Inventory of the Manigault, Morris, and Grimball Family Papers, 1795-1832

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Biographical/Historical Note

Margaret Izard Manigault (1768-1834) was the daughter of Ralph Izard (1741-1804) and Alice De Lancey Izard (d. 1832). Ralph Izard was a member of the Continental Congress and a United States senator from South Carolina, 1789-1805. Alice De Lancey Izard lived in Philadelphia after her husband's death. In addition to Margaret, the Izards had six children who survived infancy: Henry; George; Ralph; Charlotte (1770-1792), who married William Loughton Smith in 1786; Anne (1779-1863), who married William Allen Deas; and Charlotte Georgina (1792-1832), who married Joseph Allen Smith in 1809.

Margaret married Gabriel Manigault (1758-1809) of Charleston, S.C., in 1785. Gabriel was involved in politics and was an amateur architect. Their children were Elizabeth, wife of Lewis Morris Jr.; Harriet, wife of Samuel Wilcocks; Peter (b. and d. 1788); Gabriel Henry; Ann (d. 1792); Charlotte; Charles Izard (1795-1874); Emma; Ann (d. 1800); Edward; and Caroline. Between 1789 and 1794, the family frequently traveled north, visiting Izards and Smiths who were in New York. In 1805, Gabriel sold part of his South Carolina property, and the family moved permanently to Clifton, an estate near Philadelphia.

Margaret Ann (Meta) Morris (1810-1881) was the granddaughter of Margaret, daughter of Elizabeth Manigault Morris, and wife of John Berkley Grimball (1800-1892).

Collection Overview

The collection is chiefly family letters, 1804-1822 and 1831-1832, written by members of the Manigault, Morris, and Grimball family, especially Margaret Izard Manigault and Harriet Manigault Wilcocks in Philadelphia to Elizabeth Manigault Morris and Margaret Ann (Meta) Morris Grimball in Charleston, S.C. These letters are heavily focussed on family affairs and social life, providing much detail about Philadelphia polite society, including descriptions of balls, theater parties, social calls, clothing, problems with servants, women's issues, and other matters. There are also references to family marriages, illnesses, and deaths, as well as to world affairs and foreign aristocrats living in the United States.

Transcriptions (some handwritten, some typed) of some of the letters were prepared by the donors. These transcriptions are interfiled with the originals. In the cases of a few letters, there are transcriptions but no originals.

Detailed Description of the Collection

Letters, 1804-1822, were chiefly written by Margaret Izard Manigault to her daughter Elizabeth after Elizabeth's marriage to Lewis Morris Jr. Margaret often wrote from Philadelphia, but also from her home, Clifton, near Bristol, Pa., about 20 miles northeast of Philadelphia. Elizabeth spent most of her time, until the end of 1809, at Morrisania, near Harlem, N.Y. From 1810 on, she chiefly lived in Charleston, S.C., but also spent time at Jacksonborough and Landsford, S.C. These letters contain much detail on life in early 19-century Philadelphia. Margaret described activities of Philadelphia society: balls, cotillions, theatre parties, and social calls. There also are clear descriptions of dress; social graces and behavior in polite society; marriages, illnesses, and deaths; problems with servants; and family expenditures for such items as coaches, matched greys, books, and dress fabrics. Included is a letter, 2 January 1814, rejoicing over the defeat of Napoleon, and a letter, 7 June 1814, containing news of Napoleon's banishment. The letters contain occasional comments on French, Spanish, and Russian aristocrats residing in or visiting the United States.

Letters, 1831-1832, are from Harriet Manigault Wilcocks, daughter of Margaret Izard Manigault, to her niece, Margaret Ann (Meta) Morris Grimball, who lived in Charleston, S.C. Harriet wrote chiefly from Philadelphia, describing family activities and the social scene there.