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Worthington family papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS 0924

Abstract

This collection contains the papers of four generations of the Worthington family, who were prosperous landowners in Baltimore County, Maryland. Materials include correspondence, receipted bills, inventories of slaves, and land and estate records.

Dates

  • 1713-1884

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

The reproduction of materials in this collection may be subject to copyright restrictions. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine and satisfy copyright clearances or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections. For more information visit the MCHC’s Rights and Permissions page.

Extent

1.5 Linear Feet (3 boxes; 22 oversized folders)

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Thomas Chew Worthington, III in May 1950.

Related Materials

MS 0923, Samuel Worthington papers, 1740-1818

MS 1406, John Tolley Worthington land papers, 1741-1854

MS 3151, Worthington family land papers, 1755-1829

Scope and Contents

This collections contains the correspondence, receipted bills, land and estate papers of four generations of the Worthington family, who were residents of Baltimore County, Maryland. The correspondence deals with land and financial transactions, health and family news, slavery, and religious sentiments. The letters of Noah Worthington contain details of access to a private railway on his property. Receipted bills include furniture, household items, livestock, farm produce, labor, slaves, tobacco, timber, rents, and mortgages. The papers of Noah Worthington, Rezin Worthington, and Mary Worthington Fite contain inventories of slaves. A letter in Rezin Worthington's papers discusses the status of children of slaves and a letter in Noah Worthington's papers mentions compensation for slaves serving in the army during the Civil War. A large section of land papers contains the deeds, mortgages, and plats for property acquired in Baltimore County.

Of particular interest in the Thomas Worthington papers are a detailed account of the sale of his property (1821) and a memo book recording the details of his son Joshua's illness and death (1804). The memo book also contains a list of sermons heard from 1804-1805.

The miscellaneous correspondence includes information on land transactions, slaves, and the naturalization of Christian Mayer (1819). One letter gives a detailed description of Washington Place in New York City.

Title
Guide to the Worthington family papers
Status
Under Revision
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Revision Statements

  • 2019-09-16: Manually entered into ArchivesSpace by Sandra Glascock .

Repository Details

Part of the H. Furlong Baldwin Library Repository

Contact:
H. Furlong Baldwin Library
Maryland Center for History and Culture
610 Park Avenue
Baltimore MD 21201 United States
4106853750