Virgil Warder

Virgil Warder (1713-1782/83) was an African American slave who served for many years as gardener at Springettsbury, the Penn family estate on the outskirts of Philadelphia.

History

Virgil Warder spent his early life at The Grove, a plantation in Falls Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, owned by Joseph Warder (d. 1775). He was about twenty years old when Warder sold him to Thomas Penn (1702-1775), a fellow Quaker, on January 26, 1734. According to the Philadelphia brewer and revolutionary leader Timothy Matlack (1736-1829), Warder initially worked as a laborer under the charge of the gardener, James Alexander. Warder initially worked as a laborer at Springettsbury, Penn's suburban estate on the outskirts of Philadelphia, under the supervision of the gardener, James Alexander. Following Alexander's death in 1778, Warder assumed his responsibilities, taking charge of the garden and greenhouse. and receiving an annuity from the Penn family for maintaining the property. He became a well-known fixture of the place, conducting visitors through the gardens and greenhouse. Both Deborah Norris Logan and Elizabeth Drinker recalled the “curious aloe,” originally planted by James Alexander and subsequently cultivated by Warder. When it finally bloomed in August 1778, Warder was besieged by curious crowds from Philadelphia who came to see it (view text).

In her will of March 16, 1793, Deborah Morris (1724-1793), a Quaker known for extreme piety, directed that her executors sell "my lot of ground in Seventh Street in the said city, now in the tenure of Virgil Warder a blackman." She further directed that the proceeds from the sale of her several properties should be benefit the Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia Dispensary, and the Free Negro School in the form of annual annuities, adding "And before I conclude my will, I feel it necessary to mention that I hope none of my dear relatives will think my donations in favor of the free negro school too large, as it appears to me to be a debt due to the posterity of those whom our predecessors kept in bondage."

Susanna’s obituaries: “Obituary, with Anecdotes, of Remarkable Persons,” Gentleman's Magazine and Historical Review, Volume 79, part 2 (September 1809), 885-94; https://books.google.com/books?id=axM3AAAAYAAJ&source=gbs_navlinks_s p. 885) Warden, Susannah, b. March 1701, Pennsbury Manor, Pa., wid. Virgil Warden, house servant William Penn, d. Philadelphia, 30 June 1809

“Deaths Abroad,” Monthly Magazine, , vol. 28, no. 5, December 14, 1809, p. 546; https://books.google.com/books?id=500oAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

“Deaths,” The Scots Magazine, vol. 71, 1809, p. 716-20; --this is on p,. 716 https://books.google.com/books?id=09k5AQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false “Deaths Abroad,” The European Magazine and London Review, v. 56 (September 1809), p. 237; https://books.google.com/books?id=Q8gPAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false At Philadelphia, in her 109th year, Susannah Warden, formerly wife of Virgil Warden, one of the house servants of the great William Penn. This aged woman was born in William Penn’s house, at Pennsburgh [sic] Manor, in March 1701, and has of late been supported by the Penn family.

Thomas Bailey, Records of Longevity, with an Introductory Discourse on Vital Statistics (London: Darton & Co., 1857),, p. 389; https://books.google.com/books?id=x1UBAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Robert Barnes, Marriages and Deaths from the Maryland Gazette, 1727-1839 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. 2004 [orig. pub. 1973]; https://books.google.com/books?id=tQCu-QzxbYkC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false Maryland Gazette, July 19, 1809 191) Warder, Susanna, formerly the wife of Virgil Warder, who was one of the house servants of William Penn, Proprietor of Pennsylvania, died in Phila., on the 30th inst. [June], in her 109th year. This aged black woman, a daughter of one of his [Penn’s] cooks, was born at his mansion house in Pennsbury Manor, in March, 1701, the same year he left the Province to return to England. The Penn family, respecting her faithful services in the time of her youth, allowed an annual sum to support her comfortably, when she was not able to work, to the end of her days.

William Watts Hart Davis, The History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania: From the Discovery of the Delaware to the Present Time (Doylestown, PA: Democrat Book and Job Office Print, 18776) https://books.google.com/books?id=bwtNS1C8ljwC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false 182) The Gentleman’s Magazine, of a forgotten date, contains the following: “Died at Philadelphia in 1809, in her one hundred and ninth year, Susannah Warden, formerly wife of Virgil Warden, one of the house servants of the great William Penn. [sic] (183) This aged woman was born in William Penn’s hosue at Pennsbury manor, in March 1701, and has of late been suported by the Penn family.” We doubt the correctness of part of this statement. In 1733 Thomas Penn purchased, of J. Warder, of Bucks county, a negro, afterwards known as Virgil. He was then twenty years of age, having been born in 1713, and was very old when he died. He and his wife lived in the kitchen at Springettsbury. The death referred to, in the Gentleman’s Magazine, was no doubt the wife of this old negro. Virgil could not have been a hosue servant of William Penn, for he was only five years old when the Proprietary died, in England. His wife may have been born at Pennsbury.

