Gideon Wanton (1766-1786) was born in his family’s house at 17 Broadway in Newport, Rhode Island (known today as the Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House). He was the son of John G. (1729-1799) and Mary Bull Wanton (1729-1821) and the younger brother of Mary “Polly” Wanton (1763-1821). His sister, Polly, married Daniel Lyman (1756-1830), an army officer during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), in 1781.
Towards the end of the Revolutionary War, Gideon’s father sent him to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to learn the mercantile trade. He found employment with M. LeMaigre, a French merchant of that city, and was soon entrusted with LeMaigre’s business affairs. LeMaigre sent Gideon abroad to the West Indies to conduct his business as supercargo, which made Gideon responsible for managing the cargo being shipped, selling the merchandise at the various ports visited, and buying and receiving goods to return to Philadelphia. In May 1785, LeMaigre offered to open a wholesale and retail store under Gideon Wanton’s name with the prospect of earning one third of the profits, but Gideon was apprehensive given the current state of the country following the end of the Revolutionary War. Unfortunately, Gideon was not given another chance to make a name for himself in business since he passed away on November 26, 1786, at the age of twenty.
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Gideon Wanton letters, RLC.Ms.014, Redwood Library and Athenaeum.
This collection is comprised of letters sent by Gideon Wanton detailing his experiences as a young man learning the mercantile trade in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The majority of his correspondence was to his sister Polly, often written in French, in which he candidly expressed his homesickness for his family and Newport and his impressions of Philadelphia’s social life and customs. Letters sent to his parents, brother-in-law, Daniel Lyman, and other family acquaintances were often more serious in nature and describe his work with French merchant, M. LeMaigre, and his travels to West Indies and other Unites States cities to conduct business. Also present is a letter sent to Wanton from Daniel Lyman and a letter sent to Gideon’s parents from John Bringhust expressing his condolences after Gideon’s untimely death.
This collection also contains transcriptions of each letter and translations of letters written in French, which were provided by the donor.
This collection is arranged chronologically.
Donated by Mary Brooks Harding, June 3, 2009.
This collection was initially processed by Lisa Long in 2009.
Daniel Lyman papers, 1778-1832, Mss 546, Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence, RI.