1783 - 1901
(bulk dates 1820s - 1860s)
Manuscript Collection Number: 489
Accessioned: Gift of Mrs. Samuel
M. Sloan, 1963
Extent: .33 linear ft. (36 items)
Content: Receipts, letters, accounts,
deeds, recipes, bill, bond, legal transript, fictional ship's log.
Access: The collection is open for research.
Processed: May 2004 by Carrie
L. Foley
Special Collections, University of Delaware Library
Newark, Delaware 19717-5267
(302) 831-2229
This collection relates to the Virden (or Virdin) family of Delaware, specifically Samuel Virden (1793-1876) of Kent County and his descendants. Samuel Virden's great-grandfather, John Virdin (d. 1769), was among the earliest Virdens in Delaware. Samuel was born on June 21, 1793, the only child of Peter Lowber Virden and Elizabeth (Lowber) Virden. His first wife was Anne McKimmey Smock Virden (17971841), with whom he had eleven children. The family lived near Frederica on a farm called Lexington Mills, and later moved to a home on David Street in Frederica. In October of 1842, ten months after Anne's death, Samuel married Eliza Anne Warren (d. 1878). He died in July of 1876 and was buried in a family cemetery at Lexington Mills.
Samuel's children and their spouses also figure prominently in this collection,
particularly John W. Hall, Jr., the husband of Samuel's daughter, Sarah Elizabeth
("Lizzie"). John W. Hall, Jr., son of Delaware governor John W. Hall
(1817-1892, served as governor 1879-1883), became a successful businessman after
taking over his father's mercantile firm in 1867. Records from the Hall family's
shipping firm can be found among the collections of the University of Delaware
Library (Mss 116).
The Brown family also appears in this collection. Samuel Virden's granddaughter,
Blanche Virden, married Dr. Thomas A. Brown, and perhaps this is the source
of the Brown family material. Their daughter was the renowned Delaware artist
Ethel Penniwell Brown Leach, whose niece, Mrs. Samuel Sloan, donated this collection
to the University.
Selected Virden Family Genealogy
Names in bold represent family members who are authors or who are referenced
in the collection.
1) Samuel Virden (1793-1876) m.1 Anne McKimmey Smock (17971841) The
couple had eleven children listed below. m.2 Eliza Anne Warren (d.1878)
1) McKimmey Smock
Virden (1818-1849)
2) Peter Lowber
Smock Virden (b. 1818) m. Emma Closey The couple had five children, including
Blanche Virden, listed below.
1)
Blanche Virden m. Dr. Thomas Brown. The couple had three children,
including Delaware artist Ethel Penniwell
Brown Leach.
3) Elizabeth
Lowber Virden (1820-1823)
4) Luiza Morris
Virden (1823-1823)
5) Edwin Virden
(1823-1899)
6) Anna Smock
Virden (1824-1892) m. George Sullivan
7) Ruth Anna Virden
(1826-1916) m. Alexander Virden (cousin)
8) Samuel Virden
(1829-1902)
9) Sarah Elizabeth
("Lizzie") Virden (b.1833) m. John W. Hall, Jr. (son of the Delaware
Governor)
10) James Alexander Virden (1836-1837)
11) Adaline Lowber Virden (1838-1838)
Donald Odell Virden, The Virdens of Delaware and Related Families. Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books, 1991.
"Hon. John Wood Hall," in Historical and Biographical Encyclopedia
of Delaware. Wilmington, Del.: Aldine Publishing and Engraving Company,
1882.
The Virden family papers, spanning the years 1783-1901, consist of thirty-six letters, receipts, deeds, accounts, and other documents, mostly relating to the family of Samuel Virden of Kent County. Although the papers do not provide a well-rounded portrait of the Virden family, some of the estate papers, receipts, and letters can provide a rough estimation of Samuel Virden's business and financial dealings when considered together. Some of the most noteworthy documents in the collection, however, have a historical significance discrete from the Virden family. These include an anonymous Revolutionary War era account book of household earnings and expenditures; several expressive letters written by the young Virden sisters and their friends between 1840-1862; an 1864 letter to John W. Hall detailing Civil War hostilities near City Point, Virginia; Edwin Virden's 1865 letter regarding life in post-Civil War Jackson, Mississippi; and a letter to Peter Lowber Smock Virden regarding Delaware politics during the free silver controversy of 1896.
The collection came to the University of Delaware in 1963 from Mrs. Samuel
Sloan, a descendant of Samuel Virden through Blanche Virden Brown. Several items
in this collection bear no obvious relation to the Virden family, and may have
been grouped with the collection after its donation. Records indicate that the
Virden family papers originally consisted of just twenty items, dating from
1820-1866. An item list of the thirty-six documents now present in the collection
is below.
Ms 116 John Wood Hall Shipping Papers
Business papers of Delaware governor and lumber merchant John Wood Hall and
his son, John Wood Hall, Jr. John W. Hall, Jr. married Sarah Elizabeth ("Lizzie")
Virden in 1877. Like the Virden family papers, this collection came to the University
in 1963 from Mrs. Samuel Sloan.
Box -- Folder -- Contents
F1 Account book by an unidentified author, 1783-1787.
Includes details of payments made for wood,
brandy, tobacco, shoes, and other goods, as well
as incoming credits for weaving, spinning, cutting
wood, and other work. Includes many transactions
with “negroes.”
F2 Receipt for Robert Young/Yong’s Delaware taxes, 24 Apr
1816.
Bond between John Coon and Samuel Virden, 1818.
