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GC 975.1 Sch17h v.1,pt . l 1737551
A
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02256 3370
HISTORY
OF
DELAWARE.
1609-1888.
BY
J. THOMAS SCHARF., A. M .. LL. D .. Author of " History of Maryland," " History of the City of Philadelphia, Pa.," etr., etc.
ASSISTED BY A STAFF OF ABLE ASSISTANTS.
IN TWO VOLUMES, ILLUSTRATED.
V.1.
VOL. I. 1
240 PHILADELPHIA:
L. J. RICHARDS & CO. 1888. :
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. VOL. I.
1737551
PAGE
Lation, C. H 504
Icytua, C. S 538
Lugar, JADas. 1.46
Lore Chas. E. 596
Vardonough, for Theria- 300
Macdonough med .. i 302
Map Nova Svecia 40
AlcCulloogh, Peter
Mckena, Sally 174
McK. an, Thomas. 202
- McLane, Allen .. 204
McLane, Louis 209
Mielai, Albion Keighte
Meschi tiza ticket 177
Milligan, John J 539
Moore, Jacob. 593 _
Nones, Captain Heury B. 3221
Olt London Coffee-House 178
Old Stage Coach 490
Paynter, Io. H. 540
Penn's clock and tea service. 167
121
Penn's old brew-house.
172
Plowden, Sir Limand
57. 50
Pouder, Governor James
380
Porter, Robert It ..
490
Read, {ol. Jamies
190
Rend, Col. Johu
186
Read, Cous. Thrus.
18J
Read, Com. This., d'scovering Caroline islands.
Ile id, General Meredith ...
Read, Gro
Read, Geo, 2d 191
Read, Hott. Geo,
Read, Hon. Johu
105
Read, Tohu MI. 196
Read, Major Harmon P'
Rest Material
189-91
Read, Wm
194
Rodney, Cursar.
203
Rodney, C'estr .1
571
Ridgely, Henry M. 572
Sanitary Fair Building .. 303
Saulsbury, Gove 376
Sanlebury, Will ird.
552
Seal and autograph, Win. Petin. Seal, Gov. Andruss
69
Seal, Kent and Sussex Coantirs.
Seal, Philadelphia .
Seul, Philadelphia, 1701.
Seal Now Netherlands 62
Soldiers' monuments 374, 375
Smithers, N. B. 782
Smyth, Thonits .A
Stockley, Charles C. 292
Stocks 173
Stuyvesant, Gov. Peter. 51
Sw-lich Map ...
53
Tatnall, H. L 448
Tilton, Dr. Janies 474
Tilton Hospital 317
Vanghan, J. F.
" Wa-p" nn & " Frolic" 2.15
Washington Guards
Wilson, J. H.
498
Kitts light, L. 502
TACE
Acrelius, Rev.
157
Artis of Penn
Askew, IL. F
fari
Bates, D. MI
Jatea, Martin W
Bayard, Hon, Jas. A Bayard, T. F 589
Belle of the Revolution.
179
Biddlo, Captain James.
Biges, B. T
394
British stamp
98
Burton, Willam. 30
Bush, Lewis P 493
Carroll, Mrs. Chas , Jr.
175
Cansay, Peter F. 327
Chandler, Swithin 494
Clark, Robert II 341
('layton, John MI
530
Clayton, Thomas
528
Conirgys, C. P 319
Conrad, Henry C 604
Continental currency.
Cream pot, presented to Henry Hill
176
Delaware College 449
13
Delaware Indian fort. 15
De Vries, David Pieter-en 32
Dickinson, John 205
Dickinson. John, mansion
Doctor of Olden Times. 4,0
Da Poat, S. F. 357 4
Du Pont, Victor
589
Early English silver tankard
1-8
Eckel, Henry
Embehisluent, Charter of Pennsylvania
Evans, Oliver. 274
Evans, Oliver, stram-carriage.
426
Fairlamb, Jonas P.
