cazenove, Anthony Charles, 1775-1852.

Cazenove, Anne Hogan.

                        Cazenove, Elizabeth.

                        Cazenove, Elizabeth Bessonnet.

                        Cazenove, Jean, 1698-1745

                        Cazenove, Louis Albert, 1807-1852.

                        Cazenove, Paul, b. 1739.

                        Corbin, Gawin, d. 1760.

                        Corbin, Hannah.

                        Du Pont, Samuel Francis, 1803-1865.

                        Du Pont, Sophie.

                        Gardner, Eliza Frances Cazenove, 1798-1857.

                        Gardner, William M. (William Michael)

                        Henderson, Alexander, 1738-1815.

                        Henderson, Anne Marie Cazenove, 1803-1859.

Henderson, Archibald, 1783-1859.

Lee, Anne Eliza Gardner, 1819-1855.

                        Lee, Cassius F., 1800-1890.

                        Lee, Cassius F.

                        Lee, Cazenove Gardner, 1882-1945.

                        Lee, Edmund Jennings, b. 1853.

                        Lee, Marguerite du Pont, d. 1937.

                        Smith, Eleuthera du Pont.

                        Turberville, Gawin C.

                        Turberville, George, d. 1742.

                        Turberville, George Richard, b. 1742.

                        Turberville, Martha.

                       

                        Cazenove family.

                        Corbin family.

                        Dudley family.

                        Du Pont family.

                        Gardner family.

                        Henderson family.

                        Lee family.

                        Turberville family.

                                   

                        Cazenove family - Genealogy.

                        Du Pont family - Genealogy.

                        Henderson family - Genealogy.

                        Lee family - Genealogy.

                        Moore family - Genealogy.

                       

Cazenove family - Photographs.

                        Du Pont family - Photographs.

                        Lee family - Photographs.

 

            Topics:

            Decedents' estates - Switzerland.

            Decedents' estates - Virginia.

            Inheritance and succession.

            Switzerland - History.

            Swiss Americans.

            Friendship - History - 19th century.

            Upper class - Social life and customs.

            Delaware - Social life and customs.

            Virginia - Social life and customs.

            Washington (D.C.) - Social life and customs.

            London (England) - Social life and customs.

            Uckfield (England) - Social life and customs.

            Geneva (Switzerland) - Social life and customs.

                        Dwellings - Virginia - Photographs.

            Dwellings - England - Photographs.

            Farm managers – Virginia – 19th century.

            Marriage customs and rites.

            Courtship.

            Dowry - Virginia.

            Mourning customs.      

            Emigration and immigration.

            Commerce.

            Real property - Virginia - Westmoreland County.

            Real property - Virginia - Northumberland County.

            Slave-trade - Virginia.

            Household supplies.

            Tobacco farmers.

            Tobacco industry - History - Sources.

            Medicine - Formulae, receipts, prescriptions.

            France - History - Revolution, 1789-1799.

            Ohio - Description and travel.

Europe - Description and travel.

            Canada - Description and travel.

            Switzerland - Description and travel.

            United States - History - Civil War, 1861-1865 - Public opinion.

Letters.

Copybooks.

Genealogies.

Obituaries.

Clippings.                    

            Estate papers.

            Contracts.

            Wills.

            Deeds.

            Receipts.

            Passports.

            Accounts.

            Bills (financial).

            Surveys (land).

            Estate records.

            Photoprints.

            Daguerreotypes.

            Albumen prints.

            Farmers.

            Merchants.

            Physicians.

                       


 

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 34 L 2-5 and Map Case 3, Drawer 1

 

 

Series 1:         Early Cazenove family documents (71x69)

 

Papers in this series relate to Cazenove family members who migrated to Switzerland.  Jean Cazenove was baptized in Geneva on April 10, 1698.  He grew up and remained in the city, marrying Elizabeth Bessonnet on April 4, 1732.  The two had seven children, but only three reached adulthood: Marie Charlotte (b. 1735), Paul (b. 1739), and Philippe-Jean.  Jean died on July 6, 1745, and was survived by his wife for many years.

 

After his father's death, Paul left Geneva for Paris.  Initially, he was employed with the bank of DuFour, Mallet & Co.  Disillusioned, he looked elsewhere for employment and before 1768 returned to Geneva.  He married Elizabeth Martin Le Fort, whose dowry exceeded 30,000 livres.  The  couple took up residence at "Montbrilliant," located outside of Geneva.  Paul and Elizabeth had two sons: Jean-Antoine and Antoine-Charles.  Both sons immigrated to America.

