SKU: 38882632745

We Were Always Free: The Maddens of Culpeper County, Virginia: A 200-Year Family History

Sale price$17.59 Regular price$19.54
Save 10%

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 11 - Jul 16

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

We Were Always Free: The Maddens of Culpeper County, Virginia: A 200-Year Family HistoryIn August of 1758, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, a poor Irish immigrant named Mary Madden bore a child, Sarah Madden, whose father was said to be a slave and the property of Colonel James Madison, father of the future president of the United States. This daughter, though born a free mulatto, became indentured to the Madisons. There she worked as a seamstress to pay off the fine of her birth until she was 31 years old. Sarah Madden bore ten

In August of 1758, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, a poor Irish immigrant named Mary Madden bore a child, Sarah Madden, whose father was said to be a slave and the property of Colonel James Madison, father of the future president of the United States. This daughter, though born a free mulatto, became indentured to the Madisons. There she worked as a seamstress to pay off the fine of her birth until she was 31 years old.

Sarah Madden bore ten children and when the term of her indenture was over, she and her youngest son, Willis, struck out for themselves--Sarah as a seamstress, laundress, and later, with Willis, a dairy farmer and tavern keeper. Stories of Willis and Sarah were passed down in Madden family lore through the generations--their hard work, their business sense, their ability to overcome obstacles, poverty, illiteracy, prejudice. This is the chronicle of those generations, a 200-year history of a kind unusually complete in American history. Two factors make it so--that Sarah Madden and her offspring kept their stories alive, and that they saved hundreds of important documents of their freedom, hardship, and daily work.

These documents came to light in 1949 when author T.O. Madden, Jr. (great great grandson of Sarah Madden) conceived a powerful desire to know more of his bygone generations. He began to investigate, and his search for family brought him to a hidebound trunk originally belonging to his great grandfather Willis. Its contents brought tears to his eyes. Stored there, awaiting discovery, were papers dating back to the mid-eighteenth century, freedom papers, papers of indenture, deeds of land, Sarah Madden's laundry and seamstress record books, letters, traveling passes. In addition, the leather trunk held an exciting, full set of business records for the days of the nineteenth century when Madden's Tavern flourished as a center of activity in Orange County and as a place for travelers to rest on the road to Fredericksburg.

Since that day, T.O. Madden, Jr., has been deeply researching his family, using census reports, other official sources, familly, and friends. All have led to his ably reconstructed family history, and to his own remarkable story. We Were Always Free is a unique and very American family saga.



Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Published: 06/17/1992
ISBN: 9780393350128
Pages: 256
Weight: 0.71lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.57d
Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 38882632745

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.7 ★★★★★
Based on 381 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
A
Verified Purchase
Amazon Customer
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 5
Bed Sheets
Color: 01 - Linen Beige, Size: Queen
The package was received in very good condition and the sheets were packed in a professional way. The queen size fit my bed very well with large pockets at the corners and strong elastic holding all around. The sheets do seem to be a bit heavier than I expected and were very wrinkled after the first washing. I ironed the pillow cases and they did up well. The material is a bit rougher than I expected, but I have slept very well with them and I am pleased overall.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2026
K
Verified Purchase
K
Houston, US
★★★★★ 5
Top quality sheets that are soft, cool, and absolutely worth it
Color: 02 - Pure White, Size: Queen, Color: 02 - Pure White, Size: Queen
Absolutely impressed with the quality of these sheets. I wanted to switch to cotton sheets to get the hotel feel, but have a lot of sensory issues and was worried that they would be scratchy. These sheets are incredibly soft, crisp, and smooth and are not rough at all. They are made with high quality stitching and didn’t have any loose strings. The pillowcases are also thick and heavyweight and are very durable. Some reviews complained about wrinkles, but this will absolutely not be an issue if you lightly steam your sheets after drying. It took 5 minutes and my sheets look so crisp and fresh. They also come with a cloth bag to put leftover pillowcases/bedding in which is so convenient to keep my extra set in. absolutely worth the quality and better than brands like brooklinen and west elm. I paired them with the bedside duvet + washed cotton duvet cover in bright white.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2026
C
Verified Purchase
Carly
Louisville, US
★★★★★ 5
Natural fibers super soft
Color: 01 - Linen Beige, Size: King
Great quality, very warm. Love the textured and natural fibers! Makes a nice between layer. Natural “undyed” look.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2026
A
Verified Purchase
Autumn
Omaha, US
★★★★★ 5
Great sheets
Color: 01 - Linen Beige, Size: King, Color: 01 - Linen Beige, Size: King
Super cute, cool and comfy
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2026
N
Verified Purchase
Nancy
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 4
Good price
Color: 01 - Linen Beige, Size: Queen
Good for the price point
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2026

recommand products