20.8
Fisher, George P
330
Fort Christina, Plan of .. 5G
Fort Casimir 54 Fultou, J. Al x
6JO
Furniture, Col. John Read.
313
Gonton, Gov.
118
Gray, A. C ..
5.8
Grubb, Ignatius C
544
Hall, John W
Des
Hall, Willard ..
ITarlan, C.
500
Harrington, S. MI
550
Hayes, M 4:0
İlermin, Angus'in,
83
595 Heverin, hanes H.
House of York.
Houston, John W 540
Hudson, Henry.
Indian wttograph -. 19
lucian hepletaents 13-14
Judian warrer
Jubason, C. P. 432
. Joues, Cota. Jarch 284
Keith, Gov. Sir William. 103
536
First steamboat4.
Gillis, Jno. P
Pena, John
Pillory
Delaware Indian family
Buri.d-place, Win. Pent
1
CONTENTS OF VOLUME I.
CHAPTER 1.
CHAPTER XIV.
PAUŁ
INTRODUCTION AND TOPOGRAPHY OF DELAWAR !. . 1 DELAWARE DURING THE REVOLUTION, . 184
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER XV.
THE GEOLOGY OF DELAWARE, 1 FROM THE REVOLUTION TO THE WAR OF 1812-1-15, 265
CHAPTER III.
THE ABORIGINES, 86
CHAPTER IV.
DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT OF THE DUTCH, 1609-1636, . 23
CHAPTER V.
NEW SWEDEN ON THE DELAWARE, 34
CHAPTER VI.
SIR EDMUND PLOWDEN AND NEW ALBION, 57
CHAPTER VII.
DELAWARE UNDER THE DUTCH, . . . . . . 61
CHAPTER VIII.
WILLIAM PENN AND HIS GOVERNMENT, . .
CHAPTER IN.
DELAWARE UNDER WILLIAM PENN. . : . . 81
CHAPTER X.
PIRATES AND PRIVATEERS, .. 99
CHAPTER XI.
BOUNDARY DISPUTES AND SETTLEMENT, 108
CHAPTER XII.
COLONIAL HISTORY, 1704-1775. . 124
CHAPTER XHL.
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THR EARLY INHABI-
TANTS. . . 146
1
CHAPTER XVI.
THE WAR OF 1812-1815, . . 276
CHAPTER XVII.
FROM THE TREATY OF GHENT TO 1860, .
. . 304
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE CIVIL WAR, . . . . 329
CHAPTER XIX.
DELAWARE. AFTER THE CIVIL. WAR, 1865-1888, . . 375
CHAPTER XX.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS, . . 413
CHAPTER XXI.
AGRICULTURE IN DELAWARE, . . . 433
CHAPTER XXII.
PUBLIC EDUCATION, . . . .. . . 444
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE PRE- OF DELAWARE, . ... . 450
CHAPTER XXIV.
MEDICINE AND MEDICAL MEN, ... . 470
CHAPTER XXV.
THE BESCH AND BAR. . . . . . . 508
APPENDIX.
ROSTER OF DELAWARE VOLUNTEERS, . 611
vii
PREFACE.
.
THAT in the two hundred and fifty-six years past since men of the Caucasian race first attempted settlement within its boundaries, no previous attempt should have been made to complete a history of the colony and State of Delaware, is a self-explanatory reason for the preparation and publication of this work.
While it is remarkable that so important and interesting a field of historical investigation should have been neglected in the-e latter days of keen and deep research into the individu- alities, the environment, the motives, the labors and the rewards of the people who laid the foundations and erected the super-tructures of the American commonwealths, it may be accepted that in the case of Delaware, the difficulties of a complete and creditable work -remed even more insurmountable, than the temptation to enter this almost unexplored domain was attractive. To undertake an exhan-tive inquiry and carry it to successful completion has been a task that enlisted patient determination, thorough sympathy with the subject, minute scrutiny and that liberal enterprise which the publishers have generously furnished. Now, after many months of toil, in which the lore of Delaware, the fragmentary records left by its pioneers, the stages of its progress and the collections of European and American writers bearing upon its establishment and growth, have been compelled to yield their scoret or open treasures, this history is put forth with full confidence that no means have been unem- ployed to secure its accuracy and completene-s in detail or as a whole.