 

The series consists of letters, marriage contracts and certificates, wills, business contracts, documents, and other miscellaneous papers that record the activities of the Cazenove family in Switzerland, The Netherlands, England, and France from 1693 to 1801.  For an English summary of the letters (which are in French) and a fuller description of the other documents (especially .181 and .182), see the separate finding aid available at this repository, numbered Col. 83B.

 

[note: all accession numbers in this series begin with 71x69] 

 

Box 1:

 

Folders 1-5:    .1-.35   Letters from Elizabeth Bessonnet Cazenove to her son Paul Cazenove, 1757-1784.  (for summary of these letters, see the separate finding aid available at this repository)

 

Folder 6: Baptismal and Marriage Contracts and Certificates, 1695-1805

 

 .36      Marriage promise between Jean Bres and Louise Plantamour.

            Geneva, March 15, 1695.

 

 .37      Marriage promise between Pierre Cazenove and Marie Plantamour. Geneva, June 6, 1697.

 

 .38      Marriage contract between Marie Plantamour and Pierre Cazenove. Anduze/Languedoc, June 14, 1697.

 

 .39      Marriage contract between Etienne de la Flechere and M. Cazenove.

            Geneva, October 27, 1723.

 

 .40      Marriage certificate of Elizabeth Bessonnet and Jean Cazenove.

            Geneva, April 4, 1732.

 

 .41      Copy of a marriage certificate of Jean Pierre Eynard and Marie Charlotte Cazenove.

            Geneva, March 2, 1758.

 

 .42a    Marriage certificate of Paul Cazenove and Jeanne Elizabeth Martin.

            Geneva, April 29, 1768.

 

.42b     wrapper for the above certificate

 

 .43      Excerpt from a baptismal certificate of Jean Cazenove, baptized in Geneva on April 10, 1698, copy made October 9, 1723.

 

 .44      Excerpt from baptismal certificates of Paul Cazenove, son of Jean Cazenove and Elizabeth Bessonnet, his wife, born June 21, baptized June 27, 1739; and

            Jean Antoine, son of Paul Cazenove and Jeanne Elizabeth Martin, born June 29, baptized on July 14, 1770; and

            Antoine Charles, son of Paul Cazenove and Jeanne Elizabeth Martin, born April 8, baptized on April 19, 1775;       

            Copy made February 10, 1794, l'An 3 de l'égalité.

 

 .45      Excerpt from a baptismal certificate of Jean Antoine Cazenove and Antoine Charles Cazenove, copy made June 7, 1780.

 

 .46      Excerpt from a baptismal certificate of Antoine Charles, son of Paul Cazenove and Jeanne Elizabeth Martin; copy made March 14, 1786.

 

 .47      Verification of the birth and baptism of Charles Edward Cazenove, b. April 16, 1796, son of John Cazenove and Maria Hogan, baptized July 13, 1796, signed by L[illegible] S[illegible] Phelan, pastor of the Catholic [illegible], near New Geneva, on George's Creek, Fayette County, [Pennsylvania].

 

 .48      Excerpt from the marriage certificate of Anthony Charles Cazenove and Anne Hogan, married June 29, 1797, copy signed Francis Neale, dated Georgetown, July 5, 1805.  Certification of signature is written in French.                  

 

           

 Folders 7-8: Wills and estate records of the Cazenove family, 1701-1792, n.d.

 

 .49      Legacy of money to different recipients [servants and others, including the Poor of Chesne [Chène, Switzerland], undated and unsigned.

 

 .50      Copy of a will by the deceased Pierre Guion in Chesne [Chène, Switzerland], January 15, 1702.

            Copy dated: London, June 24, 1701.   

 

 .51      Will of Jean Plantamour and Charlotte Penin, written May 12, 1693 naming the wives of Pierre Cazenove, Theodore Plantamour and associates as beneficiary.

            Signed: June 22, 1707.

 

 .52      Will, mutual and reversal, of Pierre Cazenove, Geneva and his wife Marie Plantamour,

            written  May 15, 1732.  Registered, December 25, 1733.

 

.53       Will of Charles, son of Charles Cazenove, for Jean Cazenove, nephew legatee. April 22, 1738.

 

 .54      Will written by Charles Cazenove of Anduze [Languedoc] naming his son Charles and others as his beneficiaries, May 22, 1738.

 

 .55      Receipt from Philippe and David Cazenove for the balance of the inheritance of their parents, paid out by Jean Cazenove, their brother.

            April 1, 1741.

 

 .56      Declaration, stating the heritage for Jean, Philippe, and David Cazenove of their uncle's [Charles Cazenove] estate in Amsterdam [The Netherlands].

            Signed: Amsterdam, April 12, 1742.