Account of Samuel Virden against the estate of William
Virden, 23 Jan 1821. William Virden was
probably Samuel’s uncle, William Virden, Jr. (1773-
1820), who was the brother of Peter Lowber Virden.
Sale agreement between Samuel Virden and Samuel Warren,
Jr., 5 Mar 1823. Samuel Warren, Jr., may have
been the brother of Samuel Virden’s future wife,
Eliza Anne Warren.
Document naming Samuel Virden as the administrator of
the estate of Elizabeth Virden, 20 May 1824.
(Located in oversize.)
This is most likely Samuel’s young daughter,
Elizabeth Lowber Virden, who died in September of
1823.
Deed between Caleb Barratt, surviving executor of
Andrew Barratt, to Sarah Harrington, 29 Dec 1825.
F3 Receipt to Samuel Virden from Job Townsend,
regarding the estate of Robert Young and the
purchase of white oak planks, 4 Feb 1826.
Letter from William Jackson to Samuel Virden, regarding
the estate of Peter Smock, 24 Sep 1826.
Receipt to Samuel Virden from Solomon Townsend for Job
Townsend, 13 Feb 1827.
Receipt to Samuel Virden from Solomon Townsend
administrator of the estate of Job Townsend, 16
March 1831.
Receipt to Samuel Virden from Solomon Townsend for Job
Townsend, 16 Nov 1832.
Receipt to Samuel Virden for a subscription to the
Delaware State Journal, 1 Dec 1832.
Scrap of an order between John Scott, William
Saulsbury, and Samuel [Virden], 1833.
Letter to the Virden family from Anna Smock Virden
and Ruth Anna Virden, 16 Aug 1840.
Letter to Ruth Anna Virden from her schoolmate, Mary S.
Paster, 10 Jun 1841.
Receipt to Samuel Virden from A. Whiteley, 20 Dec 1843.
Deed to Thomas Brown from Sarah Brown, Samuel A. Short
and wife, William C. Brown and wife, Sarah H.
Brown, and John Smithers and wife, 13 Dec 1845.
F4 Receipt to Samuel Virden and Nathaniel Young from
Jonathan Carrow, who served as auctioneer for the
estate sale of Elizabeth Young, 24 Jan 1849.
Letter to Sarah Elizabeth (“Lizzie”) Virden from
Philena [Peterson], regarding Washington’s
birthday, the marriage of the Swedish opera star
Jenny Lind, and other lighthearted news, 22 Feb
1862.
Peterson’s surname was penciled in by her
signature, with the note, “(Peterson’s Magazine).”
Peterson’s magazine was published (under various
titles) between 1842-1892 by Charles J. Peterson
of Philadelphia.
“Log of Yacht Nettle on an excursion down Delaware Bay
commencing on Tuesday Nov. 19th 1862” [fictional].
Account of sales to John W. Hall from Jas L. Benley Co.
regarding the sloop Golden Gale, 7 Sep 1863.
Letter to Samuel Virden from his nephew, R. Y.
Townsend, regarding business opportunities, 16 Mar
1864.
Although the exact relation between R. Y. Townsend
and Samuel Virden is unclear, the Townsend family
connection may come from Samuel Virden’s second
wife, Eliza, whose mother was Miriam Townsend
Warren.
Letter to Mr. Hall from N. W. Lawson, regarding hostile
encounters with Confederate soldiers during a
mercantile expedition near City Point, Virginia,
17 Aug 1864.
Bill to John W. Hall from Henry Frederick’s Building,
House Keeping, and Agricultural Hardware
Warehouse, 30 Sep 1864.
Letter from Edwin Virden to Father [ ], a Methodist
priest in Frederica, Delaware, 24 Sep 1865.
Edwin is living on a plantation in Jackson,
Mississippi, with this brother, Samuel Virden,
Jr., and his sisters Anna and Ruth. He offers
commentary on the post-Civil War South and broad
condemnation of the “indolent,” “stealing” former
slaves.
F4 Deed to Thomas Brown from Edward and Hester
Anderson, signed 28 April 1860, recorded 4 Sep
1866.
F5 Letter to [Sarah H. Hall Lester] from her brother,
John W. Hall, Jr., regarding the death of Rachel
Whiteley, 15 Jun 1887
John W. Hall, Jr., had only one sister live into
adulthood, so it is presumed the recipient of this
letter is Sarah H. Hall Lester. See also letters
dated 29 Feb 1892 and 1 May 1901.
Deed to Thomas A. Brown from Joseph and Catharine
Brown, signed 11 Mar 1890, recorded 15 Apr 1890.
(Located in oversize.)
Typescript of a legal judgment in the breach of charter
lawsuit between John W. Hall and Hugh Kelly,
written by J. Brown, 1 Feb 1892.
Letter to [Sarah H. Hall Lester] from her brother, John
W. Hall, Jr., regarding finding men to work on
their vessels, 29 Feb 1892.
Deed to Sarah E. Brown from Joseph and Catharine Brown,
James and Susan A. Quillin, Thomas A. and Mary B.
Brown, and Mary L. Brown, signed 20 Apr 1881,
recorded 23 Sep 1895. Recorded by James Virden.
(Located in oversize.)
Letter to Peter Lowber Smock Virden from Dr. D. W.
Mott, regarding Democratic politics during the
free silver controversy, 17 Aug 1896.
Letter to [Sarah H. Hall Lester] from her brother, John
W. Hall, Jr., regarding the health of his wife,
business matters, and other news, 1 May 1901.
Scrap of a legal document involving J. Brown and Major
Townsend, n.d.
One sheet containing recipes for peach cream, orange
cream, bisque, and stewed prunes, n.d.
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