The
The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and
Printed Ephemera
Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur
Museum, Winterthur, DE 19735
302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883
OVERVIEW OF
THE COLLECTION
Title: Robinson-Delaplain family
papers
Dates: 1679-1887
Call No.:
Acc. No.: 78x313, 82x360
Quantity: 101 items
Location: 15 K 2
BIOGRAPHICAL
STATEMENT
The Robinsons were early settlers in
SCOPE AND
CONTENT
The collection consists of deeds, mortgages, estate
records, and other papers primarily legal in scope pertaining to Vincent,
William, Robert P., and Robert L. Robinson and their property in Christiana
Hundred from 1679 to 1887, and to the Delaplain family from 1781 to 1881. Deeds and mortgages document the ownership
and transfer of property that at one time was in the possession of members of
the Robinson or Delaplain family. These
documents also record the development of Christiana Hundred. In addition, a few
of the items pertain to rental property, including a notice to tenants to
remove themselves from a farm.
Other Robinson family papers include the wills of
and accounts for the estates of William Robinson (1829), Hannah Robinson
(1851), and Eleanor Brynberg (1859).
Also of note are records and surveys of several railroad companies whose
lines passed through former family property, known as Robinhurst, between 1835
and 1887. (This property is off
The Delaplain family papers start with tax records
kept by James Delaplain, who served as tax collector for Christiana Hundred at
least from 1781 to 1786, and a few accounts for sundry items. Accounts, an estate inventory, and court
records for the settlement of James Delaplain's estate are featured. Accounts and correspondence regarding the
estate of Mary Delaplain are also included.
Miscellaneous items of note are a manumission paper for the release of
an African American woman, Elizabeth Toomey, and her three children in 1831,
and a lithograph entitled: "Perspective View of the Country between
ORGANIZATION
The collection is organized into four series: Land
records, Robinson family, Delaplain family, and Miscellaneous; each series is
then arranged chronologically.
An index to the names in the 78x313 accession is
appended to this finding aid. No index
exists for the 82x360 accession.
LANGUAGE OF
MATERIALS
The materials are in English.
RESTRICTIONS
ON ACCESS
Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.
PROVENANCE
Gift of Robert P. Robinson, Jr.
ACCESS POINTS
People:
Robinson family.
Delaplain family.
Delaplain, James.
Delaplain, Mary.
Robinson, Robert L.
Robinson, Robert P.
Robinson, William.
Robinson, Vincent.
Toomey, Elizabeth.
Topics:
Decedents' estates -
Inventories of decedents' estates.
Real property, Exchange of -
Railroads - Surveying.
Inheritance and succession.
Mortgages - History - 19th century.
Rent charges.
Christiana Hundred (
Slaves – Emancipation –
Deeds.
Estate records.
Bills (financial).
Receipts.
Correspondence.
Specifications.
Surveys (land).
DETAILED
DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Location: 15 K
2
Series I: Land
records
Folder 1: 78x313.1 Deed
Justa Andries [but signed
Aeltie Andries] to Arnoldus La Grange,
New York merchant, for 575 acres, Christina Towne, [Delaware], March 16, 1679
78x313.2 Deed, variant copy of above
drawn from the original by
Charles Springer, sets forth redistribution of 558 acres to Lucas Stedham,
Robert Robinson, George Robinson, John Turken, and Richard Mankin, signed by
Arnoldus La Grange; inscribed “copy for George Mankin” and “This belongs to
George James”; dated
Folder 2: 82x360.1 Deed
Arnoldus Delagrange to
Robert Robninson, for 200 acres on the west side of the Delaware River and the
north side of Christiana Creek, August 19, 1684
Folder 3: 78x313.3 Deed [photocopy]
George Robinson, James
Robinson, John Robinson, Joseph Robinson, and Abraham Hollingsworth to George
Mankin, New Castle County, Delaware, August 7, 1714
Folder 4: 82x360.2 Deed
Henry Colesbury and Andrew
Franberg to Jacob Pearshall[?], Christiana Hundred, New Castle County,
Delaware, for 500 acres of land, 1749
Folder 5: 78x313.4 Memorandum of an agreement
Agreement between George
James, Christiana Hundred, and Joseph Newlin of
Folder 6: 78x313.5 Land survey
“A draught of a tract of
land situate on the north east side of Millcreek in Christianna [sic] Hundred…
surveyed and divided for and between George James and Joseph Newland, May
29-30, 1752. Per Will Killen, survr. of
Folder 7: 82x360.3 Patent of confirmation
Patent to George James for
177.25 acres of land and 14 acres of marsh in
Folder 8: 78x313.6 Deed
