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:         Yardley family           

Title:               Yardley family papers

Dates:             1828-circa 1993

Call No.:         Col. 994

Acc. No.:        2018x38

Quantity:        2 boxes

Location:        15 A 5

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

The heads of this branch of the Yardley family were farmer Joseph Yardley (1813-1880) and his wife Margaret W. Taylor (1817-1875).  (Her first name is sometimes found as Margaretta.)  They were both Quakers from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, but they lived in Luzerne County, Penn.; Kent County, Delaware; and Warren County, North Carolina as well.  Their children who are represented in this collection are Charles Burleigh, David Sellers, Eldredge Taylor, William Buckman, and Ida Virginia.

 

Charles Burleigh Yardley (1840-1916) married Margaret Tufts Swan.  David Sellers Yardley (1842-1866) and his brother Eldredge (1845-1882) served in the Union Army during the Civil War.  David drowned on August 1, 1866, and was buried in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Eldredge married Clara Wilson Hall.  William Buckman Yardley (1848-1885) married Ellen Mulvaney (1842-1924) in West Orange, New Jersey, in 1870.  They had two children, including Sarah McKim Yardley; she married Louis Gilbert Beers.  Ida Virginia Yardley never married and died in 1871.

 

After the Civil War, Joseph Yardley farmed the Montmorenci plantation in Warren County, North Carolina.  In the 20th century, Henry Francis du Pont purchased the staircase out of the old plantation mansion and installed it in his home Winterthur.

 

The Reverend John Linn McKim was an uncle of Ellen Mulvaney Yardley (Mrs. William B. Yardley).  Her mother was Mary McKim, who was a sister of the Rev. McKim.  Mary married Stephen P. Mulvaney of Hagerstown, Maryland, in 1842, although a biographical sketch reported that the couple lived in Chester County, Pennsylvania.  Their daughter Ellen Mulvaney married William B. Yardley.

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

A collection of family letters, photographs, business papers, and information pertaining to the Yardley family of Pennsylvania and Delaware and to Montmorenci plantation in Warren County, North Carolina.  The oldest items in the collection are from Margaret W. Taylor (later Mrs. Joseph Yardley).  Her marking sampler is dated 1828, and her friendship album was begun in 1833.  Her friends and family wrote poems in her volume.  In a letter from 1845, Joseph Yardley writes to a sister-in-law announcing the birth of a son.  Three letters are from David S. Yardley, written during his service in a Delaware regiment during the Civil War.  He does not write of battles but mentions camp life, and also applauds Fremont’s proclamation.  However, the focus of the letters is really on Ida, not himself.  The Rev. John L. McKim wrote to William B. Yardley about the latter’s poor health and business woes.  Other documents pertain to William’s fruit business in Lewes, Delaware, in the early 1880s, and include inventories of his fruit evaporation business.  McKim was administrator of William’s estate and these documents probably were collected during that service.  (These documents were founds in a portfolio which is included in the collection.)  A poem celebrates the baby Ida Virginia Yardley, and mentions all her family. 

 

Several family photos are part of the collection, mostly studio portraits.  The photo of a Christmas dinner (undated, perhaps 1880s) is unfortunately not very clear, although what is clear is that the diners are wearing silly hats.  After the Civil War, Joseph Yardley farmed the Montmorenci plantation in Warren County, North Carolina.  His granddaughter Sarah McKim Yardley was born there, and she revisited the place around 1931.  Several photos from that visit are found, as well as information from Winterthur Museum about the staircase removed from the old mansion and reinstalled in the Winterthur mansion.  Also relating to Montmorenci is a booklet from the Shocco Game Association of Baltimore City which purchased the plantation around 1893 for a hunting preserve for its members.

 

           

ORGANIZATION

 

The papers are roughly in chronological order.

 

 

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

 

The materials are in English.

 

 

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

 

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

           

 

PROVENANCE

 

Gift of Deborah Yardley Beers-Jones.

           

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

            People:

                        McKim, John L. (John Linn), 1813-1909.

                        Yardley, David S. (David Sellers), 1842-1866.

                        Yardley, Ida Virginia, 1853-1871.

                        Yardley, Joseph, 1813-1880.

                        Yardley, Margaret W. Taylor, 1817-1875.

                        Yardley, William B. (William Buckman), 1848-1885.

 

Topics:

            Christmas.

Friendship.

Family - Correspondence.

Fruit - Delaware.

Inventories - Delaware - Lewes.

Montmorenci (N.C. : Dwelling)

Samplers - Pennsylvania.

Soldiers - Correspondence.

Albums.

Black-and-white photographs.

Poems.

