The Winterthur Library

 The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum

5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Delaware  19735

Telephone: 302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

 

 

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

 

Creator:         McFadien, James Wilson, 1836-1913

Title:               Papers

Dates:             1860-1869.

Call No.:         Col. 467

Acc. No.:        75x129

Quantity:        49 items

Location:        34 J 2

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

James Wilson McFadien was a carpenter and millwright from Lewisville, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  In the late 1860s and early 1870s, he was in Wilmington, Delaware, working as a carpenter, although in 1868 he was thinking about buying a farm.  McFadien was the youngest son of Jane Hamilton and Jesse B. McFadien, a farmer.  His siblings were Alexander H., Rachel Mercer, Margaret, Joseph M., and George B.  In 1887, James married Belle (or Isabelle) Wilson Jackson, and they had at least two children.  At the time of his marriage, James was a carpenter in Philadelphia, but Belle lived in New London, Chester County.  In the 1900 census, James was listed as a farmer in Chester County, Pennsylvania. 

 

Although the family represented in this collection spells its surname as McFadien, the surname is found spelled as McFadden in census records, city directories, and genealogical records.

 

Emmeline (or Emma) Lutton was not located in any records.  Girls with that name lived in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, in 1850, but there is no reason to connect them with the letter writer represented in this collection.  A map of Cecil County, Maryland, printed in 1858, showed an E. Lutton living near Cherry Hill, Cecil County, Maryland, but nothing else was found about that person, either.

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

This collection contains letters and receipts addressed to James W. McFadien, along with a contract between Joseph McFadien and Thomas Jefferson Ewing for building a house.  The majority of the letters are from Emmeline (or Emma) Lutton of Christiana, Delaware, who was apparently in love with McFadien.  In her letters, Lutton mostly just bemoans the fact that she had not seen him.  However, she occasionally writes about family and friends, including a neighbor who was killed in the Civil War; military conscription, and a “copperhead” picnic, the managers of which were arrested for suspected Confederate sympathies.  Other letters received by McFadien were from sister Margaret and brother A.H.  These letters include news of family and friends, and several from his brother provide advice on moving west or  purchasing a farm.

 

           

ORGANIZATION

 

The items are divided into letters and bills and receipts, with each group arranged chronologically.

 

 

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

 

The materials are in English.

 

 

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

 

Collection is open to the public.  Copyright restrictions may apply.

           

 

PROVENANCE

 

Gift of Merrill G. Gibson.

           

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

            People:

                        McFadden family.

 

Topics:

            Love-letters - 19th century.

            Courtship.

            Legal instruments.

            House construction - Maryland - Cecil County.

            Copperhead movement.

Draft.

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

            Letters.

            Receipts (Acknowledgments).

           

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 34 J 2

 

 

All accession numbers begin with 75x129.

 

 

Folder 1: Letters, 1863-1864

 

.1         Emeline Lutton, Christiana, Feb. 12, 1863, to dear friend: mentions that James had had to leave home; her brother-in-law “did not believe in any one being made to fight…”; mentions Sis Watson and Mrs. Kerr

 [a Civil War registration record from 1863 for a carpenter named James McFadden of Lewisville indicates that he was drafted but did not appear; perhaps some of the references in this letter are related to that]

 

.2a-b    E. Lutton, April 30, 1863, to James W. McFadien, Lewisville: just returned from quarterly meeting; misses seeing him; “thou are not forgot”;

with envelope;

 

.3         Emmeline, Thursday the 7th, 1863, to dear friend: plans to go to Red Lion church on Sunday; possible visit from Sis and Jack; am not going to McCrearys; a man asked her to be his housekeeper, but Mr. Nolbrook[?] wants her as well

 

.22       Em Lutton, Christian, Oct. 28, 1863, to dear friend: plans to go to festival the next day; thinks he would do well in Washington; hopes he will come as she wants to see him;

           

.4a-b    Em Lutton, Christiana, Nov. 12, 1863, to James W. McF[torn], Lewisville: answering his letter; dreamed that he was very ill; went to Ebenezer Church last night; another man wants her to go to church with him but she would rather see James;

with envelope

 

.5         Em Lutton, Christiana, Dec. 2, 1863, to dear friend: had a three day festival [perhaps at church]; Zeb has been busy now that the new wheel is in and they can make 50 barrels of flour a day; mentions that James is millwrighting

 

.6         E.L., Christiania, Dec. 27, 1863, to dear friend: wishes he would visit so they could talk

 

.7a-b    Em Lutton, Christiana, Jan. 12, 1864, to James W. McFadien, Lewisville: has been cold and there is snow on the ground; asks how he spent new year; she was busy all day because they had company; mentions Zeb and Cooper;

with envelope

 

.8         E. L., Christiana, Jan. 21, 1864, to dear friend: hopes he comes on Saturday as she longs to see him again

 