George James and wife to
Joseph Newlin, for a plantation in Christiana Hundred,
Folder 9: 78x313.7 Deed
Solomon Springer, Abraham
Springer, and Joseph Springer to John Hendrickson, Christiana Hundred, February
15, 1768
Folder 10: 82x360.4 Release
Robert Robinson to Ellis
Newlin, Christiana Hundred, 1775
Folder 11: 78x313.8 Mortgage deed
Ellis Newlin to James Lea,
for a tract of land in Christiana Hundred, 1776
78x313.9 Deed
John Evans, executor of the
will of Hannah Bonham, to Heath John, for two tracts of land, Christiana
Hundred, 1779
78x313.10 Mortgage deed
Ellis Newlin to Jacob Broom,
for a tract of land and plantation in Christiana Hundred, 1779
Folder 12: 82x360.5 Deed
Ellis Newlin and wife to
Robert Robinson, for a tract of land and plantation in Christiana Hundred, 1782
82x360.6 Deed
Robert Robinson and wife to
William Robinson, for a tract of land and marsh in Christiana Hundred,
82x360.7 Deed
Robert Robinson and wife to
William Robinson, for 100 acres of land in Christiana Hundred, 1784
Folder 13: 78x313.11 Deed
Joseph Warner, goldsmith, to
Henry Paschall, practitioner of physic, for a lot in
78x313.12 Deed
Henry Paschall to John
Moore, for a lot of land in the borough of
Folder 14: 78x313.13 Deed
John Langley to Jane
Russell, for a lot of ground in Christiana Hundred,
78x313.14 Deed poll
Circuit Court, Joel Lewis,
Marshall of Delaware District, to Robert Hamilton, for the real estate of Isaac
Hendrickson in Christiana Hundred, being a moiety of a plantation of 130 acres
of land, 1801
Folder 15: 78x313.15 Deed
Samuel Harper to William
McCordic, for land in
78x313.16 Deed poll
James Kelton, Sheriff, to
William McCordick, for 2.75 acres of land in
Folder 16: 78x313.17 Deed
John Hendrickson and wife
Elizabeth to Robert Hamilton, for an undivided moiety or half part of a tract
of land in Christiana Hundred, April 1807
78x313.18 Deed
Samuel Pennell, house
carpenter, and wife, to George Mattson, yeoman, for a messuage and tract of
land in Christiana Hundred,
78x313.19 Deed
Robert Hamilton and wife to
James M. Broom, for a plantation and appurtenances in Christiana Hundred,
Folder 17: 78x313.20 Deed
John
Marshall to George Mattson, Christiana Hundred,
78x313.21 Deed
Caleb
Seal to John Rumford, for land in
78x313.22 Deed
Henry
Jefferiss and wife to Bennett Jefferiss, Christiana Hundred,
Folder 18: 78x313.23 Deed
William Bailey to Samuel
Pennell, for a lot of land in Christiana Hundred,
78x313.24 Deed
James M. Broom and wife to
John Davis, Christiana Hundred,
78x313.25 Deed
John Davis and wife to
William Ringold, for a plantation in Christiana Hundred containing 132 acres,
78x313.26 Deed
John Edwards and wife to
Pennock Edwards,
Folder 19: 78x313.27 Deed
Charles Twaddell and wife to
Patrick McFagen, Christiana Hundred,
78x313.28 Deed
Matilda Paxson to James
Delaplain, for a house and lot in Christiana Hundred,
78x313.29 Deed
William Webb, Stephen Webb,
and Richard Barnard to William Pusey, for
82 acres in Kennett Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, March 25,
1823
78x313.30 Deed
Bennett Jefferiss and wife
to John Carns, Christiana Hundred,
Folder 1: 78x313.31 Deed poll
Peter B. Delany, Sheriff of
78x313.32 Deed
John Palmer, surviving
executor of William Walter, to George Matson, for land in Christiana Hundred,
Folder 2: 78x313.33 Deed
James Delaplain, executor
for Charles Tweaddell, to Benjamin Harvey, Christiana Hundred,
78x313.34 Deed
Stephen Webb and Ann Matson
for George Matson, to Samuel Clendenin, Christiana Hundred,
78x313.35 Deed
Samuel Clendenin and wife to
Robert Irwine, for land in Centreville, Christiana Hundred,
Folder 3: 78x313.36 Deed
James Delaplain and wife to
Mary P. Davis, for a house and lot in Centreville, Christiana Hundred, March
30, 1835
78x313.37 Deed, with plot plan
William Way and wife to the
Mill-Creek Company for a piece of marsh in Christiana Hundred, September 9,
1836
Folder 4: 78x313.38 Deed
James Delaplain and William
Smith, executors of Thomas Smith Hollingsworth, to Bennett Jefferis, Christiana
Hundred, March 24, 1840
78x313.39 Deed
Isaac D. Philips and wife
and William G. Philips and wife to John B. Robinson, for 85 acres in Mill Creek
Hundred, New Castle County, March 10, 1835
Folder 5: 78x313.40 Mortgage
Robert
P. Robinson to Joseph Chandler,
78x313.41 Mortgage
Robert L. Robinson and wife
to Christiana Robinson, Sarah M. Robinson, and Mary R. Robinson, for “farm or
two tracts or parcels of land situate in Christiana Hundred …, no. 1 beginning
on the south side of the Newport Road …, and no. 2 lying on the north side of
the Newport Road …, being the same premises which the heirs of Robert P.
