Charles Augustus Marvine

Charles Marvine, painted by Ammi Phillips, ca. 1850

Biography

"Background: Charles Marvine seems to have attended Fergusonville Academy in Fergusonville (Delaware County) New York."

• College at Oneonta, Oneonta, New York, website.

Family

Anthony Marvin9, Elihu Marvin8, John Marvin7, Matthew Marvin6, Matthew Marvin5, Edward A. Mervyn4, Reinold/Rynalde Marven3, John2, Thomas Merveyn1

Charles Marvin was born 13 September, 1804 in Hobart, Delaware county, New York to Anthony Marvin and Abigail Paine.

Charles Marvine died at Delhi, Delaware county, New York on 26 February, 1874 [Delhi;g.s., Dela Gazette obit.]

Charles married Frances Foote on 15 October, 1832. Frances was the daughter of Charles Augustus Foote and Maria Baldwin. She was born on 1 August, 1809. She died on 27 July, 1891.

Their children:

• Charles Augustus Marvin was born on 8 Jul 1833 in Delhi, Delaware, New York. He died on 31 Mar 1840 in Delhi, Delaware, New York.
• George Edward Marvin was born on 14 Jun 1836, at Delhi, Delaware county, New York.
• Margaret Maxwell Marvin was born on 9 Aug 1840 in Delhi, Delaware, New York, married Isaac Horton Maynard.

http://home.gci.net/~themarvins/LSM/gen/web/MARVIN/21May2005/pafg41.htm#10159

Feb. 14, 1874 - Charles Marvine, the well-known president of the Delaware National Bank, is lying in critical condition from goitre. His situation excites the anxious solicitude of his warm friends. Mr. Marvine died on Feb. 26. http://www.dcnyhistory.org/oldnewsidx/lodelhi4.html

Presidents of the Delaware National Bank of Delhi: October 1, 1850 - Charles Marvine, March 11, 1874 - George E. Marvine and in 1922 H. S. Marvin was president.

• http://www.mybusinesslisting.com/r/url.asp?u=d3d3LmRlbGhpbnliYW5rLmNvbS9hYm91dC9wcmVzaWRlbnRzLmh0bQ==

Letters

Letter from Charles Marvine [Depost} to wife Frances Marvine Delhi, N.Y., 20 sept, 1849

Dear Frances
Here I am after a very dusty and rather uncomfortable ride, I have thought about my comfortable home all day. "there is no place like home." We had a stage full all the way to [Walton?], and after that we were left nearly alone. Miss Williams and Mrs Shepard were stage sick most of the way. Mrs Shepard is so unwell this evening that she thinks of stopping here and returning to Delhi when she gets better. I hope you and the children will keep well, and take good care of the things,— Mrs Salisbury was sorry that I did not bring you with me and stay till I returned— I will write a few lines to George and [Mayin] , and then bid you good night—
Your affectionate husband
C. Marvine
Dear George
I hope you are well and doing a good business in the [hatt?] I have no doubt you will make a great [?] yet, if you only persevere. Wesley Salisbury is kicking about here like a man of business, he is man of the house as his father has gone to [Sta?],— You must be sure and write to me when your mother writes— Your affectionate father
C. Marvine
Dear [Magee?]
I can see you in my imagination about this time,(eight o'clock) putting your young ones to bed. I hope you will get them all fixed and kissed and put to bed in good time, and get to bed yourself early so that you will be up in time for school. I wish I was there to get one of your good kisses. You must kiss mother for me and tell her she must not be lonesome.—Your affectionate papa
P.S.
As I feel now, I hardly think I will stay to the convention

===letter from Charles Marvine, New York to wife Frances Marvine and family, Delhi,NY 22 sept, 1849 Dear Wife
I thought I would write a few lines to let you know that I am safe here, but it is the same place as ever, home with all its comforts are constantly in my thoughts. I can enjoy myself better at home than any other place— I am at Henrys store this morning using his writing establishment he says that they are all well at home I got in last evening too late to go up there. I shall probably go there today or this evening
I can't say what day I will be at home, if I consulted my own pleasure I would start for home this afternoon, but business must be done, and even as I can get that done I think I will have this [tomorrow?], but you must not look for me till I come, I will write again in a day or two, you must be sure and write, once or twice.—I slept poorly enough last night . Your affectionate husband
C. Marvine
My dear Son
I suppose you are at the store today as it is Saturday, helping [Spencer?] deal out the goods. I hope you sell them all before i get homeIf you do write some word so that I can bring a larger supply,— I hope you will see that [Spencer?] takes good care of the store and minds his own business. I am very glad I have got such a good son to take care of my business when I am about. I feel much more at ease than I otherwise would. I hope you will see to the things about the house and relieve mother as much as you can
good bye for this time
Your affectionate father
My Dear daughter
I suppose you are having nice times, today, jumping the [?] and hopping about, and feeling nicely I wish I was there to see you enjoy yourself— I saw a little girl meet her papa on board the boat when I came down, and gave him such a good kiss I thought of you. You must have one for me when I come home.—I missed you last night night when I went to bed. I room with Mr gould, and this morning I told him what a nice little girl you are, and he said he wished he had such a nice little girl.
You must kiss mother for me I will not tell you, you must be a good girl. I know you will if I don't tell you, you always are
Your affectionate father
Mother
I have wrote this in haste I don't know as you will be able to make it out I feel very well today indeed. I hope you are the same.

