Wilson-Warner-Corbit family papers

Collection

Identifier: Col-0035

Dates

Creation: 1681 - 1902

Conditions Governing Access

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

Biographical / Historical

The Wilson, Warner, and Corbit families were important and influential families in Odessa (formerly known as Cantwell's Bridge), Delaware, through much of its history. They were connected by marriage, business, political, and religious ties. The connections of the families with each other, with the city of Philadelphia (where some members went for education or for business), and with other Quakers are all evident in this collection. The White papers were found in the attic of the David Wilson house in Odessa. It is unclear how the Whites of Milspilion Hundred in Kent County, Delaware, fit with the other families.

Biographical / Historical

Among the people represented in the collection are David Wilson, father and son. The father David Wilson (1743-1820, builder of the Wilson-Warner House is Odessa) was a merchant and married Mary Corbit (1749-1803, daughter of Daniel Corbit and Mary Brinton). Their two children were Rachel (married Samuel Thomas, who is mentioned in some papers) and David (dates unknown). The younger David's first wife was Ann Jefferis of Wilmington; she died in 1822. He then married Mary Poole of Brandywine Village, and they eventually moved near Richmond, Indiana. David and Ann Jefferis Wilson's daughter Mary Corbit Wilson married her cousin Daniel Corbit in 1847.

Biographical / Historical

Also represented in this collection is Daniel Corbit (1796-1877), the son of William Corbit (1746-1818, builder of the Corbit-Sharp House in Odessa) and his fourth wife Mary Cowgill (1761-1845). Daniel's first wife was Eliza Naudain (1810-1844), and his second wife was his cousin Mary Corbit Wilson (1811-1880, daughter of David Wilson and Ann Jefferis). Daniel and Mary C. W. Corbit had a daughter, Mary Cowgill Corbit (1848-1923, married Edward Tatnall Warner in 1876). Daniel ran the tanyard in Cantwell's Bridge which he father had begun and which had belonged to his older brother; he was also a landowner and served in the Delaware legislature. In the 1850s, he closed the tanyard and concentrated on agriculture, including peach orchards. Daniel was interested in family history and made an effort to preserve family papers and furniture.

Full Extent

1.3 cubic ft. (4 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Metadata Rights Declarations

License: This record is made available under an Universal 1.0 Public Domain Dedication Creative Commons license.

Additional Description

Arrangement

The papers are arranged by family and are in 4 series: I. White papers; II. Wilson papers; III. Corbit-Warner papers; and IV. books and wrappers.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The papers came to Winterthur from descendants of the families.

Acc. 80x266 gift of E. Perot Walker.

Acc. 84x150 gift of Mrs. D. Meredith Reese.

Acc. 12x116: acquisition information unknown.

Related Archival Materials

Custodian--Additional Corbit family material is found in Col. 297 in this repository.

Summary

The collection consists almost entirely of letters to and from members of the named families. The pre-nineteenth century materials relate to the White family of Kent County. The papers document the education, family life, and relationships of members of these eighteenth and nineteenth century residents of Delaware. Whether being educated at Quaker schools in Pennsylvania, or moving to Indiana, the focus of the families was still on their hometown in St. Georges Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware. Letters from Mary Poole and David Wilson in Indiana concern the hardships they endured in trying to start a new life in another state. Letters written by Mary Cowgill Corbit from Westtown School and from Vassar College shed light on the life of a school girl and a college student. A number of papers pertain to settling the estate of David Wilson (died 1820). Genealogical information and a few photos and daguerreotypes are also included.