Robinson … did grant and confirm unto the said Robert L. Robinson,” New Castle,
Delaware, 1873
Series II:
Robinson family papers
Folder 6: 82x360.8 Will
Will and letter
Testamentary, William Robinson,
Folder 7: 78x313.43 Draft of agreement
Between Ingeber and Peter
Stidham for the executors of William Robinson to put out $861 for their use,
n.p., December 1820
[William Robinson, while he
was alive, had been the guardian of Peter Stidham, son of Jonas Stidham]
78x313.44 Account
Account (copy of settlement)
of Vincent Robinson, Robert P. Robinson, and James McKean, executors of the
will of William Robinson, Christiana Hundred, 1821
78x313.45 Assignment
assignment of personal
property for the use of his grandchildren, John Lyman to Vincent Robinson,
trustee, Christiana Hundred, 1822
78x313.46 Account
“The further account of
James McKean, one of the executors of the last will and testament of William
Robinson, farmer, Christiana Hundred,
Folder 8: 78x313.47 Bill
Receipted bill, Jonas Pusey
to Mill Creek Marsh Company for survey and deed for lot of marsh purchased of
78x313.48 Deed
79x313.49 Account
“The account of Robert P.
Robinson, executor of the last will and testament of Hannah Robinson …,”
Wilmington, January 16, 1851, for goods and chattels, rights and credits in the
city of Philadelphia, examined and approved by Ann C. Cleland, daughter of the
deceased
Folder 9: 78x313.50 Court order
Order from Peter B.
Vandever, Register of New Castle County, to Gilpin P. Stidham and William Z.
Derrickson, to appraise the goods and chattels of Eleanor Brynberg, late of Christiana
Hundred,
78x313.51 Receipt
Jno. C. Patterson to Robert
P. Robinson, for drawing petition for signature of heirs of E. Brynberg, n.p.,
78x313.52 Petition
Petition of heirs of Eleanor
Brynberg for partition of the real estate, Christiana Hundred, to the
78x313.53 Notice
Notice from Robert P.
Robinson on behalf of Ann C. Cleland, to Edward Thatcher and Ephraim Magargle,
to remove themselves from farm and premises now in their tenure, n.p.,
Folder 10: 82x360.10 Letters
Wilmington and Reading
Railroad Co., to Robert P. Robinson, about land damage, Wilmington, 1867-1868,
including assessor’s printed form with amount of damage, and scrap noting “R.B.
Robinson land taken by W.R. Road,” n.d.
Folder 11: 82x360.11 Letters
Folder 12: 82x360.12 Assessment
Printed form of assessment
of damage by the Baltimore and Philadelphia Railroad Company to the heirs of R.
L. Robinson, Christiana Hundred,
Folder 13: 82x360.13 Letter
Philadelphia, Wilmington,
and Baltimore R.R. Co., to Mrs. R. L. Robinson, Wilmington, 1887, with two
copies of release from Robert P. Robinson in regard to repairs on fence between
properties, 1840
Series III:
Delaplain family papers
Folder 14: 78x313.54 Order
State of Delaware to James
Delaplain, Collector of the County Levy for Christiana Hundred, to list the “names
and sir names of all and every person residing, dwelling and sojourning within
the limits of your Hundred,” New Castle, August 22, 1781, signed by James
Booth, Clerk of the Peace
78x313.55 Bond
James Delaplain, Collector
of the Public Levies and Taxes, to the State of
78x313.56 Receipt
Hugh Thomson to James
Delaplain for payment of £125, n.p., 1786
78x313.57 Bill
Hugh Patton,
78x313.58 Agreement
Signed by Robert Peirce, to
let James Delaplain collect the Poor Taxes, Christiana Hundred,
78x313.59 Account
George Simmons’s account
with an unknown person, for cash, “order on Harlin Cloud,” and “To cash
answered Willm. Ashton,” n.p. 1790
78x313.60 Bill
N. Way to James Delaplain
“for sundry medicines administered himself and family in their different
illnesses from April 1792 to March 1793 with inoculating his two children’s
bay,” n.p., n.d.