           

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 15 A 5

 

 

Box 1:

 

Folder 1:          family information from internet, not part of gift

 

Folder 2:          album of Margaret W. Taylor Yardley, 1833-1858 (acc. 2018x38.1)

 

                        Margaret W. Taylor wrote her name in fancy script on the front flyleaf of this friendship album.   Contains poems written by her friends (whether original or not is not known), most of whom at least initialed if not signed their writings, also adding dates and places.  Joseph Yardley wrote a piece on the last page, in pencil.

 

Volume: embossed green paper covers the boards, with red leather on spine and corners.  Part of the paper has been torn off both front and back covers.  Marbled paper is used for the end papers.  The title page is printed with the title Album in fancy script, and is illustrated with a young woman in neoclassical dress playing a harp.  The album was “published for the booksellers” and was printed in New York. 

 

Folder 3:          Yardley, Joseph: letter to sister Lydia Y. Lloyd, June 10, 1845; and a letter from Sarah V. Lloyd to Mrs. Louis G. Beers, 1925, about that letter. (acc. 2018x38.2-.3a-b)

 

                        .2         Joseph Yardley, White Haven, June 10, 1845, to Sister Lydia Y. Lloyd, care of Benj. Lloyd, Dolington P.O., Bucks Co., Penn. Postmark: Mauch Chunck, June 11.  (Although Joseph addressed Mrs. Lloyd as “sister,” she was really his sister-in-law.) 

                        Thanks her for informing them that Clara has decided not to come live with the Yardley family.  Wife Margaretta has another healthy boy [Eldredge Taylor].  Don’t know what to think about Joseph Janey[?] selling his farm.  How to be content.

 

                        .3a-b    letter with envelope: Sarah V. Lloyd, Mansfield, March 7, 1925, to cousin Mrs. Louis G. Beers, Trenton, N.J. [Sarah McKim Yardley Beers, daughter of William B. Yardley].  Sarah Lloyd sends thea bove letter to Sarah Beers because she thinks the new baby mentioned in the letter was Mrs. Beer’s father.

 

Folder 4:          Poem: “To Ida,” signed Grace Graceless, April 1854 (acc. 2018x38.4)

 

                        Poem written in honor of birth of Ida Virginia Yardley, who was born in November 1853; the poem mentions her brothers Justin, Charley, Davy, Elly, and Willie.

 

Folder 5:          letters from David S. Yardley to his sister Ida V. Yardley, 1861, 1864 (acc. 2018x38.5-.7)

                                    Note: acc. 2018x38.6 is clearly dated 1860; however, internal evidence indicates that the letter was written in 1861

 

                        .5         written from Camp [illegible], Bush River, Maryland, July 7, 1861: thinks of her often; “we do not act the soldier all the time”: gather berries, go swimming, lounge in the shade, look at the night sky (mentions the comet visible that summer); am tired of being in camp and wants to play a more active role, although it would mean not seeing her for some time; encourages her to study hard, be good, and write to him  [part of letter is missing]

 

                        .6a-b    letter with envelope: letter to sister Ida with added note to an aunt; headed Milford, Sept. 11, 1860, but David gives his address as 1st Del. Regt., Wilmington, and the envelope bears the remnants of a Wilmington postmark; the envelope is addressed to Ida in Milford;

                        Although the year looks like 1860, it was actually written in 1861;

To Ida: has been “busy in trying to raise a company to fight for Uncle [illegible] as long as the war shall last”; in debt from expenses incurred in recruiting the company;   

To aunt: thanks for her advice; “I have a good company … honest, hard fisted, country boys”; believes they may be sent to North Carolina coast; “The proclamation of Fremont is a move in the right direction …. of what value will be the suppression of the rebellion and the reunion of the States if the primary cause of all our trouble is allowed to remain in its full force and vitality”; [further expressions of support for fighting to abolish slavery]

 

.7         written from “Desert House,” [in Virginia], Sept. 13, 1864: reflects on her growing up; can send her more music if she needs more; doesn’t expect much fighting until the next spring; brother Eldredge was able to visit the other evening and he is proud of his recent promotion; hopes all the summer company has not worn out their mother

 

Folder 6:          documents from portfolio (acc. 2018x38.8-.20)

                        [the portfolio itself is in Box 2; documents numbered in order found]

 

                        .8         Indenture between Josiah White, Caleb Cope, and James Cox (of the first part), the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company (of the second part), and Joseph Yardley of White Haven, Luzerne County (of the third part), for lot 27 on Towanda Street in White Haven, April 17, 1846; printed form

 

                        .9a       envelope labeled “statement of cost of building erected 1882 …”; this held acc. 2018x38.9b-f

 

                        .9b       “Cost of Building for Evaporating, 1882”: lumber, shingles, tin, bricks, whitewashing, digging cellar, mason work, window sash, hardware and paint, wire netting, carpenter’s work, etc.

