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Joshua Gilpin letters to Matthew Boulton, copies

Creation: 1798-1803
 Collection
Accession: 0592

Abstract

Joshua Gilpin (1765-1841) was a merchant and paper manufacturer. The papers consist of copies of four typescript letters written to Matthew Boulton (1728-1809), a British engineer from Joshua Gilpin.

Dates

  • Creation: 1798-1803

Creator

Extent

4 item(s)

Physical Description

4 letters, typscript : copies.

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.

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.

Scope and Contents

The papers consist of copies of four typescript letters written to Matthew Boulton (1728-1809), a British engineer from Joshua Gilpin (1765-1841). The first two were written when Gilpin was in London and touch on person matters and Gilpin's interest in machines. Among the latter are references to procuring a model of a device for raising water patented by Argand and Montgolfier for use by himself and Robert Fulton. The last item is a lengthy report on market conditions and commodity prices in Philadelphia in March 1803, covering a long list of goods normally exported from or imported into Philadelphia in trade with Europe and the West Indies.

Location of Originals

Originals in Boulton Collection, Assay Office, Birmingham, England.

Access Restrictions

No restrictions on access; this collection is open for research.

Use restrictions

Literary rights held by Birmingham Assay Office. Not to be reproduced.

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 letterbook (0789), 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.

Language of Materials

English

Related Names

Subject

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title:
Joshua Gilpin letters to Matthew Boulton, copies
Author:
John Beverley Riggs
Date:
1970
Description rules:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description:
English
Script of description:
Latin

Revision Statements

  • 2020: Ashley Williams

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository

Contact:
PO Box 3630
Wilmington Delaware 19807 USA
302-658-2400