.9a-b    E. Lutton, Christiana, Monday the 7th [envelope postmarked Mar. 9], 1864, to James W. McFadien, Lewisville: wouldn’t leave home to do housework elsewhere unless it was an easy place; would prefer to work in a mill; doesn’t need to leave home unless she wants to; sometimes thinks of leaving because she gets lonely, but then Zeb and the miller come;

with envelope

 

.10a-b  E. Lutton, Christiana, Mar. 22, 1864, to James W. McFadien, Lewisville: will be home until April 16 and then hopes to go to quarterly meeting at Cherry Hill [in Cecil County, Maryland]; has joined the Good Tempelers [i.e. Templars?] Lodge, which is like the Odd Fellows; Zeb says for James to stop talking to his [Zeb’s] girl;

with envelope

 

.11a-c  sister M. McFadden, Lewisville, April 15, 1864, to brother James W. McFadien, City Hotel, Wilmington, Del.: sorry to hear work is dull [i.e. not much work] – “dull times is the trouble every  place”; father and mother have been ill and are feeling their ages; Amos ploughed but would not plant potatoes, so she has been trying to do that; problems getting the phosphate home [with explanation of who was involved and what some of the problems were]; N. C. Dougherty was shot at because of “some of this doings with girls in North East [town in Maryland]” but the ball missed him;

with envelope

.12a-b  Em Lutton, April 19, 1864, to James Mcfadien, Hulmesville, Bucks County, Pa.: had nice time at quarterly meeting; saw Jane Scott and Jim, and later Mrs. Porter; received letter from Margaret who might go into town to sew;  wishes he would come visit;

with envelope;

 

[.13      number does not seem to have been used, or the item is now missing]

 

.14a-b  Emma Lutton, Christiana, May 3, 1864, to James Mcfadien, Hulmesville, Bucks County, Pa.: wishes he would visit;

with envelope

 

.15a-b  E. Lutton, May 26, 1864, to James Mcfadien, Hulmesville, Bucks County, Pa.: his letter first went to Christiana, Penn., but it reached her in Delaware; it’s been 8 months since she saw him; have had another draft [army conscription and expect to have yet another; Zeb went to Lewisville to see Martha;  Mrs. Porter came to see her;

with envelope

 

.16a-b  Em L., June 27, 1864, to James Mcfadien, Hulmesville, Bucks County, Pa.: has been too busy to write; a neighbor’s son was killed in battle and was buried yesterday; Mr. Porter has been drafted; “they are drafting every week her now but I think it is the money they want for the state pays two hundred dollars …”; ends with a plea that he burn the letter because “it is wrote so bad”;

with envelope;

 

.17a-b  Em L., Aug. 2, 1864, to James Mcfadien, Hulmesville, Bucks County, Pa.: had a copperhead picnic “and just as they commenced dancing there was a company of soldiers come from town and broke it up and arrested all the managers [24 of them] … and they sent them to Fort McHenry.  They say the picnic was to raise money for the rebels soldiers, but they stopped that very soon.”; would like to go to meeting at Cherry Hill, but doesn’t want to leave mother for that long;

with envelope;

 

.18b     E. Lutton, Christiana, Aug. 15, 1864, to dear friend: wants him to come on a Saturday because always has other company on Sunday; doesn’t think he wants to hear from her any longerl

 

.18a, c              E. Lutton, Christiana, Aug. 17, 1864, to James W. Mcfadien, Lewisville: wants him to come on Saturday because she might go to the woods meeting near Newport on Sunday;

with envelope;

 

.19a-b  Emma, Christiana, Aug. 24, 1864, to James W. Mcfadien, Lewisville: went to camp [camp meeting] yesterday; not able to come to Lewisville at this time but still hopes to go to Cherry Hill;

with envelope

 

 

Folder 2: Letters, 1865-1869 and undated

 

.20       Em, home, Jan. 26, 1865, to dear friend: she’s not married, but thought he might be; wants to bring Martha the breast pin; both churches are having protracted meetings; mentions St. John’s Church;

 

.21a-b  Emma L., Christiana, home, March 2, 1865, to James W. Mcfadien, Lewisville: had not written because was afraid he might have been drafted; lower counties [of Delaware] have had draft, but not Christiana hundred; wishes the war were over, but expects it will be soon; inquires if there a Good Templers Lodge there; enjoys the one in Christiana; Zeb has not seen any fighting

 

[.22 – dated Oct. 1863 and is in folder 1]

 

.23a-b  A. H. McFadien, Philadelphia, March 3, 1866, to brother: talked to Samuel about James’ going west, and he things there was more room out west than here, “and a better chance for gaining a living, and with enterprise a fortune.”  Samuel recommended that James hire himself as a farm laborer until he got to know the country; was not able to get Samuel to advance money; will need to work hard in order to succeed; will loan him $1000 to get him started; other advice;

 