Letter from Charles Marvine to Samuel Jayne, "Delhi N Y July 5 / 55

Dear Sam, Good morning old fellow; I say Good morning. How do feel after the fourth? Completely “stove up”, or like myself like a fighting cock? Rather think my first guess nearer right of the two. How is it?

With me the day passed as all others do. I spent it nearly all at my desk and probably full as profitably as though I had had nothing to do. I enjoyed it of course. I saw others happy and it made me happy too. But sad to relate the patriot sin of the Delhi People has wonderfully cooled off since I last celebrated the fourth with them. Then the day was ushered in with the ringing of bells and the noisy huzzas of “us boys”; Now it is quite different. The people do not rise until very late and because there is no disturbance made to awaken them; it seems more like a Sabbath morning than any other so still and quiet is it. Then The Firemen and the various secret societies and too what few military men we had seemed to take great pride in going in for great speeches, big dinners, Grand music, Long processions, Pic Nicks etc, etc, etc. While now nothing of the kind is done save perhaps the promenading of our juvenile Hook and Ladder Company and a two penny pic nic.

“Things aren't as the[y] used to was.”

6th Just as I finished writing the above my confounded old Jew employer commenced “blowing” me about something and I told him to shut up his Dutch clack and find some one else to do his business in my place. I posted up the books and while getting my “duds” – such as letters papers and Books – together the old fellow came round and told me he would like to have me stay with him until he could get another clerk in my stead. I told him I would stay as I did not care to leave town before the first of August and I would rather do something than loaf. The old fellow has not as yet made any move towards getting anyone else and furthermore he told a friend of mine that he would not let me go on any account if he could help it.

Just now he offered me $50 dollars cash if I would stay with him until the first of Oct. and too he says he will board me and at the expiration of the 4 mos present me with a Straight Line Lever watch that I know cost him $35. Now Sam, Uncle Chas, says he thinks he can get me a situation in the Metropolitan Bank on a salary of $400 per year Stay here and enjoy the country in the summer on as good wages as any of our county clerks get or try my fortune in N. Y. City. IF I remain here I shall come down in the fall. Give us your opinion Sam.

My Coz Geo. went down to N. Y. on Saturday last; went on Monday morn to his situation in the Bank of Commerce and in the afternoon was taken with a severe attack of the Cholera Morbus and the same day left for this place. He is here now on his back where he will probably remain for at least two weeks. He had a splendid situation and a Salary of $800 per annum He regrets leaving it very much. Notwithstanding his ill success I am ready to try my fortune in the city at any moment.

I am exceedingly glad to hear of the Dominie’s convalescence and I sincerely hope he may be able to attend to his duties as ever in a short time. Why in Sam Hill son’t you call on Jim Smith? The fellow is afraid he has offended you I guess, from what he says. I say old boy I heard the other day that you was up or down to Mr. J. Stephensons one evening not long since and a certain young lady asked you if you knew me. Is it so? Ha! Ha! Old boy if you see her again you may pump her as much as you please but if you, “let on” that you know any thing – I’ll raise Ned with you. Hear that Old Chap? Hey? What? Keep Mum and when we meet I will explain all to you. I heard from Chapman a few days since. All well and flourishing finely at the Ville. I have been most awful busy for some time and shall be until this Saturday evening after which I shall have less to do even if I do stay here for the farmers and in fact all other buyers will be so busy they will not often call on us. But I am not at all sorry for this for week after next Uncle Edward and his family of eleven beside servants will be out here and I shall have more time to visit them.

The weather for the last two or three days has been capital -- cool and pleasant.

The crops never looked finer in the world and the Farmers never felt better.

Look out this fall for a rush Oh what a business will be done.

My kind regards to Dr. Watterbury and Mrs. Ferguson also the Dominie if in N. Y. Father wishes to be remembered to you Write soon too Your Sincere friend

Charlie Marvine S F Jayne Esq.

