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

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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
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SKU: 38882632745

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junebugged
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 1
Not the same rubber.
I just received these today. I already have two of the same size direct from the local pet store. The one thing I liked about them that made me want to buy more - my 13lb dog could chew on them all night and never leave a mark. The red one I received was as expected. The blue one I received was not made out of the same rubber. It was softer. We played catch a few times and it didn’t bounce the same. I looked away for 5 minutes and she had it already starting to shred. Not sure what happened but 1 of the 2 balls I was sent was not up to par, possibly defective.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2024
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Rachel
Omaha, US
★★★★★ 5
Super Sturdy with hours of fun.
Color: Wild Duck, Hare, Squirrel & Alligator, Size: Small
I got the small ones that you cannot put a water bottle in. These toys have held up way better than expected. I am dog sitting a very rough with toys dog named Chunk. He tears up ever. Single. Toy my dog (Ted) has. I bought new ones just for chunk. These appealed to me with the no stuffing, They were cheaper, and have a squeaker. Everything chunk needed. They arrived on time and I thought I wasted my money. They were super soft, like too soft. They felt flimsy and weak. Like 5 minutes with chunk and they be dead. 2 hours with my dog and they would have a rip. So far 2 of them (I set two out) have lasted the whole weekend. The bunny looks very rough and disgusting, but no rips, the squeakers still work, and no random fluff everywhere. I am going to wash the bunny once chunk leaves. My very careful doggo Ted loves them too. He throws them up in the air and catches them, plays tug of war with them, and no rips. They are super sturdy. He can’t wait until Chunk leaves (chunk is 2 and Ted is 12-13) so he can play with them.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2026
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Amber B.
Grantham, US
★★★★★ 5
Loved it
Color: Brown/Wild Duck, Size: Large, Color: Brown/Wild Duck, Size: Large
He loved it so much, he destroyed it so we ordered another. I didn't realize that you can stick an empty water bottle inside. Again, the first one didn't last long, but he enjoyed it
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Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2026
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Doug Jones
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 5
Very fun interactive toy
Color: Brown/Wild Duck, Size: Medium
This toy is very versatile. There's no stuffing yet it's very soft so it can be used as a tug toy. It also makes for a fun fetch toy because it has a cavity to put a water bottle. It gives your dog something that crinkles and can be pierced when bitten and easily replaced with another empty bottle whenever necessary. That is what really makes this toy the standout of all the ones offered by Best Pet imo. I don't expect this to last forever but once my pup gets bigger we'll probably get the large size for her because there's not too many all in one fetch and tug toys at an affordable price.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2026
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Cowey Crew
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 4
Great Toy, but Big Dogs Destroy the Squeakers Fast
Color: Wild Duck, Hare, Squirrel & Alligator, Size: Large
My big dogs had the squeaker torn out in no time, but my little dog absolutely loves this toy. It’s the perfect size for her, and she carries it everywhere. Durable enough for small pups, just not tough enough for heavy chewers. Still a fun toy overall!
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Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2026

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