The
The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and
Printed Ephemera
Henry Francis du Pont
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