The Winterthur Library

The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Creator: Patton and Wales families

Title: Papers

Dates: 1768-1900

Call No.: Col. 525

Acc. No.: 79x330.1-.23

Quantity: 23 items

Location: 34 K 4

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

The Patten (also spelled Patton) and Wales families resided in Delaware during the 18th and 19th centuries. Among the most prominent family members was John Patten (1746-1800), a farmer who was a Major in the Revolutionary War. After the war, he resumed his agricultural pursuits and began a career as a politician, serving in the Delaware state legislature, the first Continental Congress, and finally three terms in the U.S. Congress (elected in 1792, 1794, and 1798). Another noted family member was Leonard E. Wales, Jr., who served as an associate judge for the state of Delaware beginning in 1864; 20 years later he was appointed U.S. District Judge. Leonard Wales' grandmother was Ann Patten, daughter of Major John Patten.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

Collection contains papers pertaining to the Patten and Wales families. Included is a deposition apparently used to settle an estate that records family genealogy; the will of John Patten, owner of a Kent County, Del. plantation; an 1822 inventory of an estate owned by Catherine Brooks; and an account of expenses for Ann Patten.

Among the Wales family papers are three speeches given in 1801 and 1802 by John Wales at Yale University. The first discusses American genius, education, and scholarship; the second answers the question "Was the French Revolution good for mankind?”; and the third concerns the cultivation of taste for fine writing. Other letters document the appointment of Leonard E. Wales, Jr., as Associate Judge and U.S. District Judge.

ORGANIZATION

Arranged by family name.

PROVENANCE

Gift of Mrs. Alfred Bissell and Mrs. Walter Laird.

ACCESS POINTS

People:

Patton family - Genealogy.

Wales family - Genealogy.

Patten, John, 1746-1800.

Patten, John, 1752-1839.

Wales, John.

Wales, Leonard E.

Patten, Joseph M., d. 1887.

Patten, Matthew.

Brooks, Catherine, d 1822.

Topics:

Legal documents.

Inventories of decedents' estates.

Speeches, addresses, etc.

Letters.

Wills.

Judges – Delaware.

Phi Beta Kappa – Addresses.

Yale University – Students.

France - History - Revolution, 1789-1799.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Location: 34 K 4

Folder 1: Patten family

79x330.1 Deposition of William Armstrong, Christiana Hundred, on behalf of John Patten, New Castle County, Delaware, 1768; gives genealogical information about Jacob and Eleanor Patton

79x330.2a-b Deposition of Matthew Patton, house carpenter, White Clay Creek Hundred, New Castle County, on behalf of John Patten, May 27, 1768; lists the children of William Patton, husbandman of White Clay Creek Hundred; also includes the names of the eldest son’s (Jacob Patton) spouses and the names of the children of his first marriage, and some other genealogical information and family history

79x330.3 obverse: bond, John Patten to Catharine Brooks, both of Kent County, Delaware, July 2, 1795.

Reverse: statement of repayment of money from John Patten’s estate to Catharine Brooks, 1808-1820 [Catharine is John’s half-sister].

79x330.4 Vital statistic records, Maxwell & Patton, Dover, Delaware, 1788-1801. Endorsed “The Ages and Deaths of Major John Patten’s Family.”

79x330.5 Letter, Geo. Read, Jr., New Castle, [Del.], to John Patten, Dover, April 19, 1790; re rent due on property in the estate of the late Wm. Maxwell.

79x330.6 Will, John Patten, late of Kent but now of New Castle County, Delaware, August, 1797/1798. Marked “Cancelled.”

79x330.7 Account, presented by George Munro, guardian to Ann Patton, a minor daughter of John Patton, Esquire, deceased, Kent County, Delaware, 1801-1819; detailed accounts of money paid to raise Ann Patton, including expenses for shoes, clothes, board, taxes, doctors’ visits, library subscription, etc.

79x330.8a-b account of Major Patton's estate, 1805-1820; and certificate of Jas. Clarke, Register, relating to settling of George Munro’s guardianship accounts.