78x313.61 Account
“Price of the plantation
bought 1787 of Thos. Kean for £750,’ showing first payment and bond given for
the remainder, along with payments of interest 1790-1793, and three payments
dated 1787, 1790, and 1792
Folder 15: 78x313.62 Statement
“Jas. and Saml. Delaplain
bond gave Jno. McKinley,” showing payment and interest, 1788-1798
78x313.63 Statement
Henry Latimore, attorney for
Mrs. McKinley, showing payment received from James and Samuel Delaplain for
interest and part payment of bond,
78x313.64 Account
Account of Sam. Delaplain
with estate of James Delaplain, n.p., 1787-1797
78x313.65 Account
Account of Samuel Delaplain
with James Delaplain,
Folder 16: 78x313.66 Inventory
Inventory
of estate of James Delaplain, Christiana Hundred,
78x313.67 Affirmation
Affirmation of Nehemiah
Delaplain to Thomas Duff, to answer questions concerning the settlement of
accounts between James Delaplain, deceased, and Samuel Delaplain, New Castle
County, 1798
78x313.68 Court case extract
Administrators of James
Delaplain vs. Samuel Delaplain,
78x313.69 Account
account of Samuel Delaplain
with James Delaplain, August 1792 to 1796, in settlement of James Delaplain vs.
Samuel Delaplain
Folder 17: 78x313.70 Receipt
Peter Hendrickson to Mary
Delaplain on account of rent for Thomas Phillips, n.p., 1802
78x313.71 Account
Aaron Coulson(?) with Mary
Delaplain, as guardian of children Mary, Nehemiah, Susan, James, and Jane,
1805-1806, for boarding, schooling, clothing, etc.
78x313.72 Receipt
Charles Anderson to Mr.
Robert Galbreath for James Delaplain’s state taxes, n.p.,
78x313.73 Bond
Mary Delaplain to John
Marshall, for $159.22, Christiana Hundred, 1813
78x313.74 Bill
Mary Delaplain to Susan
Delaplain, decd., for ten years boarding, n.p., 1818-1828
78x313.75 Bill
Mrs. Delaplain to Mary James,
with receipt on verso, n.p., n.d.
Folder 18: 78x313.76a Letter of Attorney
Joseph and Nehemiah Delaplain
to James Delaplain of
78x313.76b Cover
Cover for the above letter,
with a receipt for the same, 1831
78x313.77 Letter
Joseph Delaplain to James
Delaplain,
78x313.78 Letter
Nehemiah Delaplain,
78x313.79 Letter
Joseph and Nehemiah
Delaplain,
78x313.80a Letter
copy of letter from James
Delaplain,
78x313.80b Letter
copy of letter from James
Delaplain,
78x313.80c Letter
copy of letter from James
Delaplain,
78x313.80d Letter
copy of letter from James
Delaplain,
78x313.80e Letter
copy of letter from James
Delaplain,
78x313.81 Letter
Nehemiah Delaplain,
78x313.82 Letter
Joseph Delaplain,
78x313.83 Letter
Joseph Delaplain,
Series IV:
Miscellaneous papers
Folder 19: 78x313.42 Letters patent
William Bent, inventor of
machine for splitting leather and skins, conveying right to William Brown,
currier of
Folder 20: 78x313.84 Poem
“The Last Farewell of Jonas
Walraven, son of Walraven [sic] and Elizabeth Walraven, who Departed this Life
March 11, 1799,” by Mary Robinson, May 6, 1801
78x313.85 Account
“The account of William
Robinson and John Brynberg, executors of the last will and testament of Peter
Walraven,” Christiana Hundred, 1803 (copy of settlement)
78x313.86 Manumission paper
Manumission paper signed by
James C. Wallace, for the release of
The paper mentions that
Folder 21: 82x360.14 Railroad surveys
Surveys of Robert P.
Robinson’s property at Delaware Railroad Junction, n.d., and property of R. L.
Robinson’s heirs, n.d. (8 surveys in all)
Folder 22: 78x313.87 Lithograph
“Perspective View of the
Country between
Missing item: 82x360.9 Specifications
for Robert P. Robinson’s land for railroad, signed by James P. Stabler, June
25, 1835
Name index to
acc. 78x313.1-.87
Anderson, Charles .72
Andries, Aeltie
.1
Andries, Justa
.1
Ashton, William .59
Bailey, William .23
Barnard, Richard .29
Bent, William 42
Bonham, Hannah .9
Booth, Jas.