 

                        .9c       “Inventory of Stock on Hand and Fixtures, January 1883”: includes desk, chair, scales, peach assorter, apple and peach parers, wooden bowls, barrel press, peach baskets, checks, lanterns, stationery, roll sulphur, spirit level, marking stencils, hand saw, grindstone, drawing knife, trowel, shovel, rake, oil demijohn, carpenter’s brace, hatchet, peach knives, white pine cases, packing paper, vinegar, padlocks, etc.

 

                        .9d       “Cost of Office and Platform Scales, 1883”: expenses for lumber, brick, doors and sash, scales, carpenter work, whitewashing, plastering and bricklaying, hardware, etc.

                        [note: in 1880 census, William T. Holland was a carpenter in Lewes and Rehoboth Hundred, and George M. Thoroughgood was a dealer in building materials in Georgetown, Delaware.]

 

                        .9e       “Inventory of Stock on Hand and Fixtures, January 1884”: includes white pine and other cases, press and cider hoop, hatchet, peach assorter, grindstone, water buckets, wooden bowls, manila and fancy paper, roll sulphur, barrel press, marking stencils, apple and peach parers, scrub brush, oil can, vise, trowel, spirit level, scales, drawing knife, hand saw, carpenter’s brace, cherry seeders, oil demijohn, lanterns, fruit checks, baskets and covers, stationery, shovel, rake, padlocks, vinegar, etc.

 

                        .9f        “Inventory of Stock on Hand and Fixtures, January 1885”: includes much the same items as in .13 above

 

                        .10       copy of a promissory note: William B. Yardley of Lewes, Delaware, promises to pay John L. McKim a sum of money, June 25, 1883 [printed form]

 

                        .11       receipt: John L. McKim acknowledges receipt of a judgment note from William B. Yardley, May 26, 1884

 

                        .12a-b  two pages of accounts of estate of W.B. Yardley with John L. McKim, administrator of estate, 1885-1886; mentions evaporator, coal yard, husk machinery and mill; also mentions Ellen M. Yardley (she was the widow)

 

                        .13       promise to pay: T.A. Kingsley, Ridgeway, Warren Co., N.C., promises to pay Joseph Yardley & Son, April 1, 1872

 

                        .14       promise to pay: T.A. Kingsley, Ridgeway, Warren Co., N.C., promises to pay Joseph Yardley & Son, May 3, 1872

 

                        .15       sight draft: pay to the order of Jos. Yardley & Sons, signed Harding & White, sent to W. A. Pease, Ridgway, N.C., Nov. 17, 1872;

                        [printed and illustrated form: printed by Wm. F. Murphy’s Sons, Phila., illustrated with picture of a dog]

 

                        .16       stock certificate: Philadelphia and Newtown Rail Road Company: two shares to Chas. H. Warner, Nov. 20, 1872, with attached memorandum of agreement about paying interest;

                        [printed and illustrated form: printed by Wm. F. Murphy’s Sons, Phila., illustrated with picture of train

 

                        .17a-b  letter with envelope: John L. McKim, to Will [W.B. Yardley], Lewes, Del., April 22, 1885; envelope postmarked Georgetown, Del.; Not qualified to give business advice; refers to Yardley’s poor health; possibly Yardley can lease his machinery (evaporator and husk machine) to someone else this summer;

 

                        .18       letter, John L. McKim, to Will [W.B. Yardley], no date but pre-dates May 15, 1885; advice about moving; perhaps Ellen [Will’s wife] would be able to accommodate boarders; refers to Will’s poor health and gives advice about medication (leave off the drug store medicine and take only whiskey); bishop’s upcoming visit to Lewes;

 

                        .19a     envelope labeled: Lease of the Evaporators

 

                        .19b     lease of the Fruit Evaporating Building, with machinery, for the purpose of receiving, preparing, evaporating, packing, and storing fruit; the lease is executed by John L. McKim, administrator of estate of William B. Yardley, and the building is being leased to Daniel W. Brereton and John H. McColley, both of Lewes, dated August 1885

 

                        .20a     envelope labeled: Coal Binns [sic]

 

                        .20b     lease of the coal bins, with office and scales; the bins are being leased by John L. McKim, administrator of estate of William B. Yardley, and are being leased to Franklin C. Maull of Lewes

 

 

Folder 7:          tinted photograph on porcelain, in purple velvet case: man identified as William B. Yardley, grandfather of Yardley Beers (acc. 2018x38.24)

                                    DO NOT CLOSE CASE – IT IS DIFFICULT TO OPEN

 

Folder 8:          photographs of Yardley family (acc. 2018x38.25-.39)         