Whatever lapses and errors may be found within its pages-and it is believed they are comparatively trivial in number and significance-were inseparable from the conditions. Delaware possesses fewer collated and connected records of her early days than any of the colonies or original States. What chronicles were kept by the Swedish and Dutch settlers, they mostly carried away or destroyed; and although the succeeding English were more painstaking in the making and preservation of the written materials of history, the centre of their political life wa- located away from the " Three Counties upon the Delaware," and their records were largely formulated in connection with Pennsylvania, New York, and to some extent with Maryland. It is to an autonomous political community that we look for a well- linked chain of history forged by the home interest of its people in their own affairs, and Delaware did not approach a condition of embryo statehood until she reached a condition of legislative semi-independence in 1704. Still, the narrative of her publie, social and industrial life is fairly well kept in her own records, those of the parent countries which first populated her territory and those of the contiguous colonies, and from them an intelligent narrative of her colonial epoch has been constructed. In the next following period, the pillage and destruction of the archives at Wilmington and New Castle by the British during the Revolution, was a deplorable obstacle to the procurement of information at first hand, but
iii
iv
PREFACE.
this lack has been supplied by the authentic relation- of contemporary historians in other states to whom the events occurring in Delaware, and the valoron- performances of Delaware troop-, presented thetoselves in their proper magnitude and influence. Moreover, the letters and papers of Delaware state-men and soldiers are numeron- enough to throw a broadly- illuminating light upon the causes, incidents and consequences of the time, and have been used with signal benefit. For the story of the movements of affairs after the peace with Great Britain to the present day, the historical material has been sufficiently abundant.
Attention is called to the completeness of the local narrative of the political and geographical divisions. This field has been unsparingly gleaned and the results submitted, although these have in some instances involved the appearance of clash, confusion and con- tradiction. In many instances the sketches of " hundred histories," in the second volume, have been inserted as they were prepared by the local writers. The editor was not at lilerty to change either their matter or form of arrangement. But there is nothing in which local experts and authorities so much differ as in those vieinage events and matters concerning which they collectively agree that the interference of the outsider must be stubbornly resented. Therefore, the local writers have been permitted to tell their own stories, except where certain versions have been plainly contrary to the established truths of important history, in which the editor has set forth the facts as accepted by the critical world. and it, of course, follows that every form of a purely local narrative enriches the book for the readers of the locality affected. As to the variations in the orthography of the names of places and persons that will be noticed, it must be said that the editor has adhered to the original spelling as near as it could be a-certained, but in coming down to later times the modernized orthography has been adopted. AAmong the Swedes, Dutch, and English, who peopled Delaware, there was a confusion and much of a blending of tongues ; spelling was not a jrritive -cience with any of them, and in early documents one page will often show several different combinations of letters in one name. Under such circumstances the only safe rule is that which has been pursued, to follow the record ; or in the printing of biographie, of individuals to accept the dicta of the families. It will not escape observation that the biographies of eminent citizens who have borne or are bearing distinguished parts in the processes and progress of Delaware are of absorbing interest and that the list is so voluminous, the history of their lives so exact, as to almost make in themselves a compendium of events for over two centuries.
A limited amount of space has been given to biographies of representative men, living and dead, who have borne an active part in the various enterprise- of life, and who have become identified with the history of the state and the localities in which they live. The achievements of the living must not be forgotten, nor must the memories of those who have passed away be allowed to perish. It is the imperative duty of the historian to chronicle their publie and private efforts to advance the great interest- of society. Their deeds are to be recorded for the benefit of those who follow them,-they, in fact, form part of the history of their communities, and their successful live, add to the glory of the commonwealth. With this view the publishers have prepared and in-erted in the work a number of interesting biographical sketches of a few of Delaware's representative men.
PREFACE.