 

 .57      Handwritten will of Jean Cazenove, Geneva, son of Pierre Cazenove and husband of Elizabeth Bessonnet.

            Signed: Geneva, March 4, 1745.

 

 .58      Estate records of Jean Cazenove appointing his sons, Paul, and Philippe Jean Cazenove, as heirs, March 4, 1745,

            registered July 9, 1745.

 

 .59      Inheritance account of Jean Cazenove, dated from 1745-1758.

            Signed: April 8, April 15, 1760.

 

 .60      Inheritance account of the deceased Jean Antoine Martin addressed to Paul Cazenove, Geneva.

            Geneva, 1772.

 

 .61      Copy of a will of Jeanne Elizabeth Martin, wife of Paul Cazenove, dated April 16, 1787.

            Registered after the death of the testatrix, 11 Prairial, an VII [l798-99].

 

 .62      Will of Jeanne Elizabeth Martin, wife of Paul Cazenove, April 16, 1787.

            Registered after the death of the testatrix, 11 Prairial, an VII [l798-99] by the French Republic.

 

 .63      Settlement of personal property of Jeanne Elizabeth Martin, wife of Paul Cazenove, deceased at Montbrillant the 3 Prairial, an 7, registered 11 Prairial, an 7, naming as beneficiary heirs her two sons, Jean Antoine and Antoine Charles Cazenove and passing on the fruits of her life to her husband Paul Cazenove.

              

 .64      Inheritance settlement and distribution between the children and heirs of Marie Le Fort, widow of Jean Antoine Martin, dated December 7, 1787 and forwarded to Mrs. Jeanne Elizabeth Martin, daughter of the deceased and wife of Paul Cazenove.

 

 .65      Will of Elizabeth Bessonnet, widow of Jean Cazenove, Geneva. April 18, 1788.

            Registered in Geneva after the death of the testatrix, September 2, 1789.

 

 .66      Settlement and distribution of the personal property of Marie Charlotte Cazenove, wife of Jean Pierre Eynard, deceased July 11, 1792.

 

 .67      Inventory copy of personal property of the deceased Marie Charlotte Cazenove, wife of Jean Pierre Eynard and citizen of Geneva, July 11, 1792.

             Signed: July 18, 1792.

 

 .68      Will of Marie Charlotte Cazenove, wife of Jean Pierre Eynard, May 23, 1792.

 Registered in Geneva, July 14, 1792 and forwarded to Jean Antoine and Charles Antoine Cazenove, sole heirs.

 

 

Folder 9: Business contracts and documents

 

 .69      Transfer of Pierre Cazenove's business to his son, Jean Cazenove.

            Dated: October 8, 1723.

 

 .70      Balance sheet extracted from the main book [account book] by Pierre Lambert, silent partner of Pierre Cazenove.

            Signed: Genoa, March 4, 1724.

 

 .71      Balance sheet of the deceased Charles Cazenove [d. March 16, 1740] and distribution of his personal property.

            Geneva, March 1741.

 

 .72      Credit sheet of Jean Cazenove, dated March 1745.

 

 .73      Bill to Jean Pierre Eynard for liquidation expenses accrued after the death of his wife.

            August 1, 1792.

 

 .74      Financial statement including interest up to July 11, 1794.

 

 .75      Credit sheet of Paul Cazenove as of August 10[?] l809.

 

 .76      Appraisal of eight houses, owned by Mr. Cazenove residing at Montbrillant [Geneva, Switzerland], for fire insurance.

            Montbrillant, March 23, 1822.

 

 

Box 2:

 

Folder 1: Business contracts and documents, 1697-1725

 

 .77      Four years' business contract between Theodore Plantamour and Jean Bres and Pierre Cazenove.

             Signed: Geneva, July 1, 1697.

 

 .78      Four years' business contract between Pierre Cazenove and Jacques Agier.

            Geneva, September 1, 1701.

 

 .88      Codicil by Pierre Guion, London, dated January 10, 1702, native son of the town Aigues-Mortes, France, for bequests of money to various people, churches and to Pierre Cazenove in Geneva.

            Written July 21, 1702.

 

 .89      Endorsement of a receipt in duplicate for Marie Plantamour, wife of Pierre Cazenove, by Mr. Cazenove, her husband.

            Written: July 21, 1703.

 

 .90      Document of a business partnership between Jean Vasserot of Amsterdam and Pierre Cazenove, Geneva.

            Signed: Amsterdam, January 4, 1709, Jean Vasserot.

 

 .91      Agreement [will] made in favor of the Honorable Paritoy's widow made by Jacob Bessonnet.

            Written: July 11, 1713.