.54, .55
Broom, Jacob
.10
Broom, James M.
.19, .24
Brown, William
.42
Bryndberg, Eleanor
.50; .51; .52
Bryndberg, John
.85
Caldwell, John
.30
Carns, John
.30
Cleland, Ann
.49; .53
Clendenin, Samuel (& wife) .34;.35
Cloud, Harlin
.59
Coulson(?), Aaron .71
Davis, John .24;
.25
Davis, Mary P.
.36
Delany, Peter B.
.31
Delaplain, (Mrs.) .75
Delaplain children .71
Delaplain, James .28; .33; .36; .38; .54-.58; .60;
.62-.69; .72; .76-.83
Delaplain, Joseph .76-.83
Delaplain, Mary .68; .70; .71; .73; .74; .76-.83
Delaplain, Nehemiah .67; .76-.83
Delaplain, Susan
.74
Delaplane,
James .60; .66
Derrickson, William Z. .50
Duff, Thomas
.67
Edwards, John
.26
Edwards, Pennock
.26
Elizabeth (Negro woman) .86
Evans, John .9
Galbreath, Robert .72
Hamilton, Robert .14; .16
Harper, Samuel .15; .16
Harvey, Benjamin .33
Heath, John
.9
Hendrickson, Elizabeth .17
Hendrickson, Isaac .14
Hendrickson, John .7; .17
Hendrickson, Peter .70
Hollingsworth, Abraham .3
Hollingsworth, Thomas Smith .38
Irwine, Robert .35
James, George .2; .4; .5; .6
James, Mary .75
Jefferiss, Bennett .22; .30; .38
Jefferiss, Henry
.22
Kean, Thos.
.61; .64
Kelton, James .16
Killen, Will
.5
LaGrange, Arnoldus .1; .2
Langley, John
.13
Latimore, Henry
.63
Lea, James
.8
Lewis, Joel .14
Lyman, John
.45
Magargle, Ephraim .53
Mankin, George
.2; .3
Mankin, Richard .2
Marshall, John .20; .73
Matson, Ann .34
Matson, George .18; .20; .32; .34
McCordick, William .15; .16
McFagen, Patrick .27
McKean, James
.44; .46
McKinley, Jno.
.62
McKinley, Mrs. .63
Moore, John
.12
Newland, Joseph
.5; .16
Newlin, Ellis
.8; .10
Newlin, Joseph
.4
Palmer, John
.32
Paschall, Henry .11; .12
Patterson., Jno. C. .51
Patton, Hugh
.57
Paxton, Matilda
.28
Peirce, Robert
.58
Pennell, Samuel, & wife .39
Philips, Isaac P., & wife .39
Philips, William G., & wife .39
Phillips, Thomas
.70
Pusey, Jonas
.47
Pusey, William
.29
Ringold, William
.25
Robinson, Christiana .41
Robinson, George
.21, .3
Robinson, Hannah .49
Robinson, James .3
Robinson, John .3
Robinson, John B. .39
Robinson, Joseph .3
Robinson, Mary
.84
Robinson, Mary R. .41
Robinson, Robert .2
Robinson, Robert L., & wife .41
Robinson, Robert P. .40; .41; .44; .47-.49; .51; .53
Robinson, Sarah M. .41
Robinson, Vincent
.42; .44; .45
Robinson, William,
.43; .44; .46; .85
Rumford, John .21
Russell, Jane .13
Seal, Caleb
.21
Simmons, George
.59
Smith, William
.38
Springer, Abraham
.7
Springer, Charles
.2
Springer, Joseph .7
Springer, Solomon
.7
Stedham, Lucas
.2
Stidham, Gilpin
.50
Stidham, Ingeber
.43
Stidham, Jonas
.43
Stidham, Peter
.43
Thatcher, Edward
.53
Thompson, Hugh
.56
Trenchard (an artist) .87
Turken, John
.2
Twaddell, Charles
.27
Tweadell, Charles
.33
Vandever, Peter B. .50
Wallace, Benjamin
.86
Wallace, James C.
.86
Walraven, Elizabeth .84
Walraven, Jonas
.84
Walraven, Peter
.85
Walraven, Walraven .84
Walter, William .32
Warner, Joseph .11
Way, N.
.60
Way, William .47
Way, William, & wife .37
Webb, Stephen
.29; .34
Webb, William
.29