Left:
Portrait of Thomas Worthington, Age 23
Ivory miniature, unknown maker and place or origin, ca. 1796.
Brought from western Virginia (now West Virginia) to
Chillicothe, Northwest Territory, ca. 1797-1798.
Collection of the Ohio Historical Society, H76107.

 

Right:
Grey Wool Frock Coat
Unknown maker, made in western Virginia (now West Virginia)
before December 1796, worn by Thomas Worthington for his
wedding on December 13, 1796, in Shepherdstown, western
Virginia (now West Virginia), brought to Chillicothe, Northwest Territory,
ca. 1797-1798. Collection of the Ohio Historical Society, H86201.
Displayed at Adena in 2003.
   

Far Right:
Ivory Vertically Striped Silk Brocade Vest with Floral Sprays and Linen Back
U nknown maker, made in western Virginia (now West Virginia)
before December 1796, worn by Thomas Worthington for his
wedding on December 13, 1796, in Shepherdstown, western
Virginia (now West Virginia), brought to Chillicothe, Northwest Territory,
ca. 1797-1798. Collection of the Ohio Historical Society, H80779.
Displayed at Adena in 2003.

 

Thomas Worthington (1773-1827) is represented in his portrait in a gray curved-front frock coat with a high turned-down and an ivory brocaded vest both of which he brought with him to his frontier home and are currently on display in Adena, his Georgian-style mansion near Chillicothe. He wore this wool coat and silk vest at his wedding to Eleanor Swearingen (1777-1848) in Shepherdstown, western Virginia (now West Virginia). The wearer's life is well documented, as this surveyor, landowner and land speculator, businessman, gentleman farmer and future politician would become a key figure in Ohio's early history. Worthington's surveying effort in the Northwest Territory eventually led him to move to Chillicothe with his brother-in-law Edward Tiffin (1766-1829), their families and freed slaves in 1797 or 1798. There he would become a leader in the opposition to Territorial Governor Arthur St. Clair (1734-1818), an influential member of the constitutional convention of 1802, a United States senator (1803-1807 and 1811-1814), a representative in the Ohio House (1807-1808 and 1821-1825), and a governor of the state (1814-1818).

 

For more information on topics listed below,
click on the topic (in red) and get connected to
Web sites outside the Kent State University Museum

Thomas Worthington
Extrenal Link to the Web site of Ohio History Central

Adena
Extrenal Link to the Web site of Ohio History Central

Adena Mansion Web Site
Extrenal Link to the Web site of Ohio Historical Society, Adena

Edward Tiffin
Extrenal Link to the Web site of Ohio Historical Society, Adena

Arthur St. Clair
Extrenal Link to the Web site of Ohio Historical Society, Adena

 

 

   

Portrait of Thomas Worthington
O il on canvas, unknown maker and place of origin, ca. 1800.
Collection of the Ohio Historical Society, H27572.
Displayed at Adena in 2003.

   

Portrait of Thomas Worthington, Governor
O il on canvas, unknown artist, possibly by Charles W. Peale,
unknown place of origin, ca. 1814-1818,
Collection of the Ohio Statehouse, H54192.
On display at the Ohio Statehouse.