Joshua Gilpin letterbook on microfilm 0789
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on September 14, 2021. Description is written in: English. Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Manuscripts and Archives PO Box 3630 Wilmington, Delaware 19807 [email protected] URL: http://www.hagley.org/library Joshua Gilpin letterbook on microfilm 0789
Table of Contents
Summary Information ...... 3 Biographical Note ...... 3 Scope and Contents ...... 4 Administrative Information ...... 4 Related Materials ...... 5 Controlled Access Headings ...... 6 Collection Inventory ...... 6
- Page 2 - Joshua Gilpin letterbook on microfilm 0789
Summary Information
Repository: Manuscripts and Archives Creator: Gilpin, Joshua, 1765-1841 Title: Joshua Gilpin letterbook on microfilm ID: 0789 Date [inclusive]: 1770-1848 Physical Description: 1 item(s) Physical Description: 1 microfilm reel. Language of the English . Material: Abstract: Joshua Gilpin (1765-1841) was a merchant and paper manufacturer in Delaware. This collection is a microfilm of letters in a scrapbook, including correspondence from Gilpin, Thomas Gilpin (1776-1853), and others.
^ Return to Table of Contents
Biographical Note
Joshua Gilpin (1765-1841) was a merchant and paper manufacturer. He was born in Philadelphia on November 8, 1765, the son of Thomas Gilpin (1728-1778), a merchant and flour miller. Gilpin inherited his father's business and in 1787 established Delaware's first paper mill on the Brandywine Creek near Wilmington with his brother, Thomas (1776-1853), and his uncle, Miers Fisher (1748-1819).
Gilpin made two extensive tours of England and Europe in 1795 to 1801 and 1811 to 1815, during which he examined many of the latest advances in technology and machinery. During his travels from 1795 to 1801, he spent most of his time in England with a distant relative, the Reverend William Gilpin (1724-1804). He, Joshua, made an excursion to Ireland in 1796 and, after the French Revolution abated, toured the Low Countries, France, and Switzerland. Gilpin followed the standard itinerary of the Grand Tour but also investigated agriculture, canals, roads, and manufacturing industries. Gilpin was a careful observer who recorded both conventional travel narratives and site descriptions and collected data on political and social conditions, wages, and the standard of living. His perspective was that of a Quaker with reforming impulses, exemplified by his interest in prisons and education. His extensive travels gave him a more cosmopolitan outlook than most Philadelphia Quakers, and he absorbed many tastes and attitudes of the English gentry with whom he lived. Gilpin's English connections permitted him to visit all the classic sites of the Industrial Revolution.
- Page 3- Joshua Gilpin letterbook on microfilm 0789
Gilpin made a second trip to England in 1811 to 1815, being stranded there during the War of 1812. On this second visit he collected information on the newly developed continuous papermaking machines of John Dickinson (1782-1869). His brother, Thomas, "invented" and patented a similar machine, the first of its kind in the U.S., in 1817. It was set up in the brothers' Brandywine Mill.
The Gilpins gave up their mercantile business in 1817 to concentrate on papermaking. Although successful, they suffered from a shortage of capital compounded by losses on other investments. They sold the paper mill in 1837.
Joshua Gilpin married Mary Dilworth (1777-1864) on August 5, 1800 in Yealand Conyers, Lancashire, England. They had eight children: Henry Dilworth (1801-1860), Sarah Lydia (1802-1894), Elizabeth (1805-1892), Jane (1806-1806), Thomas William (1806-1848), Mary Sophia (1810-1890), Richard Arthington (1812-1887), and William (1815-1894). In his later years, Joshua Gilpin lived in the style of an English country gentleman at his home, "Kentmere," near Wilmington. He died on August 22, 1841 and was buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia.
^ Return to Table of Contents
Scope and Contents
Microfilm of letters in a scrapbook which includes correspondence of others than Joshua Gilpin (1765-1841), with some of his brother, Thomas Gilpin (1776-1853).
^ Return to Table of Contents
Administrative Information
Publication Statement Manuscripts and Archives
PO Box 3630 Wilmington, Delaware 19807 [email protected] URL: http://www.hagley.org/library
Revision Description Ashley Williams 2020
- Page 4- Joshua Gilpin letterbook on microfilm 0789
Access Restrictions No restrictions on access; this collection is open for research.
Location of Originals Originals in the Alderman Library, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.
Use Restrictions Not to be reproduced.
^ Return to Table of Contents
Related Materials
Related Materials Joshua Gilpin and James Riddle miscellany (0463), Manuscripts and Archives Department, Hagley Museum and Library.