P. S. I am happy indeed to hear of your conversion to Know Knothingism but I guess you lean towards Know Somethingism or Massachusetts Know Nothingism more than any thing else. Since I have been with this old Jew I have become more firmly fixed than ever in Know Something principles.

Charlie

Letter from Charles Marvine to Samuel Jayne, Delhi, New York, 17 July, 1855

Dear Sam,

Yours of the 10th inst came to hand in due time and found me not as it left you–flourishing–but somewhat the reverse. I had been flourishing but hot weather, Maine Law etc cut me down and I withered like a cabbage. I was afflicted with the colic probably caused by being deprived of ---- Well no matter I’m a strict temperance man you know and of course the Maine Law had but little effect upon me. By-the-way our liquor dealers obeyed The Statues to the very letter and ceased selling after the first of May in quantities less than five galls. and on the fourth they stopped that. All seem perfectly satisfied with it and in fact it has ceased to be a matter of much discussion. I forgot to say when I was speaking of being sick that I had entirely recovered.

Jemima Sam how business must have flown while your employer was gone. Wasn’t the workmen glad to have their Big Boss come home? Business here is dull, dull. The Spring and Summer trade was very good indeed but these have now nearly passed and we are enjoying the interval or calm between the Summer and Fall trade.

Jerusalem won’t business fly when Autum does come When boy if you could just see the crops in this part of old Delaware I guess you would think so. I have heard several of our old Farmers say they never knew a better growing season and that they never saw better crops since they were born. They all sowed and planted every inch of ground they could spare from their meadows and pastures and if nothing happens before they get their crops harvested they will have to buy no bread nor Potatoes, and will have at least twice as much produce to carry to market as they had last or almost any previous year. They are a good natured looking set of fellows even now. What then will they be when they return from market? Just the chaps to sell goods to.

But ‘tis useless for me to congratulate myself that I am going to have nay of that fun for probably before that time I shall find myself snugly ensconced within the brick walls of Gotham, at least I hope so. O how I wish I were in N. Y. with a good situation and on good pay. I de-clar Sam I rather think I should enjoy it some. I wouldn’t mind working like the ---- old Boy for 7 or 8 hours in the day provided I could enjoy the society of “Fair women” brave men and good wine” after business hours.

If such are your pleasures Sam “aint you mighty glad” when your days work is done? See here Sam if you should chance to hear of a good situation anywhere just do what you can for me and I’ll be your most obedient. I have no notion at al of coming to N. Y. to look up a place particularly during this awful hot weather. I had an offer from the Metropolitan but before I could let them know I would take it, it was filled. Geo. (my cuz) lost a splendid situation in the Bank of commerce by sickness. He was check clerk and on a salary of $600 with admirable prospects for promotion. The chasere however informed him by letter the other day that he would let him know the first time a vacancy occurred, and Geo says he will have me there too if he has to break his neck for it. I am going in a day or two to put some more of my friends on track for me so that ere Autumn I can get a situation

Well Sam I am glad you endorse know nothingism as far as you do and glad too that you do not any farther. I go in for open warfare against Romanism and Judaism for of all classes they are the most tyrannical and the meanest.

I am looking daily for a union between the Northern Know Nothings and the western Know Somethings, and then I expect to see them throw off the veil of secrecy and like men come up to the contest for the next Presidency and I hope too that they may be victorious and not only elect their candidate for the Presidential chair but also have an overwhelming majority in both houses. I reckon then there would be swearing and tearing at the South hey? And too I reckon the Missouri Compromise would be restored and as far as it lay in the power of Congress and the President – Kansas and Nebraska would be made free states.

I hear the Dominie received a hearty welcome at the Ville, such as the ringing of the bell, displaying the colours at mast head and enthusiastic cheers.

You do well in keeping mum to Miss Stephenson. Continue to do so. She is now in Rochester.

Write soon. My regards to all friends Sincerely Yours Charlie Marvine

Sources

• College at Oneonta, Milne Library, Voice of the People: Daily Life in the Antebellum Rural Delaware County New York Area Courtesy of the Davenport Historical Association, Davenport, NY, 13750. Over 500 letters from the Ferguson and Jayne families, most dating from the mid-nineteenth century, are available from the Davenport Historical Society in The Ferguson-Jayne Papers, 1826 - 1938, edited by Mary Briggs. Transcribed for this web site by Margaret Monaco. All misspellings have been carefully preserved. All materials on this website are for non-profit, educational use.

References and Lynx

• http://www.dcnyhistory.org/oldnewsidx/lodelhi4.html
• http://www.oneonta.edu/library/dailylife/religion/religiondocs.html
• Antisemitism