                        .25       Margaret W. Taylor Yardley, carte-de-visite taken in Philadelphia, circa 1863;

                        .26       probably Joseph Yardley (according to penciled note on back), carte-de-visite taken in Philadelphia, circa 1860-1870;

                        .27       Joseph Yardley, “Grandfather Yardley, Yardley Beer’s great-grandfather,” taken by Mahan & Keller, Philadelphia, circa 1870-1880;

                        .28       Ellen Mulvany Yardley, carte-de-visite taken in Milford, Delaware, circa 1870-1880;

                        .29       William B. Yardley, carte-de-visite taken in Philadelphia, circa 1870;

                        .30a     Ida Virginia Yardley, on page from a photo album;

                        .30b     Mr. I.[?] S. Geist, page from a photo album;

                        .31a     Ida Virginia Yardley, on page from a photo album;

                        .31b     Eldredge Yardley, on page from a photo album;

                        .32a     Farnham Yardley, a baby, circa 1869, on page from a photo album;

                                                [son of Charles B. and Margaret Swan Yardley, born 1868];

                        .32b     David S. Yardley, on page from a photo album;

                        .33       Margaret [Tufts Swan] Yardley, taken by Brady in Orange, N.J., Dec. 29, 1894, on page from a photo album;

                        .34       Margaret [Tufts Swan] Yardley, April 1885, taken by Parker, Newark, N.J.; [she was Mrs. Charles B. Yardley];

                        .35-.36 Charles B. Yardley, circa 1890, taken by W.L. Teush, Newark, N.J.;

                        .37       “Christmas dinner at Uncle Charlie Yardley’s, East Orange, N.J.”; it is not a clear photo; many of the people wear silly hats; the 2 people in the background are probably servants; not dated, perhaps 1880s;

                        .38       PHS class, 1924-1925; on back: 8th grade, 1925; a line of children stand on school grounds; [Yardley Beers might be one of the students];

                        .39       Margaret T. Yardley [Mrs. Charles B. Yardley], Dec. 1909

 

 

Folder 9:          Montmorenci plantation and stairs: correspondence and other information, circa 1983-1993 (2018x38.40)

                       

                        Chiefly correspondence and information from Winterthur Museum about the Montmorenci plantation in Warren County, N.C., which was owned by the Yardley family after the Civil War; Joseph Yardley died there in 1880

 

Folder 10:        Montmorenci plantation and stairs: photographs (acc. 2018x38.41-.46)

 

                        .41:      unknown man on the staircase in its original location; a wood or coal burning stove sits in the middle of the stair hall; [same view appears in acc. 2018x38.47; see next folder]

                        .42       exterior view of the house;

                        .43       Winterthur postcard showing Montmorenci stair hall in the museum;

                        .44       side view of house, probably circa 1931; the people in the photo have been identified as Louis, Sarah [neé Yardley], and Yardley Beers;

                        .45a-b  front of Montmorenci mansion, circa 1931, with label showing location of plantation; the person in the photo is Louis Beers;

                        .46       front of Montmorenci mansion, circa 1931, with Louis Beers; a label on the back was for two photos, of which the collection only has the Montmorenci photo; it was the birthplace of Sarah McKim Yardley Beers

 

Folder 11:        Montmorenci plantation: “Prospectus, Constitution and By-laws of the Shocco Game Association of Baltimore City,” printed for the association by Deutsch Lithographing & Printing Co., Baltimore; no date but after spring 1895 (acc. 2018x38.47) – DELICATE CONDITION – HANDLE WITH CARE

 

                        Although based in Baltimore, the association’s game preserve was in Warren County, N.C., and Montmorenci was the clubhouse on the property.

 

Folder 12:        drawing (perhaps by a child) of flowers and butterfly, given “to Mr Beers” (acc. 2018x38.48)

 

 

Box 2:

 

Folder 1:          Portfolio which held some documents; possibly this belonged to William B. Yardley or to John Linn McKim, the administrator of the estate of William B. Yardley (acc. 2018x38.21)

 

Folder 2:          book: Evans, Augusta J.  St. Elmo (New York: Carleton, 1867), with inscription:                Miss Ella Mulvaney, Milford, Delaware, Jan. 20th 1867, and note:

                                    “my father’s hand writing, engagement present to Mother” (acc. 2018x38.22)

 

                        The volume was later covered with brown fabric, which is not falling apart.  Please handle with care.

 

Folder 3:          marking sampler of Margaret W. Taylor, 1828 (acc. 2018x38.23)

                                    Two alphabets: A-Y and A-Z, capital letters only, both include J, and with numbers 1-0; framed by Wanamaker’s, so not an original frame

                                    (Margaret W. Taylor married Joseph Yardley)