The editor would be destitute of a sense of justice to himself and to the State, whose entire history has now been written for the first time, if he failed to acknowledge in this place, and with a sentiment of profound gratitude, the cordial aid extended to him and his undertaking, by the people of Delaware. They have given him the fullest encouragement throughout and have helped him materially in elaborating and perfecting the work. To the press of the State, the Pennsylvania Historical Society, the Delaware Historical Society, State, county, city and town officers and the officials of churches, societies and corporation-, he is especially indebted. Among the names of helpers and contributors are those of Chief Justice J. P. Comegys, Judge George P. Fisher, Nathaniel B. Smithers, Wm. Atkinson, Geo. IL. Bates, Judge Leonard E. Wales, Austin Harrington, Dr. Horace Burr, W. R. Long, Rev. T. Gardner Littell, John C. Gooden, Prof. Wesley Webb, Prof. W. L. Gooding, Dr. Charles H. Richards, Dr. Robert G. Ellegood, Dr. Edward Fowler, Dr. George W. Marshall, Rev. Lewis W. Gibson, Rev. J. F. Stonecipher, Rev. Thomas E. Terry, Alexander Cummings, Charles G. Fleming, Rev. J. L. MeKim, Rev. W. W. Campbell, W. S. MoNair, Alfred Matthews, Austin N. Hungerford, George R. Prowell, J. L. Rockey, W. A. Erdman, Harry W. MaeIntire, R. M. Stocker, Jefferson H. Nones, David G. Scott, E. P. Fulton, of the Philadelphia Press, Frederick D. Stone, Librarian of the Pennsylvania Historical Society, Gover Kettlewell, and J. C. Guggenheimer. To his publishers the anthor mu-t render thanks that are, after all, not sufficiently expressive of what is owing to their enterprise and liberality. In every respect of letter-press, portraits, maps, engravings of eenes and Bealities, and each feature of artistic and mechanical execution, they have responded promptly to all suggestions made to them, and have striven with fine taste and judicious discrimination to make the book in typography, illustration and binding equal to its great purpose of furnishing Dela- ware and the historical literature of America with the only entire record in existence of one of the stars in the original galaxy of the union.
Baltimore, February 26, 1887.
J. THOMAS SCHARF.
1
-
HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION, AND TOPOGRAPHY OF DELAWARE.
The State of Delaware is one of the original thirteen States of the American Union, and, though next to the smallest in area, and least in population, puisses-es annals not surpassed by those of any other State in topics of varied character, romantic inci- dent and instructive lesson. Nor does her early history relate alone to those confines which now limit her territory. New York, New Jersey. Con- necticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania all partake, to a greater or less de- gree, in the interest of her peculiar story. The early adventure of discovery and settlement; the struggle with barbarism, and the subjugation of a rude soil ; the contrast and blending of European with American life; the transfer of old institu- tions; the intermingling of races ; the progress of commerce; the establishment of churches and schools ; the triumph of freedom of conscience over bigotry ; the development of principles of self-gov- ernment within, and the action of encroachment und conquest from without ; the relations of Dela- ware with Sweden, Holland and Great Britain ; of the people with the proprietary of Pennsylvania; the attitude assumed towards the Dutel of New York ; her position before and during the Ameri- can Revolution, were all peculiar, and in the high- et degree instructive to the student of the present as well as of the past.
At every period of the country's history Dela. aware has been among the first in patriotism and among the earliest in all that related to national defense. " The three lower counties of New Cas- tle, Kent and Sussex, on Delaware," were repre- unted in the Continental Congress which assem- bled at Philadelphia, on the 5th of September, 1774, and from that day to the present, the people of the State have been among the foremost in all that led to the pro-perity and progress of the whole colintry. No state has exhibited stronger affection for the Union, made greater sacrifices in war or ¡ ar-ued a more judicious policy in the accumula- von of wealth. IIer position has commanded respect, and her integrity is beyond reproach.
It is surprising that Delaware, with a past so illustrious, so full of interest, and in many respects unique, should have no proper history. Not only
aliens, but even her own sons, have been very im- perfectly informed of her true history, and, as a consequence, she has been denied the meed of honor both abroad and at home.
