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The Madden's of Culpeper County, VA

The Madden home

Author: Zann Nelson

Sarah Madden was born in 1758 to a free white Irish woman, Mary Madden, and an enslaved person of color whose name is unknown. Local church authorities determined that her mother, a single woman was incapable of providing for her daughter. Her care would then fall to the church in charge of the poor and charitable activities. If they could farm out those financial burdens, all the better. At the age of two (2), though a free person, as she was born to a free mother, Sarah was sold into indentured servitude until the age of thirty-one (31). Her first “owner” died deeply in debt five (5) years later. Perhaps the most significant creditor was James Madison, Sr., who two years later collected what he was owed from the widow. Part of his debt was paid for in the transfer of Sarah’s indenture. At the age of nine (9) years she moved to Montpelier in Orange County, VA

Sarah would spend the majority of her years at Montpelier as a seamstress for the family and raising several of her own children. About 1782, she was sent to live with James Madison, Sr’s son Francis Madison, whose home was near Orange but on the other side of the Rapidan River. At the time, it was part of Culpeper County, but by 1792 it would become part of Madison County.

Sarah’s term of indenture terminated in 1789. She relocated to the eastern area of Culpeper County, near Stevensburg. It is unclear how many of her children relocated with her or perhaps joined her later. Please understand that this is an abbreviated version of Sarah and the Madden family. Her life was never easy, despite the fact that she and her descendants were always free. There was one especially heartbreaking story that occurred while she was at Francis Madison’s home involving her children. We will pick up on that in a subsequent writing.

Suffice it to say Sarah understood her role as the family protector. In addition, perhaps because of that role, it is not surprising to learn that she had no desire to ever be under someone else’s thumb. Sarah worked independently as a seamstress and laundress until her death in 1824. Willis, born in 1799, would purchase land in 1834 and built a home. He and his family lived on one side and about 1850, the other side was opened to travelers and known as Madden’s Tavern.

The Madden family continued to grow. The farm was damaged during the Civil War, but they survived, becoming prosperous dairy farmers, preachers, and educators. Their story is legendary.

Learn more about the Madden legacy in these articles: