James Duffel Facts

This was sent to me around 2000 from Margaret Wittle of CA--Vince


I was born in Roanoke but have lived in California for most of my life. We lived in the Los Angeles area until 12 years ago when we retired and moved to Fallbrook, CA. There was only one Duffel living in Donaldsonville, LA when I was last there in the early 90's. I was told he was about 18 or 20 but was unable to find him.The Duffel Jewelry Store and the Duffel Department Store buildings were there but unoccupied. We went to Woodstock Plantation, home of Dr. Edward Duffel (oldest son of Edward and Elizabeth), but only the "honeymoon cottage" and the pecan trees remained. We drove by Mulberry Grove ( home of Dr. Edward Duffel II). It has been restored and is very lovely. Let me know if you haven't seen Dr. Duffel's account of the Duffel family and I will send you a copy.

Margaret




Inscriptions on the tombs of Mrs. Deborah Leonard and James Duffel in Trinity Church Yard, New York City. Copied on 20th day Aug. 1817 by James. Duffel.

In Memory Of Deborah Leonard - widow of Samuel Leonard, formerly of Shrewsbury, New Jersey who departed this life Feb. 13 1800 aged 60 years.

In Memory Of James - only son of James and Rebeckah Duffel who departed this life 25th February 1802 - aged 6 years 2 months and 12 days

Beneath this stone a lovely child doth lay to cruel death a blooming early prey

His friends delight - his parents joy he proved and died lamented as he lived beloved.


Death: the Lynchburg virginian;oct.22,1835;p.3,c.3;jones library, Lynchburg.
buried in city cemetery, Lynchburg, Va. Near his brother Edward. Plaque
States "James duffel (1759-1835) revolutionary war soldier. Silversmith, whose
work is now prized by collectors.

duffel, James (11 v.r.) w.d. 231, 1; (15 v.r.) w.d. 275, 1
List of the revolutionary soldiers of Virginia, h. J. Eckenrode,
Archivist, Virginia state library 1913

from "silversmiths of Virginia" by George barton cutten. The dietz press, inc. Richmond, Va.

James duffel (1761-1835) was born in bucks co., Pa., The son of Barnabas duffel and Rebecca saunders.
Where he learned his trade we do not know - it may have been in Alexandria, va.
For he enlisted in the revolutionary army from that city.
According to ghaltney he was a corporal in the 5th and 11th va. Regiments of the continental line.
He is listed in the 1790 census as a resident of prince georges parish,
Georgetown district, south carolina and on jan. 2, 1799 he advertised in
Georgetown "any article of gold or silver can be made as usual on short
Notice."
! In 1800 he desired to remove from south carolina and requested all persons
Indebted to him to settle their accounts, but if there were those who wished to
Discharge their obligations in rice, he would receive that at cash price.
Georgetown at that time was a great rice producing area. He married Rebecca
Leonard of Shrewsbury, new jersey and new York city.
! The New York directory in 1801 contains his name with the information that
He was to be found at 349 pearl st.
! His eldest child and only son died in New York in 1802 aged 6 years.
Later that same year he moved to Fredericksburg, va. Where his brother Edward,
A merchant, had preceded him. On October 28 of that year, he thanked the
People of Fredericksburg for the encouragement they had given him and announced
That he had removed three doors above his former residence, to a tenement of
Capt. Mercers. In feb., 1804 he revealed that a negro girl had come to his
Shop and, under pretense of being sent by a neighboring lady, obtained four
Pairs of earrings, a breast pin and a finger ring. He asked that these be
Stopped if offered for sale.
! He continued to advertise watches, silver, plated ware, jewelry and guns,
Until on aug. 4, 1807 he gave notice that he intended moving to lynchburg
About the middle of the following month, and offered his stock for sale.
Whether he moved at this time or not has not been determined, but his younger
Daughter elizabeth was born in fredericksburg on oct. 19, 1809. His brother,
Edward, had gone to lynchburg, and here james followed him. The wives of
These two brothers were sisters.
! In 1810 he bought lot no. 13 in lynchburg and in 1811 lot no. 6 besides
Some other land near the city. In the latter year he was a member of the
Lynchburg city council, and in 1814 a director of the newly organized exchange
Bank of virginia.
! Not a little of his silver is still to be found around lynchburg and he
Evidently worked there for many years. In nov. 1817 he advertised that he
Intended to quit his present business and offered his stock for sale and the
House in which he lived for rent. Jewelry, silver and plated wear, watches,
Spectacles, rifles and shot guns, pistols, swords, epaulettes, whips and canes
Were for sale at greatly reduced prices until all was sold.
! On dec. 3, 1827 he bought a piece of land from william gatt's executors,
To which he added more frontage in 1828. This was the center of the towns
Business district.
! He had five daughters, and on the occasion of their marriages he gave each
A silver tea set which he had made. One of these is now in the possession of
Miss nannie watson of chatham, va., The wedding gift to her grandmother,
Elizabeth watson. Miss nellie gregory of lynchburg has the silver pitcher
Belonging to the set originally presented to her great grandmother deborah west
Gregory. James duffel died in lynchburg oct. 21, 1835.

I.duffel jd
capt. William grimes co.,15th va. Regiment of foot, commanded by colonel james
Innes. Subsequently known as 11th & 15th va. Regiment
Enlisted dec. 5th, 1776, appointed corporal aug. 1777.
Company muster roll for nov. 1779 dated almorrowtown
Dec. 9th 1779 name appears with remark relative to him "on command southward."

A DIRECTORY OF AMERICAN SILVER, PEWTER AND SILVER PLATE
by Ralph M. & Terry Kovel
Crown Publishers, Inc., NY p. 87.
James Duffel (b. 1761- d. 1835)
Georgetown, SC (c. 1790-1800)
New York, NY (c 1801)
Fredericksburg, VA (c. 1802-1807)
Lynchburg, VA (c. 1810-1828)
(Reproduces 4 of his marks)

SOUTH CAROLINA SILVERSMITHS 16-90-1860
by E. Milby Burton Director, the Charleston Museum
The Charleston Museum, Pub., Charleston, SC
pp. 235-236

James Duffel Working Georgetown, c .1790-1800, New York, NY, 1801 -
Duffel is listed in the 1790 census as being from Prince George's Parish, Georgetown district. He advertised in the Georgetown Gazette for January 2, 1799: "Any article of Gold and Silver can be made as usual at a short notice." The following year he informs the public that he intends removing from the State, and earnestly requests all persons indebted to him to pay their debts; otherwise he will be compelled to have recourse to legal measures. However, for the accommodation of those who prefer paying in rice, he will receive that commodity at cash price.
While it is well known that tobacco was used as a medium of exchange in early colonial days, especially in Virginia, it is not so generally known that rice was used in the same manner in South Carolina. At that time the Georgetown area was probably the greatest rice producing area in the Western Hemisphere.
It is reasonable to suppose that Duffel chose Georgetown as a location because he thought that since the surrounding rice plantations were owned by wealthy and distinguished families they would patronize his shop. That he was disappointed in any such hopes seems evident from his intention to "remove from the state." In any event, he disappears from Georgetown after 1800. It is possible that he went to New York; a James Duffel, silversmith, is listed for the first time in the New York directory for 1801.
In the collection of the Charleston Museum are some spoons marked I. Duffel in a rectangle.