Joshua Gilpin journal (accession 0563), Manuscripts and Archives Department, Hagley Museum and Library.
Joshua Gilpin letters (0592), Manuscripts and Archives Department, Hagley Museum and Library.
Joshua Gilpin notes on bleaching process of paper (0790), Manuscripts and Archives Department, Hagley Museum and Library.
Joshua Gilpin journals (accession 1214), Manuscripts and Archives Department, Hagley Museum and Library.
Joshua and Thomas Gilpin Collection, 1771-1854 (Manuscript Group 58), Pennsylvania State Archives.
Gilpin Family Papers (Collection 0238), The Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
^ Return to Table of Contents
- Page 5- Joshua Gilpin letterbook on microfilm 0789
Controlled Access Headings
• Correspondence. • Education • Social history
Collection Inventory
Title/Description Instances Captain John Van Dyk to John Pintard, 1821 August 24 reel 1
A.E. Mills to James F. Maury, 1910 January 11 reel 1
Cheque, Bank of New York to Treasurer of the United States, 1789 reel 1 September 13
James Maury to Mrs. Mary Claiborne, 1797 September 9 reel 1
Certificate of ship's merchandise on the Liberty at Liverpool, 1800 reel 1 November 1-1800 November 10
Oath of truthfulness of statement of contents, James Maury, 1801 reel 1 January 10
Drawing, 1814 March 4 reel 1
Cover, "P. Can of the Bath Men 1814", 1814 reel 1
Joshua Gilpin to Joseph Townsend, 1816 October 4 reel 1
Joseph Townsend to Joshua Gilpin, 1816 December 10 reel 1
William Fowler, et al. to James Maddison Broome, 1816 June 21 reel 1
John E. Fowler to Joshua Gilpin, 1817 March 24 reel 1
William Fowler to Joshua Gilpin, 1818 January 11 reel 1
James C. Fisher to Joshua Gilpin, 1817 January 15 reel 1
List of queries beginning "Daniel Morris has had possession", reel 1 undated
Walker to Joshua Gilpin, 1820 June 17 reel 1
William Radcliff to W.T. Gilpin, undated reel 1 Scope and Contents
Also includes letter draft by Gilpin.
[Joshua Gilpin] to William Radcliff, 1810 May 23 reel 1
- Page 6- Joshua Gilpin letterbook on microfilm 0789
[unknown] to "My dear Madam", 1820 May 23 reel 1
Joshua Gilpin to "Sir", 1820 July 29 reel 1
Joshua Gilpin to "Dear Madam", 1820 August 8 reel 1
Rufus King to Joshua Gilpin, 1822 March 27 reel 1
Daniel Clintin (?) to Joshua Gilpin, 1822 April 22 reel 1
Peter S. Du Ponceau to Joshua Gilpin, 1825 October 10 reel 1
James Maury to Joshua Gilpin, 1827 April 30 reel 1
Brig. Gen. Bernir (?) to Joshua Gilpin, 1828 June 14 reel 1
Brig. Gen. Bernir (?) to Joshua Gilpin, 1827 February 9 reel 1
Charles Carroll to "Dear Charles", 1828 September 2 reel 1
J. Vaughan to Joshua Gilpin, 1828 January 14 reel 1
L. McLane to Joshua Gilpin, 1828 January 27 reel 1
H. Clay to [Joshua Gilpin], 1829 January 2 reel 1
Jane Porter to Mary Mease, 1829 July 31 reel 1
J.K. Kane, et al. to Joshua Gilpin, 1829 October 7 reel 1
Louis McLane to Joshua Gilpin, 1829 December 14 reel 1
Cover to Joshua Gilpin, undated reel 1
J. Madison to Mr. Johnston, 1830 May 14 reel 1
Louis McLane to Joshua Gilpin, 1830 August 25 reel 1
Josius W. King to Joshua Gilpin, 1830 August 22 reel 1
[Joshua Gilpin] to [Josius W.] King, 1830 August 26 reel 1
L. McLane to Joshua Gilpin, 1831 January 20 reel 1
[M. Van Buren] to [Joshua Gilpin], 1831 reel 1
I.C. Calhon (?) to Mrs. J.S. Johnston, 1831 January 22 reel 1
William E. Channing to "My dear sir", undated reel 1
Thomas H. Benton to [unknown], 1840 April 23 reel 1
W.L. Marcy to Seth Grovesner, 1848 March 7 reel 1
Wright Babcock to James F. Maury, 1804 August 17 reel 1
[Grandfather] to "My d'r Brother", undated reel 1
W.H. Wilberforce to "Dear James", undated reel 1
T. Campbell to J. Rogers, undated reel 1
