Virginia Roots

Thomas Jefferson purchased a silver fountain pen with a gold nib from his agent in Richmond, Virginia.   This is the pen described as made by William Cowan, a watchmaker from Richmond. 

The pen has an engraved "TJ" on the elliptical cap, which screws into the end of the cylinder and covers the ink reservoir.

The depicted images are of the actual Thomas Jefferson silver pen which utilized the fountain pen functionality described by Nicolas Bion in his Traite on the Construction and Principle Uses of Mathematical Instruments or “Traité de la Construction et des Principaux Usages des Instrumens de Mathématique” (Paris, 1709).

The United States Library of Congress  was loaned the original Jefferson Pen, however Monticello maintains the original Cowan silver fountain pen. The only publicly available photos may be seen  here: https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/jefferson/images/vc31.jpg

Mr. Cowan trained with John Scott in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania between 1795 and 1801. He served as journeyman for William McCay in Richmond, Virgina from 1801-1803, then partnered with him as McCay & Cowan from 1805 to 1807. He then became an independent silversmith and watchmaker, eventually commissioned to craft a silver fountain pen for Thomas Jefferson.

More about President Jefferson’s pens and inks here:  

Writing Instruments and Ink | Thomas Jefferson's Monticello 

Maiden Lane holds special significance to many early New York businesses. To the Gold Pen nib business history, a presence on this street was an indication of success. 

Serving as Secretary of State for President George Washington, Thomas Jefferson rented a temporary residence at 57 Maiden Lane in New York for a few months in 1790. 

Mr. Jefferson was host to guests at this residence in June, among whom were Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton and James Madison to discuss the Federal assumption of state debts in return for a permanent Capital on the Potomac River. 

Jefferson also organized the first Patent Office and coordinated diplomatic affairs with Europe during his residency at 57 Maiden Lane.

More about President Jefferson’s stay at 57 Maiden Lane here:  

Writing Instruments and Ink | Thomas Jefferson's Monticello 

Maiden Lane, already a business focus, would become significant in the American Writing Revolution beginning in the early 1840's.

The museum sold a replica of the Jefferson pen crafted by Mr. Cowan. The replica is a fully functioning Bion principle pen.

Accompanying the replica Jefferson pen is a historic overview of Monsieur Bion’s Traite and Thomas Jefferson’s acquisition 

This writing instrument is not hallmarked by a maker. 

The Thomas Jefferson pen is not hallmarked. 

The elliptical pen caps are near identical shape and dimensions. 

Further research is underway to confirm that item was also crafted by Wm. Cowan.

The portfolio has the original green silk lining and is fitted with an elaborate hand engraved silver latch.

The portfolio has the original green silk lining with partitioned storage to carry documents.

The lock mechanism is intact and functional. The mechanism is consistent with late 18th to early 19th century clasp lock mechanisms.

William, my father, married my mother, Isabella Henderson in Lancaster in Chester County, the 9th of April 1771. Sometime after my father's first marriage he moved to the town of Shippensburg in Cumberland County. Hee resided there during the Revolutionary War in which he received a Captain's Commission and commanded a company of militia. He performed a six monthís tour of duty in the cause of his county in 1776, and a second tour of duty for six months at a subsequent period of the War. From Shippensburg, my father moved to Franklin County in the neighborhood of Chambersburg where my Mother died. He moved to Chambersburg in 1785 and was married in the same year. He resided in Chambersburg till the autumn of 1788 at which time he returned to Shippensburg living there until the autumn of 1801, when he removed to the County of Westmoreland Pennsylvania. He, and most of his children continue to reside in Westmoreland.

My father had seven children by my mother:

a boy and girl twins who lived but a few days,

Hugh born 21st. December 1772,

Daniel born 15th. April 1775,

Mary born 21st July 1777,

William (myself) born 10th November 1779 in Shippensburg, PA.

One other child born, stillborn, 1782.

My mother died January 1785 - age 44 years. My father remarried on the 17th November [1786?], in Chambersburg where he was then living. His second wife was Mary Wilson, a widow with one child by a previous marriage. By this marriage they had eight children:

Rachel, born 19th Sept 1785 married John W. Clain [Note by MB, I can't read this name very well, but think this is correct.]

Susan, born 13th April 1791 married Abraham Lewis.

Thomas born 10th. August 1792 married Margaret Young 1820.

John born the 13th. March 1796 married ______ in 1817.

Isabella, born 18th. December 1798 married John Campbell 1818.

Maria, born 15 April 1805 [also says Wilson born 9 June 1801] [here a note has been added in another handwriting saying to see note] married David Markle 1821.

All of my father's children, except Mary Morrison, myself, and Wilson (who lived with me from August 1814 to June 1822 at which time he went to GA and SC thence to Island of Cuba) are living in PA.

About my brothers and sisters

My brother Hugh learned the saddlers trade with a Mr. Regan  of Haggerstown. He never married, dying of consumption at age 24 in April 1794.

My brother Daniel was first apprentice to a John Scott, a Watchmaker and Clockmaker of Chambersburg.I n May 1796 Danielís time having expired he went to Philadelphia and New York where he remained until Spring 1798 when he returned to Chambersburg about six months before his death. Daniel died of consumption on the Island of Cuba, the 15 of December 1799, also at age 24.

My sister, Mary, married Samuel Morrison of Lycoming, PA afterwards they moved to the state of Ohio where they still reside and have four children.

As respects myself, I lived at home with my father until Oct 1795 when I was put apprentice with John Scott of Chambersburg, Watch and Clockmaker with whom my brother Daniel had been put apprentice. I continued with John Scott and his nephew Alexander Scott who succeeded his Uncle in the business until Nov 1800 when I was 21 years of age. Afterwards continued in his employ until Nov of that year. 

Having previously made an engagement with William McCay to come to Virginia, I left Haggerstown about the middle of November and traveled to Baltimore partly on foot availing myself occasionally of wagons on the road. On board one of which I arrived in Baltimore after three days journey. After remaining in Baltimore two or three days, I embarked on of a packet to where I arrived after passage of two days. At Norfolk, 

I remained two or three days and took passage aboard a Schooner to Richmond. When I arrived on the 29 or 30 of November 1801.

Mr. Cowan‘s name appeared in an ad for McCay & Cowan on 6 January 1807, 

“On the 1st day of January 1808 I removed to the house owned and occupied by Captain William Richardson a Silversmith and jeweler where I have continued to reside until this present time.”

Mr. Cowan‘s name appeared in an ad for himself as a Watch Maker on 13 December 1813 offering a variety of goods including “Jewelery and Silver Ware made to order”. 

Thomas Jefferson mentioned a fountain pen made by Mr. Cowan in 1824 correspondence to Bernard Peyton:

1824 May 13. (Jefferson to Bernard Peyton). "I saw yesterday in the hands of mr Dyer a fountain pen, one of the best I ever saw. he said it was made for him by mr Cowan, a watchmaker of Richmond. and cost him 5. D. the outer tube was of silver, but the two leaves of the pen were gold, and no other metal will resist the corrosion of the ink. pray get the favor of mr Cowan to make such an one for me and add this to the many kind offices you render me, and which ever entitle you to my affectionate attachment."

1824 May 17. (Bernard Peyton to Jefferson). "I will have the [pen] made for you, by [Cowan], as requested, immediately, & forwarded by some safe private hand.”

William Cowan  appeared in an ad for himself on 20 December 1830  in the Richmond Times-Dispatch offering a variety of goods and continuing to offer “fountain, silver and steel Pens”. 

Cowan also published  the following in the advertisement : 

“Any article in the above line furnished to order, at short notice.”