J.R.T., “Appendix. –Referred to in a Preceding Column,” The Friend, vol. 18, no. 20, (February 7, 1845), 155; https://books.google.com/books?id=0SpHAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

G. M. Justice, May 4, 1844, “Wm. Penn—Not a Slaveholder at the Time of his Death,” The Living Age, 1846, Volume 8, 1846 “Be it Remembered, That I Joseph Warder of the ffalls Town Ship in the County of Bucks in Consideration of ffifty Poudns Current Money of Pensilvania to me in hand paid by the hon.ble Thomas Penn Esqr. …. Negro Man named Virgill aged about Twenty years, To hold to the said Thomas Penn his Executrs. Admrs. And assigns against me the said Joseph Warder and all Persons Claiming or to Claim the said Negro man by any wayes means or pretence whatsoever In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal this 26th day of the Eleventh Month (Jan’y anno Dui 1733-4).

Joseph Warder Jailer’s bill. August 22, 1766 To Virgil Warder, a Negro fees To mitemos… To his bread 3 days To his wiping at Public Post Richard Hockley paid It would appear from the above bill, that Virgil’s bread, for three days, cost just one ninth of the price of a public whipping. In anotehr bill to Thomas Penn, dated “April 7, 1752,” is a charge for “a scythe for Virgil’s use, 2-6” and “2 whetstones for do. 2 shillgs.”

The Morris Family of Philadelphia: Descendants of Anthony Morris, 1654-1721, 2 vols. (Philadelphia: Robert C. Moon, 1898), vol. 1; https://archive.org/stream/morrisfamilyofph01moon#page/n9/mode/2up Deborah Morris returned with her aunt to Philadelphia, in September 1773. After her return…she took up her residence in what was then called Mulberry Court, running from 6th Street above Market Street, where she built herself a house directly across the court, to prevent persons and vehicles passing from 6th to 7th streets…. 289) “…my late grandfather’s mansion house at the corner of Front Street and Morris Alley… 290) “It is my desire, as it was the desire of my late dear father, that the Mansion house at present erected on the said lot, shall stand as long as it may with safety to the inhabitants, and when it shall become necessary to rebuilt it, I hereby authorize and empower my said nephew…erect therewith a good, but plain three story brick house, keeping as near as possible to the old foundations, and also a brick wall on the south side of the garden, and when this shall be done, I direct the following words and figures, viz. A.M. 1686, to be affixed in blue bricks, at one of the gable ends of the house, that being about the time my worthy grandfather bilt the present house. “Item. I devise to my sister Elizabeth Shoemaker, for and during her natural life, all my present mansion or dwelling house, and half the garden lot contiguous thereto, with the Westernmost frame house in Farmers Alley…. (291) And I do hereby declare this devise and the sevral successive estates, hereby limited and created, to be upon this express condition, viz. that the owner of the several messuages and lots in this clause mentioned, shall not build nor suffer any buildings to be erected in the garden spot, on the south end of my said dwelling house, nor open nor permit or suffer to be opeend, if they can in any wise prevent it, an alley through the Court in which my said dwelling house is situated….

“I devise to my niece Phoebe Morris during her natural life, all that my next house of old mansion situated in Mulberry Court with the lot back of it on Farmers Alley, and both the frame tenements thereon, being bounded on the east by the lot sold by me to Jonathan Jones, and on the West by a cartway, left for the use of the said Court, also one-half of the garden lot south mof my present dwelling house, bounded on the south by the lot ….

The will of Deborah Morris (1724-1793), Deborah Morris was the daughter of wealthy Philadelphian Anthony Morris. A Quaker, she was noted for her piety, individuality and eccentricity.a Quaker known for piety and eccentricity, March 16, 1793,

Recorded Will Book W, p. 367, Office of Register of Wills, Pbila.

" Be it remembered that I, Deborah Morris of the city of Philadelphia, Spinster, being of sound disposing mind and memory, do make (this sixteenth day of the third month one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three) this my last will and testament as follows : Revoking hereby" all other wills by me heretofore made. First. I authorize my executors, hereinafter named, to pay and discharge all my debts and funeral expenses as soon after my decease as may be, and to enable them so to do, I hereby empower my said executors, the survivors or survivor of them, to sell at public or private sale, convey and assure all that my tract of land in Nockamixon Township, Bucks County, being the remainder of what I purchased of my nephew, William Shoemaker; all that my undivided moiety of a tract of land called Callenders Meadows, on the Allegany Mountain in Bedford County, purchased of Samuel Wallis and held jointly by Joseph Potts and myself, although the deed is in my name, all my estate purchased of Alexander Macke}^, situated on Dock and Pear Streets, in the City of Philadelphia ; all that my lot of ground in Seventh Street in the said city, now in the tenure of Virgil Warder a blackman; and also all that my house and lot of ground on the north side of High Street in the said city, now in the tenure of [p. 288] James Biddle, being in front eighteen feet ten inches and in depth an hundred and seventy feet, from which no privilege of outlet shall ever be granted into the Court, but I will and direct that the house and lot last mentioned shall be sold, subject to twelve pounds per annum, pa3^able thereout annually forever to the Contributors to the Pennsylvania Hospital for the benefit of that institution.

Morris made provisions for funds to be paid to the Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia Dispensary and the free negro school in the form of annual annuities from the devised properties. Morris made provisions for funds to be paid to the Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia Dispensary and free negro school in the form of annual annuities from the devised properties. Concerning the annuities to the school Morris wrote: "And before I conclude my will, I feel it necessary to mention that I hope none of my dear relatives will think my donations in favor of the free negro school too large, as it appears to me to be a debt due to the posterity of those whom our predecessors kept in bondage."

--Robyn Asleson

Texts

• Obituary of Susanna Warder, July 7, 1809, Poulson's American Daily Advertiser

"DIED, on the 30th of last month, in the hundred and ninth year of her age, Susanna Warder, formerly the wife of Virgil Warder, who was one of the house servants of William Penn [sic], proprietor of Pennsylvania.

"This aged black woman, (a daughter of one of his cooks) was born at his mansion house in Pennsbury Manor, in March 1701, being the same year in which he left the province on his return to England.

"At that time, Philadelphia, now the largest city in the United States, was a wilderness, the inhabitants of which were chiefly Indians, of the Delaware and other tribes.

"Susanna was tall and streight in her person, graceful in all her deportments, agreeable in her manners, and temperate in her speech and mode of living.

"Her memory was good, and her sight, which improved towards the close of her life, remarkably clear; but of late time she became hard of hearing.

"The Penn family, respecting her faithful services in the time of her youth, allowed an annual sum to support her comfortably, when she was not able to work, to the end of her days."

• Timothy Matlack, January 11, 1817, letter to William Findley (Pickering 1826: 185)

"Penn left a family of slaves behind him; one of which I have often conversed with, and he always spoke of himself as Penn’s body servant: He lived to extreme old age, and continued a gardener at Pennsbury-house [sic], near this city, comfortably provided for to the last of his days."

• Logan, Deborah Norris, October 10, 1826, diary entry (quoted in White, 2008: 19)back up to history

"The Gardens of Springetsbury [sic] were in full beauty in my youth, and were really very agreeable after the old fashion, with Parterres, Gravelled Walks, a Labyrinth of Horn-beam and a little wilderness — And the Green house, under the Superintendence of Old Virgil the Gardener, produced a flowering Aloe which almost half the town went to see, produced a comfortable Revenue to the old man — Soon after the house was burned down by accident; and now quantities of the yellow Blossoms of Broom in spring time mark the place...'where once the garden smiled'.”

• Watson, John Fanning, 1830, Annals of Philadelphia (1830: 534)

"There were black people, whose surname was Warder. They had been house servants of William Penn [sic; Thomas], and because of their great age were provided for by the Penn family, living in the kitchen part of the house at Springetsbury. Virgil was probably upwards of 100 years of age when he died. His wife died in 1782; and there is something concerning both of them to be seen published in Bradford’s Gazette of that time. The aged Timothy Matlack told me he remembered talking with Virgil often about the year 1745, and that he was then quite grey headed, but very active. When Matlack saw him there he was under charge of James Alexander, the gardener."

• Watson, John Fanning, 1844, Annals of Philadelphia (1844: 2:478-79)

Springettsberry...was once cultivated in the style of a gentleman’s seat, and occupied by the Penn family….

"Celebrated as it was, for its display and beauty, now almost nothing remains…. Its former groves of tall cedars, and ranges of catalpa trees are no more. For many years the Penn family continued to have the place kept up in appearance, even after they ceased to make it a residence. James Alexander, called Penn’s gardener, occupied the premises; and old Virgil Warder, and his wife, servant—blacks, lived there to an old age, occupying the kitchen as their home, on an annuity (as it was said) from the Penn family— paid to them till their deaths, about the year 1782-83. For many years, the young people of the city— before the war of Independence, visited Springettsberry in May time, to gather flowers, and to talk with and see old gray-headed Virgil, who had always much to say about the Penns of former days. It was all enchanted ground to the young—…

"In the year 1777 [sic], old Virgil had quite a harvest, derived from the blooming there— a great wonder then— of the great American aloe, which had long been nursed in the green-house. It was visited by many— and all had their gifts ready for the old black man.

"The garden had evergreens, made into arbours, and nicely trimmed and clipped in formal array. There was also a seeming wilderness of shade, with gravel paths meandering through, & c."

References

Will of Deborah Norris, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation