Lardner family papers

Table of Contents

Summary Information

Background note

Scope and content note

Overview of arrangement

Administrative Information

Related Materials

Controlled Access Headings

Collection Inventory

Lynford Lardner

John Lardner

Richard Penn Lardner

Other Lardner and Related Families

Summary Information

Repository

Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Creator

Lardner family

Title

Lardner family papers

ID

2171

Date

1683-1919, undated (bulk, 1740-1850)

Extent

6.41 Linear feet ; 17 boxes, 2 volumes, 2 flat files, 1 item

Author

Finding aid prepared by Susan Kearney.

Language

English

Abstract

The Lardner Family was prominent in provincial and colonial affairs in Pennsylvania. Among the family members represented in this collection are Lynford Lardner (1715-1774), who worked as an advisor to the Penn family in Pennsylvania, his son John Lardner (1752-1825), who fought in the Revolutionary War with the First Troop, and John's son Richard Penn Lardner (1795-1882), who also served with the First Troop and was treasurer of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad. This collection, which spans from the seventeenth century to the twentieth century, contains correspondence with the Penn family concerning proprietary government; general correspondence; business, land, legal, and estate papers; correspondence with Alexander Graydon; financial books and records; and papers from several related families, such as the Larges, Mifflins, and Wilmers.

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Background note

The Lardner Family was prominent in provincial and colonial affairs in Pennsylvania. Lynford Lardner (1715-1774), whose sister Hannah (died 1785) was married to Richard Penn (1710-1771), served as an advisor to the Penn family in Pennsylvania. He held the posts of Receiver General, 1741-1752, Keeper of the Great Seal, 1746-1752, Justice of the Peace in Lancaster County, 1752, Director of the Library Company, a trustee of the College now known as the University of Pennsylvania, and a member of the American Philosophical Society. In addition to these offices, he acted as overseer of Thomas Penn’s (1702-1775) personal estates. In 1752, he resigned his posts and removed to Windsor Furnace, Lancaster County, where he pursued his interests in farming and animal husbandry. He continued for the remainder of his life to serve the Penns, serving on the Governing Council in 1755 and as Comptroller of Customs in 1771. He married twice, in 1749 to Elizabeth Branson by whom he had 7 children and in 1766 to Katherine Lawrence (no issue).

His son John Lardner (1752-1825) was a member of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry and served in this unit during the Revolutionary War as part of General Washington’s escort during the Battles of Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, and Germantown. Additionally, he served as a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature. Richard Penn Lardner (1795-1882) was the second son of John Lardner and Margaret Saltar. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, he served as a Lieutenant of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry and treasurer of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad.

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Scope and content note

Housed in seventeen boxes, this collection documents the Lardner family of Pennsylvania through correspondence with the Penn family concerning proprietary government; general correspondence; business, land, legal, and estate papers; financial books and records; and papers from several related families, such as the Larges, Mifflins, and Wilmers. It spans roughly from the seventeenth century to the nineteenth century, with most of the material dating from the mid 1700s to the mid 1800s.

The Lynford Lardner series (Series 1) is comprised of correspondence with the Penn family concerning proprietary government business and personal matters, 1740-1771, as well as a Richard Peters letterbook, 1757-1758, with copies of letters to the Penns. The series also includes general correspondences, 1740-1773, business and land papers and estate papers, 1742-1860, notes on family genealogy, a copy of Lynford’s biography as recorded by his son John on 1 February 1805, and a diploma from the University of Pennsylvania awarding a degree in literary arts to Lynford Lardner, probably the grandson of Lynford (1715-1774).

The John Lardner series (Series 2) contains correspondence during the Revolution, 1776-1782, including letters to his mother living in Philadelphia during that time. A valuable source for the study of early Pennsylvania and national politics is the collection of 135 letters between John Lardner and Alexander Graydon (1778-1818) on a variety of topics, many political in nature. Alexander Graydon was a Revolutionary War veteran and backcountry office-holder; John Lardner was a Philadelphia merchant and heir to a substantial family fortune. Both men were Federalists with strong political views; both were unusually frank in expressing their political opinions. In 1792, Graydon expressed his feelings about the young nation: “I am not in Love with Democratical Government, nor its Effects.” Lardner was less troubled by the political changes that Graydon found deeply disturbing. Notes on George Washington [Box 7, Folder 6] is a lengthy, detailed recording by Joseph Reed, Adjutant General, of troop movements “relating to different parts of the Army under General Washington, from the 26 December 1776 when the Hessians were captured at Trenton to the 2nd of January 1777.” This account has been transcribed and is included as part of this series. This series also includes family estate papers, 1775-1860; business, land, and legal papers, 1770-1850; and an early United States census recording the number of slaves in each state from the years 1790-1820.

The Richard Penn Lardner series (Series 3) is a small collection of correspondence, business and land papers, and a farming account book, 1832-1837, all related to Lardner.

Other Lardner and related families (Series 4) is made up of miscellaneous Lardner family correspondence and accounts of various family members, including other children of John Lardner and Margaret Saltar; and related families including the Large, Mifflin, and Wilmer families. One item of interest in this series is a travel diary describing a Cape Town sea voyage [Box 14, Folder 15].

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Overview of arrangement

Series 1. Lynford Lardner, 1683-1860, undated

Series 2. John Lardner, 1739-1860, undated

Series 3. Richard Penn Lardner, 1822-1866, undated

Series 4. Other Lardner and Related Families, 1725-1917, undated

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

 Historical Society of Pennsylvania ; 2019.

Access restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Provenance

Purchased, 1988.

Accession number A1988.37.

One item, Richard Penn letter (1751), was a gift of the Chestnut Hill Historical Society, 1999.

Accession number 991006.1.

Processing note

A few items have been removed for conservation work, and they will be returned to the collection once repairs have been made. This finding aid will then be updated and reposted.

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Related Materials

Related materials

At the Historical Society of Pennsylvania:

Penn family papers (Collection 485A)

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Controlled Access Headings

Subject(s)

• Family life--Upper Class--18th century.
• Land Settlements--New Jersey.
• Land Settlements--Pennsylvania.
• Pennsylvania--Politics and government--19th century.

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Collection Inventory