It is the aim of the present work to give the history of Delaware with accuracy and intelli- gence, omitting nothing that will contribute in any degree to illustrate its origin and growth, its na- tional importance and its peculiar local features- to paint a portrait of the State as it was and as it is, in which every lineament shall be truthfully portrayed and represented with life and vigor enough to make it- fidelity acknowledged by all. If the-e objects can be attained by zeal, sincerity and faithful, patient and exhaustive research, the author and his co-laborers have no fears of the re- ception which awaits their formidable undertaking.
The State of Delaware is situated between 38º 28' and 39º 47' of north latitude, and between 743 56' and 75° 46' of longitude west from Greenwich. Its physical boundaries are -- on the north by the State of Pennsylvania, Delaware River and Bay ; on the south by the State of Maryland; on the east by the Delaware River and Bay, from a point twenty-four miles from its northern boundary by a line of low-water mark on the Jersey shore, thence to the radius of twelve miles north of New Castle; on the west by the States of Maryland and Penn - sylvania to the periphery of the circle drawn in a radius of twelve miles from the court house at the centre of the town of New Castle, commencing at low-water mark on the shore of New Jersey north of New Castle, thence extending over the Dela- ware River, and following its circumference nntil it again touches the shore of that State south of its radius of twelve miles from New Castle. Sole juri-diction is given to the State of Delaware over the Delaware River and Bay by this circular line of boundary, from low-water mark on the Jersey shore, about a mile north of the mouth of Naa- man's Creek on the Delaware State side, for twenty- four miles southward, nearly to where Silver Run enters the Delaware River. Within the circular boundary are Pea Patch and Reedy Islands, on the former of which Fort Delaware is situated, and upon the latter a light-house. The jurisdiction of the State below the circle extends to a line run- ning down the middle of the Delaware Bay as far as Cape Henlopen ; thence along the Atlantic
1
2
HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
Ocean to Fenwick's I-land, in about 220 20' north the white and ble k oak, yellow pine, cypress, tulip, latitude. The southern line runs westwardly thirty- poplar, Spanish oak and guin, which onee covered the whole Satr. four miles, three hundred and nine perches, to the exact half of the distance between the Atiantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay ; thence by a right line nearly due north at a tangent until it reaches the western part of the periphery of the circle twelve miles from the court-house at New Castle.
The length of the State is ninety-five miles : at its southern boundary the width is thirty-five miles : at Cape Henlopen the width is about twenty five miles, which dimini-hes, by the water-line of the bay, until, at Red Lion Creek, in New Castie County, the width of the State is not over tea miles. while at its northern end its width is twelve miles, being the radius of the New Castle circle.
The line which divides Delaware from Mary - land, starting at the Atlantic Ocean, running due west for a di-tance of thirty-four miles, turns at right angles due north to the tangental point on the New Castle cirele, which was run by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon in 1763, and is known as "Mason & Dixon's Line."
Each of the three counties extends across the State from the ocean, bay or river to the dividing line between Delaware and Maryland, New Co-tle being divided from Kent by Duck Creek and a line running due west to the Maryland line ; Kent is divided from Sussex by the Mispillion Creek and the Tan Trongh Branch ; thence by a line south- westerly to a small branch of Nanticoke, down this branch to the beaver dam, and thence by a line due west to the Maryland line. Sussex com- prises all south of the last-described line to the boundary of Maryland.