79x330.9 Inventory and appraisement of goods and chattels of Catharine Brooks, St. Jones Neck, Kent County, August 22, 1822. Joseph M. Patten, executor. Includes furniture, silver, glassware, crockery, kitchen wares, bedding, carpeting, etc.

Folder 2: Wales family

79x330.10-14 Speeches and papers of John Wales, Yale College, New Haven, [Conn.], 1801-1802.

.10 “A Dispute in the question whether the French Revolution has been beneficial to mankind?” September 1, 1801.

.11 “An Oration,” suggesting “a few observations on the importance of cultivating a taste for fine writing.” December 16, 1801.

.12 a speech about American genius, education, and scholarship, delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society on the Tuesday afternoon preceding commencement, 1802

.13 a survey of property in the 3d quarter, 3d township, 13^th range, belonging to T.M. Thompson; names Jos & Ann Patten also appear; includes note by John Wales, August 5, 1822.

.14 an evaluation of improvements made by Elijah McDowell to property in Kent County which he leased from John and Ann Wales and Joseph M. Patten; the evaluation was made by Jacob M.Hill, James Kinney, and Henry M. Ridgely, December 30, 1840.

79x330.15 Letter, Leonard E. Wales, Wilmington, to John [probably Wales], about a note that is due and the possibility of going bird hunting in the fall, July 24, 1858.

79x330.16 check drawn on the Bank of Wilmington and Brandywine, J. Wales to Joseph M. Patten, May 7, 1860.

79x330.17 Letter, Samuel M. Harrington, Jr., Delaware Secretary of State, Wilmington, to Leonard E. Wales, September 22, 1864, encloses commission to Wales as an associate judge for the state

79x330.18a Commission naming Leonard E. Wales an associate judge of the State of Delaware for New Castle County, signed by Governor William Cannon and Secretary of State Samuel M. Harrington, Jr., September 22, 1864.

Inside: witness by Edward W. Gilpin that Wales took the oaths to uphold the constitutions of the United States and the state of Delaware, October 1, 1864, with additional endorsements stating that the commission had been read before various state courts

79x330.18b envelope which enclosed the above document

79x330.19 release of Catharine B. Wales, Matilda C. Wales, and John P. Wales to Leonard E. Wales in matters relating to estate of John Wales, March 26, 1866

79x330.20 letter transmitting the document described in .21 to Wales, from Jas. M. Ewing, appointment clerk, Department of Justice, Washington, March 27, 1884

79x330.21 document appointing Leonard E. Wales to be United States District Judge for the District of Delaware, signed by Chester A. Arthur, March 20, 1884

79x330.22 letter, John C. Hopkins, Dover, to Leonard E. Wales, Jr., Wilmington, June 30, 1900, about surveying the Wales farm near Dover, mentions that the land was deeded by Ann Maxwell to her eldest son John Patton in 1783

79x330.23a-c a statement and notes about the heirs to some property, naming assorted members of the Patten, Wales, and Bissell families.

Index to names:

Armstrong, William .1

Arthur, Chester A. (Pres.) .21

Bissell, Josephine W. .23

Brooks, Catharine .3, .9

Cannon, William .18a

Clarke, John .7

Ewing, James M. .20

Frelinghuysen, Fredk. T. .21

Harrington, Sam. M. .17, 18a

Hopkins, John .22

Latimer, Jas. .1

Maxwell, Ann (or Anne) .22, .23

Maxwell, John .23

Maxwell & Patton .4

McKean, Thom. .1, .2

Miller, Jos. .3

Munro, George (Dr.) .3, .7

Patten, Ann .7

(also spelled Patton)

Patten, John .3, .5-7. .22

(also spelled Patton)

Patten, Joseph M. .9, .23

Patten, [John] Major .8a, b

Patton, Matthew .2

Patton, Wm. .2

Read, Geo. .5

Smith, Albert W. .19

Wales, Ann [Patten] .9

Wales, Catharine B. .19, .23

Wales, John .10-14

Wales, John P. .19

Wales, Matilda .19

Wales, Leonard (Judge) .15-23

Walker, Daniel .3

Wilmington & Brandywine Bank .16