Three cards bearing signatures D.G. Farragut, U.S. Grant and {??), reel 1 undated - Page 7- Joshua Gilpin letterbook on microfilm 0789
Gros. Davis to "Sir", 1863 March 9 reel 1
Receipt of 600 manuscripts and conditions for use, 1952 March 29 reel 1
Memo "Steps to take against wheat fly", undated reel 1
Joshua Gilpin to "Gentlemen", 1777 February 25 reel 1
"A method of destroying the wheat fly" by Thomas Gilpin, undated reel 1
B. Franklin to "Sir", 1770 March 18 reel 1
Diary "May 4 to 10 at the State House", undated reel 1
"Remarks on the American locust" and memoranda, undated reel 1
Map of coasts of North America and Europe, undated reel 1
"Station of the herrings in every month" chart, undated reel 1
[unknown] to Society of Arts, London, 1770 September 28 reel 1
"Some remarks on herrings in their annual progress", undated reel 1
"Observations on the annual passage of herrings", undated reel 1
"Some observations" Philosophical Society of Philadelphia, undated reel 1
"Some remarks on herrings", undated reel 1
"My dear countryman", undated reel 1
Drawings, "the ground plan of a set of barracks", undated reel 1
Calculations, undated reel 1
"Old Testament, world's age...", undated reel 1
Calculations, "diameter of Earth's orbit", undated reel 1
"____ of a London Dairy", undated reel 1
"A plan with an estimation of the loft of a chain bridge", undated reel 1
William Smith to Michael Sarb, 1773 February 1 reel 1
"Articles for establishing a grammar school at Wilmington", 1771 reel 1 October 8
List of names and amounts, undated reel 1
Gunning Bedford to the public, 1802 July 31 reel 1
Articles for establishing a grammar school at Wilmington, 1772 reel 1 May 22
"Whereas the public grammar school...", 1785 December reel 1
Sundry subscriptions, undated reel 1
"Whereas the publick grammar school...", 1785 December reel 1
"Remarks" regarding freight costs, 1772 January 20 reel 1
- Page 8- Joshua Gilpin letterbook on microfilm 0789
Joshua Gilpin to Dr. Brotherd, 1775 reel 1
Joshua Gilpin to Thomas Gilpin, 1776 June 17 reel 1
Joshua Gilpin to Thomas Gilpin, 1775 July 20 reel 1
Joshua Gilpin to Thomas Gilpin, 1775 August 4 reel 1
Joshua Gilpin to Thomas Gilpin, 1776 September 28 reel 1
Owen Biddle to [unknown], 1777 April 23 reel 1
Joshua Gilpin to Bond (?), 1777 April 23 reel 1
Resolution, 1777 April 23 reel 1
Note signed, 1777 April 24 reel 1
Note signed, Charles W. Peale, 1777 April 24 reel 1
"The bearer of this is Isaac Pearson...", undated reel 1
Orders or directions for Isaac Pearson, undated reel 1
"The bearer of this is Isaac Pearson...", undated reel 1
"I, Isaac Pearson...", 1777 April 25 reel 1
"Isaac Pearson last night obt...", 1777 April 25 reel 1
Resolution, signed Owen Biddle, 1777 April 28 reel 1
Diary (?), 1777 May 6 reel 1
Diary (?), 1777 May reel 1
"Yesterday abt 5 o'clock p.m. I rec'd from Edward Evans...", 1777 reel 1 May 6
Record of breaking and entering with names of perpetrators, 1777 reel 1 May 10
Diary (?), undated reel 1
"A letter from the country", 1773 November 27 reel 1
Summons to Thomas Gipin, 1777 September 4 reel 1
Note signed Thomas McLean, 1777 September 12 reel 1
List of names, undated reel 1
Diary (?), undated reel 1
"Marks of approbation given...", undated reel 1
Diary (?), undated reel 1
Diary (?), 1778 January 21 reel 1
Memo, 1776 October 7 reel 1
Note signed, 1774 August 17 reel 1
- Page 9- Joshua Gilpin letterbook on microfilm 0789
Articles of agreement, 1775 July 22 reel 1
Last moments of Thomas Gilpin, 1778 October 3 reel 1
"Some account of my dearly beloved only daughter", undated reel 1
Diary (?), undated reel 1
Daughter Sarah's death, undated reel 1
- Page 10-