We Were Always Free: The Maddens of Culpeper County, Virginia: A 200-Year Family History
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 7 - Jul 12

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 566 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
G
Verified Purchase
Gabriel King
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 5
This shirt is a cheat code
Color: Black, White, Navy Blue, Light Gray, Size: XX-Large
These shirt fits my body so perfectly! I’m 6’5” 310 pounds but I look 260 pounds. I sweat easily and I’m very sensitive to the material a piece of clothing is made of. This shirt is lightweight, extremely breathable, and feels like silk on the skin. It compliments and accentuates my contours to enhance my physique. I only tried on one and I’ve already ordered 12 more hehe. This is a cheat code.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2025
B
Verified Purchase
bigness
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 4
I Love the collar
Color: Black, White, Navy Blue, Wine Red, Size: Large
Great T-shirt. I can wear this casually with jeans or with a sports coat. The fabric is soft. There is no label in the collar, so you can wear it however you want.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2026
E
Verified Purchase
Emel Djeipah
Bozeman, US
★★★★★ 3
NOT a compression shirt
Color: Black, White, Navy Blue, Wine Red, Size: Large
These are well made with good quality material but are not what I was expecting given the picture. I am an XL and ordered a L because I wanted them to be tight (which they are not.) I decided not to return them because they are good shirts with a reasonable fit, but be advised these are not compression shirts.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2026
J
Verified Purchase
JIM D. MCGHEE
Draper, US
★★★★★ 5
Ficerd high neck tee / I highly recommend...
Color: Black, White, Dark Gray, Light Gray, Size: Large
Great fit... Comfortable! Didn't shrink in the washer!! Didn't wrinkle up in the dryer!!!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2026
A
Verified Purchase
Amazon Customer
Bozeman, US
★★★★★ 5
Perfect for business casual
Color: Black, Light Gray, White, Brown, Size: Medium
Solid color shirts, cooling cloth as well. Great dinner or occasion shirt!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2026

recommand products