.23c-d sister M. McFadien, Lewisville, March 23, 1868, to brother: mother doing middling well – can walk a little; will miss Dr. Bye as he is moving to Wilmington; neighborhood news; haven’t been able to plant potatoes; doctor brought bill of $38 for attending to mother – will ask brothers for help to pay it; “the city folks” [relatives in the city, apparently] advise her to do more sewing; asks James to paint a sign for her: “M. McFadden, Dress Maker”;

 

.24a-b  A. H. McFadien, Philadelphia, Dec. 11, 1868, to brother: if James wishes to go to farmer, then the land is not too dear although it would be better if he could get it cheaper; he knows how hard but also how successful farming can be; will help him with purchase price; advises him to make friends with brother George; 

 

.25       A. H. McFadien, Philadelphia, Dec. 15, 1868, to brother: surprised James prefers S. Scott’s place over Mrs. Scotts as her farm has more land and better water sources; James needs to make up his mind about what wants to do; “don’t do anything unless you do it earnestly, cheerfully and determinedly of your own choice”;

 

.28       Lizzie H. Anderson, Lewisville, March 15, 1869[?], to friend James: his mother is doing well and is able to get around; his clothes are ready; don’t know if it’s safe for him to come home: “they are carrying on here, they are ready to eat one another”; Emma is home; new stove has arrived; his father is trimming trees; had a calico party at William Alexander’s; Miss Maggie gone to city; a large crowd starts to the west next week; other news;

 

.26a-b  Jas. W. McFadien, Wilmington, March 16, 1869, to Lizzie Anderson, Lewisville, Pa.: Mrs. Gilbert plans to ask her to come be a cook; this is a good place if she wants to be a cook [the Gilberts operated a hotel]; don’t mention this to anyone, including Emma; don’t send the clothes;

                        With envelope;

 

.27       A. H. McFadien, Philadelphia, March 31, 1866, to brother: wants to meet him at father’s house on Friday evening to discuss  buying Mrs. Scott’s place

 

 

[no number]     envelope addressed to James W. McFadien, City Hotel, Wilmington, Dela., postmarked Lewisville, but part of the date is missing

 

[no number]     envelope addressed to James W. McFadien, Lewisville, postmarked Christiana, Del., Oct. 24

 

[no number]     letter fragment

 

 

Folder 3: bills and receipts; and article of agreement

 

.29       receipt: Chas. P. Bye received a payment from George McFadden by the hadns of Margaret McFadden, Sept. 26, 1859;

 

.30       receipted bill: James McFadien paid E.T. & J. Richardson, for bill to date, March 31, 1860; payment received from Thomas J. Ewing, April 6, 1860;

 

.31       note: James W. McFadien, June 15, 1861, to Thomas J. Ewing: please pay Joseph Richardson $45 on my account; with an amount of $15 for the mill bill;

 

.32       note: Henry Hess, Fair Hill, July 8, 1861, to James McFadden: please pay Thomas Strickland $5;

 

.33       bill: from [illegible] brown, Lewisville, Aug. 6, 1861, to James McFadien; to book account, showing a partial payment

 

.34       account of E.T. & J. Richardson with James W. McFadien, 1861: someone [probably McFadien] harvested wheat and oats and was paid with cornmeal, and bushels of corn and oats;

 

.35       bill of butter and receipt for payment: between Richard Taylor and James McFaiden, April 9, 1862[?]

 

.36       receipt: James McFadien paid John Kerr in full, Feb. 16, 1863

 

.37-.38, .40, .42           receipts: James W. McFadien paid Robert Lynch, Lewisville, May 7, 1863; July 18, 1864; Dec. 27, 1864; and July 17, 1865;

 

.41       receipt: James W. McFadien paid E.T. & J. Richardson, July 18, 1864;

 

.43       promissory note: Jesse McFadien, Lewisville, July 12, 1865, promises to pay James W. McFadien

 

.44       bill: Calvert Wilkinson owes William Foy, for store bill, Lewisville, July 12, 1865, with note from Foy to Wilkinson that the latter is to pay James McFadien

 

.45       bill: Jesse McFadien owes William Foy, for store bill, Lewisville, July 12, 1865, with note (on back) from Foy to Jesse McFadien that the latter is to pay James McFadien

 

.46       bill: William H. Hughs owes William Foy, for store bill, Lewisville, July 15, 1865, with note from Foy to Hughs that the latter is to pay James McFadien;

 

.47       promissory note: Calvert Wilkinson and George B. McFadien promise to pay James McFadien, Lewisville, July 15, 1865;

 

.48       scrap piece of paper with figures;

 

.49       Article of agreement between Thomas Jefferson Ewing [misspelled as Eweng] of Lewisville and Joseph McFadien of Cecil County, April 27, 1860: within four months, Ewing is to build a house; dimensions are given; house is to have a back porch; it is be finished like the house of John Kerr in Lewisville, except for the painting; McFadien to pay $500 for the house; the document was witnessed by James W. McFadien