 

 .92      "Odier [or Hodier], Antoine, son of Philippe DuPont at Royan in Dauphine, nephew of Elie Macaire … together they gave 6300 fl., two rifles in good condition, and 100 fl. to the library," dated June 11, 1714

 

 .93       Founding of a company with limited partnership for a period of seven years between Pierre Cazenove, Geneva, and Pierre Lambert, Genoa [cloth trading].

            Signed: Genoa, August 24, 1721, P. Lambert, November 23, 1723, Pierre Cazenove.

 

 .94      Notification of a verbal agreement between Pierre Cazenove, Geneva, and his son Jean Cazenove, dated October 8, 1723 regarding the cession of inheritance.

 

 .95      Copy of an excerpt of a petition by Pierre Mazel and his wife, Henriette Cazenove, daughter of Pierre Cazenove and Marie Plantamour.

            Dated: September 25, 1723.

 

 .96      Power of attorney for Jean Cazenove, Geneva, by Pierre Cazenove & Co., Geneva, October 8, 1723.

 

 .97      Endorsement of a two-part transaction by Pierre Cazenove, Geneva, for the deceased David Vasserot, to the trustee Jean Vasserot, for his son, Francois Samuel Vasserot.

            August 18, 1723.

 

 .98      Balance sheet by Jean Cazenove for Pierre Cazenove & Co. Geneva, May 22, 1723.

 

 .99      Endorsement of a two-part transfer, obligation and mortgage, by Pierre Cazenove, Geneva, to his son, Jean Cazenove, Geneva, October 8, 1723. 

 

 .100    Cession of action by Pierre Cazenove, Geneva, to Philippe Cazenove, Genoa, dated 1725; and

 Copy of a letter addressed to "my dear son" and signed Pierre Cazenove, Geneva, March 5, 1728.

 

 .101    Cession of action by Pierre Cazenove to his son, Philippe Cazenove, undated.

 

 .102    Cession of action by Pierre Cazenove, Geneva to his son, Philippe Cazenove, Genoa, May 18, 1725.

 

 .103    Excerpt of an inventory of unsold merchandise [textiles: wool, serge, cloth, silk, kersey, calico, etamine], Genoa, P. Lambert, February 13, 1726.

 

 .104     Balance sheet by P. Lambert.

             Signed: Genoa, January 12, 1726, P. Lambert,

             and Geneva, February 19, 1726 Pierre Cazenove for my son Philippe Cazenove.

 

 .105    Copy of an original legal document stating that Philippe Cazenove, b. February 28, 1701, has become of age and, therefore, is authorized to negotiate and administer in lieu of his father, Pierre Cazenove, all business in the Pierre Lambert & Pierre Cazenove Co., Genoa.

            Signed: March 16, 1726, Jean Cazenove.

 

 .106    Copy of a cession of action by Ph. Cazenove. Geneva, April 16, 1729.

 

 

Folder 2: Business contracts and documents, 1728-1734

 

 .107    Balance sheet by Pierre Mazel and Pierre Lambert & Philippe Cazenove of Genoa, April 1729.

 

 .108    Agreement between Pierre Cazenove of Geneva and Philippe Cazenove, his second son, waiving interest payment for five years.

            Genoa, January 25, 1729.

 

.109     Balance sheet for Pierre Cazenove, Geneva from Pierre Lambert & Philippe Cazenove, Genoa, dated 1728, 1729.

 

.110     Receipt for a money transfer between Theophile Cazenove, Amsterdam, and his father, Pierre Cazenove, sent to Jean Cazenove in Geneva, November 9, 1729.

 

.111     Two-part legal document by Pierre Cazenove, Geneva, authorizing his daughter Henriette Cazenove, wife of Pierre Mazel in Genoa, to withdraw some money for reasons of an advancement of the paternal inheritance to her brother, Philippe Cazenove next January.  Probably tied to the documents .112 and .114 below.  

             Dated November 21, 1729.

 

.112a-c                        Three legal documents written in Italian, probably tied to the above document 111.

 

.113     Legal document written in French and Italian authorizing Henriette Cazenove, daughter of Pierre Cazenove in Geneva, and wife of Pierre Mazel in Genoa to transfer money.

            Dated November 21, 1729.

 

.114     Legal document written in French and Italian of a transfer of money, tied to document 71x69.111.

            Dated November 21, 1729.

 

.115     Obligation by Jean Cazenove to his father, Pierre Cazenove.

            Dated: Geneva, May 12, 1732.

 

.116     Obligation by Jean Cazenove to Marie Plantamour, his mother, dated Geneva, May 12, 1732. 

 

.117     Letter addressed to Jean Cazenove, Geneva confirming the sale of a pew seat at the Church of St. Pierre.

            Signed: