Miss Tyson is the latest in my American Women Cookbook Authors series. The first three Maryland cookbook authors - Elizabeth Ellicott Lea (1845), Tyson (1870) and Jane Gilmor Howard (1873) - were related by marriage, as detailed below.
Mary Lloyd Tyson Tucker (1842-1908)
Her mother Rebecca Ann Key (1809-1889) was the daughter of Philip Barton Key, Francis Scott Key's uncle. "Rebecca Key, a Queen-like looking woman, I went to school with her although she was older than I. She was engaged to Lt. Hazzard,... she jilted him." [Kennon] In 1828 she married Dr. William Howard (1793-1834), son of Col. John Eager Howard, and lived in a grand Greek revival mansion on Monument Square, Baltimore which he designed and built in 1829. William also designed the McKim's Free School in 1830, still standing. They had three children, two died young, and William Key Howard (1829-1899) who was 13 years older than Mary (both were raised in the mansion).
Mary Lloyd Tyson was in her 30s (and had done two editions of the cookbook) when she married the older George J. Tucker (1824-1903) in 1875 in Preston County, WV. They lived in Tucker County, WV in 1880, and by the 1890s were in Boyce, Clarke County, VA. They had no children, separated in 1894 and then Mary went to court to get the annuities from his parents' estate. George died in Virginia and was buried in Green Mount Cemetery, Baltimore.
So, where did a 28 year old get all the recipes (1007 in the 1874 edition) "all of which have been tried and approved, and been in use for many years"? From "a receipt book used for many years" was stated in the first edition's title. In the preface to the second edition: “from several old family receipt-books.” Undoubtedly she could borrow one or more recipe manuscripts from her mother's Howard sisters-in-law. The Howards had entertained often at "Belvidere" in Baltimore. Jane (Mrs. B.C. Howard) put out a charity cookbook in 1873 with some of the same recipes. Recipes could also have been gathered from friends, her mother's friends, relatives (many Tysons, Howards and Ellicotts were still in Baltimore) and other cookbooks (ie. EELea's Domestic Cookery, 1845, 1846, 1851).
As detailed below, she became interested in the church building-fund while visiting Oakland. She was given the land by a Baltimore architect and raised enough money through cookbook sales before 1874.
Queen of the Kitchen
The first edition in 1870 was published by Lucus Brothers in Baltimore for charity. The church was finished in 1874, debt free.
A second edition, not for charity, was published in Philadelphia in 1874 and increased the 288 pages to 412 and was advertised for $1.75 or $3.00 gilded. Mary Lloyd Tyson married the next year.
For the last two printings, in 1882 and 1886, the title was changed from "Old Maryland" to "southern cooking" and was still published in Philadelphia. Mary Tyson didn't have her married name included with the change of title, probably to continue sales appeal. (they would seperate in 1894).
Maryland's first 3 cookbook authors were related through marriage.
Elizabeth Ellicott Lea (1793-1858) wrote the first cookbook by a Marylander. The Ellicotts, like the Tysons, were wealthy Quaker merchants and mill owners. Her father George Ellicott helped develop and lived in what would become Ellicott City, and three of his daughters married a great-uncle and a cousin of Mary Lloyd Tyson.
Mrs. B.C. Howard's Fifty Years in a Maryland Kitchen, 1873Jane Grant (Gilmor) Howard (1801-1890) married the son of RevWar hero Col. John Eager Howard. BC's brother was Dr. William Howard, the first husband of Mary's mother. Another brother, Gov. George Howard's country home "Waverly" would live on in both their books as "Waverly Jumbles."
Preface
1870 -
"BALTIMORE, a witty Bostonian has declared to be, “The Gastronomic Centre of the Universe.” If this be so, she is certainly entitled to speak with authority upon matters gastronomic, and we feel that we are doing great service to the world at large in thus publishing these “Old Maryland Family Receipts,” which have been in use for many years with house-keepers “of credit and renown.”
"BALTIMORE, a witty Bostonian has declared to be, “The Gastronomic Centre of the Universe.” If this be so, she is certainly entitled to speak with authority upon matters gastronomic, and we feel that we are doing great service to the world at large in thus publishing these “Old Maryland Family Receipts,” which have been in use for many years with house-keepers “of credit and renown.”
The purpose which induced the publication of this volume, is as unusual
as its merit is independent of a more intrinsic value, and the sole object of
any pecuniary benefit that may result from it, is to accomplish the erection of
a Protestant Episcopal Church in the town of Oakland, Maryland, situated on the
summit of the Alleghany Mountains. A most excellent charity.
House-keepers will find the blank leaves which have been inserted, a
great convenience for recording any additional receipts to those suggested by
the Queen, who declares that each and every preparation of hers will make
“ A proper dish
To set before the King ! “
1874, 1882, 1886 -
"The Queen of the Kitchen " is not now presented as a stranger, for she attained immense popularity upon her first introduction to the public, when she made so many friends, and met with so cordial a reception, that, at the earnest solicitation of those who are in need of a good practical receipt-book, the author determined to publish this new, enlarged, and complete edition of "The Queen of the Kitchen." She has made an addition of several hundred receipts to the book as originally issued; and is certain that all who will give it a fair trial, will acknowledge that it excels all other Cook-Books in practical cookery, and it will be found to be equally as well adapted to the wants of the young as to those of the experienced housekeeper."
Only the first 1870 edition mentioned the church - "The purpose which induced the publication of this volume, is as unusual as its merit is independent of a more intrinsic value, and the sole object of any pecuniary benefit that may result from it, is to accomplish the erection of a Protestant Episcopal Church in the town of Oakland, Maryland, situated on the summit of the Alleghany Mountains. A most excellent charity."
Oakland Church
The church was built on land donated by the architect Josias Pennington (1854-1929) of Baltimore, in 1871 and finished debt free in 1874. Pennington was starting as a draftsmen for E. Francis Baldwin (1837-1916) in the 1870s then they formed a partnership, doing many of the buildings for the B&O railroad. The church closed in 1939, sold in 1946 and then was moved to Coraopolis, Pa (north of Pittsburgh).
A minister who fought his congregation to keep his job, had the backing of the owner of the church - "Miss Tyson" - Mary L. Tucker. From The Sun newspaper, April 19, 1892 -
Many years ago Miss Mary Lyson [Tyson], now Mrs. George J. Tucker, of Baltimore, whilest spending the summer in Oakland conceived the idea of building a church. The late Josiah Pennington, also of Baltimore, conveyed to Miss Lyson a building lot for that purpose for a nominal sum. She then, through her own means and contributions from friends [she compiled a charity cookbook], erected a church, which has since been used by the Protestant Episcopal congregation. Miss Lyson, however retained the title and still owns the property. She desires Mr. Hipkins to continue as rector and the status seems to be this: Mr. Hipkins has a church without a parish, and the vestry has a parish without a church.
Two months later on June 2, 1892 The Sun reported that "Mr. Hipkins retires", ending the litigation. Mrs. Mary L. Tucker of Clarke county, VA had conveyed the property to him, and since she would not allow him to transfer the title to the bishop he signed it back to her.
4 Queens of the kitchen...
The Queen of the Kitchen : a collection of old Maryland receipts for cooking : from a receipt book used for many years : all tried and approved. Baltimore : Lucas Brothers, 1870. 288p online HERE
The Queen of the Kitchen : a collection of "old Maryland" family receipts for cooking : containing 1007 practical and useful receipts, all of which have been tried and approved, and been in use for many years By Miss Tyson. Phila: TB Peterson, 1874. 412p. “from several old family receipt-books” in preface. online HERE
The Queen of the Kitchen : a collection of southern cooking receipts, containing over one thousand southern receipts in practical cookery. Philadelphia : T.B. Peterson, 1882.
The Queen of the Kitchen: a collection of Southern cooking receipts. Miss Tyson. Phila: 1886 412p. recipes “from several old family receipt-books” on title page. online HERE
Mrs. William F. Lucas
The Maryland Historical Society has an 1870 edition inscribed to the publisher's wife -
Mrs. Wm F. Lucas
Posts
Great post! I had believed the author to be Mary Lloyd Tyson, a different relative. I'll have to go back and add some corrections. Although Mary Lloyd Tyson was also related to Howard, the Belvidere connection you point out might explain why such a large percentage of recipes appear in "50 Years" nearly verbatim.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your illuminating work, always!
A follow up to my previous comment! I checked over my old notes and actually had found a news article from 1892 about the church, confirming that Tyson was at that time Mrs. Tucker. So that is why I had connected it to Mary Lloyd Tyson.
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