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Charles Dupee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charles Dupee (Sr.) 1734 Boston - Walpole - 1802 Wrentham

Twenty-nine deeds were found in Suffolk and Norfolk Counties from 1757 through 1794 with all but two of them listing housewright as his trade. In a 1763 deed he’s an inn-holder and in a deed recorded in 1796 he’s a yeoman. In nine of the deeds, spanning the years 1770 to 1793, his wife Hannah was also named. James, his eldest son, became his attorney in 1783 to help him recover land and monies owed. (Since his father was also Charles, several references refer to this Charles (1734 – 1802) as Jr.)

 

Children:

Walpole                                                                         Wrentham

James 1756                        Molly 1762                         Elizabeth 1767                  Lydia 1771                         Sally 1776

Charles 1759                      Hannah 1764                     Elias 1769                         Abigail 1774                      John 1779

 

Charles Dupee (Jr.) 1759 Walpole – 1803 Wrentham

A total of three deeds were found; 1792 (yeoman), 1801 (No/Trade), and one 1804 (gent) after his decease. In his will, he’s listed as a gentleman and his brief probate inventory mentions a house, barn, app. 100 A of land and limited household goods. No evidence was found for Charles (Jr.) having been in a woodworking trade.

 

Walpole Massachusetts. Family Names in the Assessment Rolls from 1761 to 1778.  Reprinted from the NE Historical and Genealogical Register for October, 1882

“Clap, Thomas Clap … His grandson Joshua, born 1707, died 1802, seems to have been a man of high character and of rare ability. In military, political, religious and social affairs of the town he was a leader for the greater part of the century.”

“Dupee, Charles Jr., grandson of Jean Dupuis (John Dupee), was born in Boston, October 18, 1734. On the death of his father he was sent to Walpole under the guardianship, during his minority, of Joshua Clap. He married, in 1755, Hannah, daughter of James Smith, removed to Wrentham in 1765, and died there in 1802. His son James, born in 1756, returned to Walpole in 1778, where he died in 1819.”

 

The Story of Walpole

Pg 211   “Meanwhile a third tavern had been established-this one on Walpole Plain, about a mile and a half beyond the Brass Ball. One Dupee is listed as its proprietor in 1765. 4 He was possibly that Charles "Duppe" who was paid for labor on the meeting house in 1758.5 Dupee was born in Boston, a grandson of one Jean Dupuis. He removed from Walpole to Wrentham in the vear he is first mentioned as a taverner. 6 4 Ames' Almanack. 5 Town Rec., I, 161. 6 N. E. Gen. Reg., XXXVI, 865.”

 

From JacksonsWeb / Dupee

“  Charles Dupee (5th) (Charles (4th) Jean (3rd))

 

On the death of his father, Charles Dupee went to live with his guardian at Walpole Mass, Joshua Clapp, and ancestor of Mary A. Clapp Dupee. Charles, on arriving at his majority married Hannah Smith; they lived probably in what is Lowells Mave Place from the plain to the south end. He probably lived on Moses Smiths Place on the road from the Main to the south and then moved to Wrentham on the border of " Great Pond called Wal - lo - mo - nee.

 

See copy of deed in Dupee papers. According to tradition he was an Architect. From Dupee Papers

 

5 Nov 1767 - took into his house, Elizabeth Bright, " a smart industrious woman" from Dedham - Page 6 Walpole

took into his house April 1778 Thomas Lawton, wife Comfort and children Samuel and William -" under low circumstances" - took in Hannah Dyer All from Cumberland RI Page 29

 

Charles was born on 18 Oct 1734 at Boston, Mass. He married Hannah Smith, daughter of James Smith and Hannah Boyden, in 1755 at Walpole, Mass. “

 

Cemetery Reading: In memory of Charles Dupee who died Aug 12 1802 in his 68th year. --- Many are tho shapes of death and many are the ways that lead to the grave, all dismal, yet to sense more terrible at this entrance, then hither.  “

 

Charles Dupee (Sr.) 1757 Deed, pg 1 of 3 (bounds the land of Joshua Clap)

 

 

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Charles Dupee (Sr.) 1783 Deed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1750 Guardianship Charles Dupee (Sr.)                                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1803 Charles Dupee (Jr.) inventory

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Opening molding plane photo courtesy of MJD

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CHARLES DUPEE’S JOINTER (SOJ 2-2)

 

By Pat Lasswell

 

LIBER.