Blackbird Creek, flowing due east and north until it empties into the Delaware Bay, is naviga- ble : Duck Creek, which divides New Castle from The topography of the State may be said to con- sist of rounded hills in the northern part, which rise at no point over five hundred feet above the sea-level ; this elevated portion of the state extends southward to White Clay Creek, and reposes upon a substratum of rock. South of White Clay Creek the State is level. and nowhere elevated more than seventy feet, which only occurs on the sandy table- land ridge which passes through the State. In this table-land most of the rivers and streams have Kent County is navigable for seven or eight miles. to Smyrna, and to Hay Point Landing for -team- boats of twelve to fourteen feet draft ; it reaches the Delaware Bay through a channel, called the "Thoroughfare," at a point north of Bombay Hook. Little Duck Creek is navigable for sloops to the town of Leipsic ; Dona River connects with the Little Duck Creek and enters the bay below Little Bombay Hook. Dona and Little Duck Creek form Kent Island, a large marshy island, their sourecs. One of the most notable features of several miles in extent. Mahon River is merely one of the outlets of Dona River, which has forced a pa-sage through the marsh, and flowing southerly for four miles enters the Delaware. Kelley's I-land is formed by the conjunction of the Mahon and Dona Rivers. Port Mahon is esteemed the best harbor for coasters on the Delaware. Little ('reek is navigable, as far np as Little Creek Land- ing, about three miles from its mouth, for sloops and small schooners.
the State is the Cypress Swamp, on the southern line between Delaware and Maryland, and lying in both States. This swamp abounds in trees, mostly cypress, and game of all kinds is to be found in its recesses. Below its surface are found immense trunks of trees, the remains of giants of the for- ests, which, perhaps, sunk beneath the waters in years long pa-t. These trunks are raised and made into shingles, and find ready market and re- ward for the labor bestowed upon their conversion.
The soil of the State is fertile, and has long been celebrated for its wheat, its fruits and vegeta- bles; while the clearing of its forests cut away
Its principal rivers and streams are the Dela- ware Biver, which for twenty-four miles forms the eastern domaikation : Naaman's Creek, enters the Deiaware about a mile south of the northern line ; She!pot Creek tows into the Brandywine, and thence. with the Brandywine, which erosses the Staie, enters the Christians within the limits of the city of Wilmington. about one and a half miles from the Delaware, into which it empties its wa- ters; the Brandywine is navigable for about two miles for sloops and schooners. From the head of navigation, the Brandywine is a rocky stream with several falls, which afford excellent water-power. The Christiana rises in Maryland, and flows through the State into the Delaware at Wilming- ion and has depth for vessels drawing fourteen feet. Red Cry Creek, Mill Creek and Bear Creek ar streams flowing into White Clay Creek. These were once navigable, but are now valuable only for water-power. Red Lion Creek has been dammed up. St. George's Creek now empties a portion of its waters into the Delaware and Ches- apeake Canal, and the remainder through a new channel into the bay. St Augustine and Silver Run are small ereek> which discharge their waters into St. George's Bay below Reedy Island. Ap- poquinimink Creek is navigable for sloops from Odessa to the Delaware, a distance of about seven Iniles, and for steamboats to Thomas' Landing.
Dover, the capital of the State, finds an outlet for its commerce to the Delaware by a very cir- cuitous route through St. Jones' Creek, a distance of thirty miles. It is navigable as far up as Dover
:
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1
3
INTRODUCTION, AND TOPOGRAPHY OF DELAWARE.
for vessels and steamers of two hundred tons south of it, and it is also without visible outlet. burden.
Murderkill Creek enters the bay below the mouth of St Jones' Creek, and up its navigable waters commerce finds its way to Frederica. Mi -- pillion Creek affords navigable facilities to Milford by large sloops, schooners and steamboats. Cedar Creek, though small, is navigable from the De la- ware, into which it flow -. Draper's, Slaughter's and Primehook Creeks are small streams entering the bay between the mouths of Mispillion and Broadkiln Creeks. Broadkiln is navigable for sloops and schooners to Milton, about twelve miles from its mouth, and flows into the estuary of Lewes' Creek, about two miles from the Delaware Bay. Lewes' Creek is about six miles long and empties into the bay ; its navigation was destroyed by the "Great Storm," which washed sand of the ocean into the creek and in this way destroyed its mouth for navigable purposes. Canary or Mill Creek affords navigation to Lewes Creek and from there to Broadkiln, and Wolf Creek and Old Creek fall into it near Lewes.
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