Biographical / Historical
Lucretia Deming was born in Litchfield, Connecticut on August 13, 1804 and died in New York City on April 29, 1887. She was the youngest of eight children of Julius Deming and Dorothy Champion Deming, his cousin. Julius Deming served through the Revolutionary War under his uncle, Colonel Henry Champion, Principal Assistant Commissary General for the department of the east. Captain Julius Deming accompanied the convoy which crossed the Hudson and delivered the supplies to Valley Forge that saved General Washington's troops from starvation. He also carried the funds to Philadelphia to pay the New England forces. On one occasion the sum was so large (pay and arrears) that a troop of horses escorted him.
In 1790 Julius Deming began to build the family mansion in Litchfield, Connecticut. The architect, William Sprats, was also responsible for a number of noteworthy buildings in Connecticut and along the Hudson River. The Deming house later became known as the Lindens because of a double row of trees planted by Lucretia Deming. It remained in the family for an unbroken period of one hundred and twenty years from 1790 until 1910. Upon Lucretia Deming's death the estate was inherited by her nephew, Julius Deming Perkins, the surviving son of her sister Clarissa and Julius Deming's oldest grand son.
The account book records expenses for the Lindens and the New York winter home (9 W. 20th) for the last years of Lucretia Deming's life. Both the household accounts and a description of the family homes and their furnishings in the Litchfield Historical Society give evidence of gracious living and substantial wealth. The only references to its source speak of Julius Deming as a businessman and merchant. He left a large fortune at his death on January 23, 1838.
Lucretia Deming was one of the early pupils of Miss Pierce's famous School for Young Ladies. According to family records in the Litchfield Historical Society she led a sheltered, upright and pleasant life, in Litchfield in the summer and New York City in the winter. She loved flowers, made serious study of botany and gave special attention to the flower garden which bloomed from May until December. The novels of Sir Walter Scott, popular when she was young, were favorites of hers as were the sermons and prayers of Dr. Lyman Beecher.
Miss Deming, her sister Mary and her brother Charles lived together in the family homes. Mary died in 1847; Charles in 1852. Her nephew and niece and their families were frequent visitors in both Litchfield and New York. Mr. and Mrs. Julius Deming Perkins and their children spent their winters with Miss Deming in her New York home. Every autumn Mr. and Mrs. Quincy with their little son and daughter visited the family home in Litchfield before returning to their own town house for the winter.
The Litchfield Enquirer of May 5, 1887, a few days after Miss Deming's death, stated "...Her excellent native abilities had been so cultivated by reading and observation, that her judgement in practical matters was almost unerring and in public affairs, especially English politics, she took great interest and was well informed to the last day of her life. Her thoughts were expressed in clear and concise language..."