I AM A GOOD AND WELL MADE PLAIN

CHARLES DUPEE IS MY MASTERS NAME

HE  IS  THE  MAN  THAT  FORMED  ME

HIS  FAITHFULL  SERVANT  I  WILL  BE

FEB 27 1787

 

Thus reads an extraordinary inscription on an extraordinary plane made by Charles Dupee in 1787. It is rare to find a plane used by a known maker, rarer still to find one embellished, as is this jointer. Thank you to Milton Bacheller who shared this plane and provided the photographs.

 

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According to AWP III, Charles Dupee planes are found with a smaller  “CHARLES + DUPEE” mark and a larger  “CHARLES . DUPEE” mark. This jointer is stamped on the toe four times with the larger Dupee mark.

 

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The Pollacks provided the following biographical information on Charles Dupee in their AWP III publication. Charles Dupee Sr. (1734-1802) is listed as a housewright in Walpole (1755-1765) and in Wrentham (1765-1782-). His son, Charles Dupee Jr. (1759-1803), was a lieutenant in the Revolutionary war. It is likely that Charles senior was the planemaker. There is no evidence one way or the other that his son made planes.

 

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Charles inset four decorative pewter devices into his plane. First is a large “C”, engraved with “Charles” and decorated with vines, starbursts and an outline. Next is a large “D”, engraved with “Dupee” and finished with similar features as is the “C”. An eight-pointed star, set into a scribed circle, follows between the “D” and an iron strike pin. Lastly, the large inscription plate is inset into the plane between the tote and the heel. It has been decorated with vines, starbursts and cross-hatched end borders. The lettering follows scribed parallel layout lines. The words “Charles Dupee” are in a cursive italic style of letters, while the remaining inscription is done with capital letters. The inscription is dated February 27, 1787.

 

The plane is made of birch, is 36 inches long and is 3 1/8 inches wide. The nicely detailed wedge is original, but the iron has been replaced. Unfortunately the tote has been broken off and little remains except the base.

 

 

 

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The plane does have several additional, and rather unique, features that bear mentioning. One might expect simple flat chamfers, but this plane has a beaded edge molding along the top and part way down both the heel and the toe. The beaded chamfers end with a simple turn-out, followed by a separate flute or gouge cut. This detail can be seen in the photographs. The second unusual feature, which is rare in American planes, is the beautiful cupid’s-bow or linen-fold detail found on the lower wedge and the mouth. Don and Anne Wing feel this detail is in keeping with the Huguenot heritage of Charles Dupee.

 

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 Two planes in Thomas Elliott’s collection have similar cupid’s-bow or linen-fold details. A compassed smoother by Charles Dupee  (large mark AWP III) has this feature on the mouth, while a panel raiser by M MAY (CAWP 23-10) has this linen-fold detail on both the wedge and the mouth.

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One last item is the recessed rectangular cutout between the iron strike pin and the mouth. It is 3/8 inches deep, 3 inches long and 2 ¼ inches wide. The cut-out has no staining or residue which might offer a clue as to its’ purpose.

 

Thanks again to Milton who has done significant research on Charles Dupee. Hopefully, additional information will be found which sheds light onto Charles senior and Charles junior.

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Charles Dupee Smoother    (SOJ 2 – 2)

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Thomas Elliott provided the drawings and details of the following Charles Dupee compassed smoother. The plane exhibits the same cupid’s-bow linen-fold feature, as does the decorated Charles Dupee jointer.

The Dupee smoother is 7 3/8 inches in length by 2 9/16 inches in width. It is made of birch and has flat chamfers. The toe and heel chamfers end with a step followed by separate gouge cuts the same width as the chamfers. The wedge is more of a standard design than the jointer wedge and is finished with angled corners and chamfering. The mouth however, is finished in the same manner, as is the jointer plane. This detail is quite distinctive and quite beautiful.