Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I, Part 25

Author: Runk, J.M. & Co
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chambersburg, Pa.
Number of Pages: 1482

USA > Delaware > Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I > Part 25

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

ITis commission as first lieutenant, when he entered the Revolutionary army, in 1776, was signed by John Hancock, President, and Charles Thompson, Secretary of Congress. Captain Bellas says, in his history of the Dela- ware State Society of the Cincinati, that Kirk- wood's commission as brevet major, dated Sep- tember 30, 1783, with his commission as first lieutenant, are now in possession of his great grandson, Newell Kirkwood Kennon, St. Clairsville, Belmont county, Ohio. His certi- ficate of membership in the Society of the Cin-

Captain HI. H. Bellas, in his very full history of the Society of the Cincinnati in Delaware, says that the certificate of membeship of the gallant major, and his sword, are now in the . cinnati is in possession of his grandson, Gen. possession of his grand-nephew, Samuel Price Jaquet, Radnor, Delaware county, Pa.

Robert K. Whitely, U. S. Army (retired), who has deposited in the Delaware Historical Socie- ty, Wilmington, Major Kirkwood's journal, kept by him through the Revolution, and also his sash stained with his blood when he fell in St. Clair's defeat. It is needless to add that these momentoes of the gallant patriot and soldier are sacredly treasured as priceless relies of one of Delaware's noblest sons.

ALLEN MCLANE AND THE MCLANE FAMILY.

Col. Allen MeLane, an eminent citizen of Delaware by adoption, was born in Philadel-

E Filee Dorient IONReT roinif.

157

STATE OF DELAWARE

phia, August 8, 1746, and settled in Kent county in 1774. He was early in the field in the cause of independence. In 1775 he was appointed lieutenant in Col. Caesar A. Rod- ney's regiment of Delaware militia, and in 1776 joined Washington's army and was dis- tinguished in the actions at Long Island, White l'lains, Trenton and Princeton. ITis bravery at Princeton won him the appointment of cap- tain, and he was assigned to Col. John Patton's Additional regiment, January 13, 1777. Ile received his commission from Washington. His partisan company was in service on the outposts of Philadelphia during its occupancy by the British. In 1779 he was made a major in Lee's partisan corps, and took a prominent part in the battles of Paulus Hook and Stony Point. He was present at the siege and sur- render of Yorktown, and retired from service November 9, 1782.

Many thrilling incidents in the life of C'olo- nel MeLane are related, which show his bravery as a soldier. In his movements he somewhat resembled in dash and intrepidity Light Horse Harry Lee. IIe sent his spies into the British lines at Philadelphia disguised as farmers, and at times provisioned the enemy at market rates with "beef" which was noth- ing more nor less than the carcasses of British cavalry horses killed by Continental bullets

His feats of personal daring were numerous. On one occasion he fell into an ambuscade near Philadelphia, accompanied by only four troopers, his company being in the rear. One of his attendants saw the enemy, and crying out, "Captain, the British !" fled with his com- panions. MeLane saw the enemy drawn up on both sides of the road, and a file of them fired on him. He dashed away amid a shower of bullets and ran into a larger body. Turning abruptly, he fled, pursued by a dozen troopers. Ile distanced all but two, one of whom he shot. The other he engaged in a hand to hand con- fliet, during which he received a severe sabre wound in the hand. Finally he killed his an- tagonist and escaped. He took refuge in a mill pond, where he remained until the cold water stopped the flow of blood from his wound. At another time he was surprised by a dozen British troopers, but charged through them and escaped.

After the war, Colonel MeLane settled at Smyrna, and entered upon peaceful avoca- tions. ITe was a member and speaker of the

Delaware Legislature, for six years a privy councillor, for many years judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and United States Marshal of the Delaware District from 1790 to 1798. He was also collector of the port of Wilming- ton from 1808 to the date of his death, which occurred May 22, 1829. llis remains were buried in Asbury Church Cemetery, Wil- mington. He left descendants.

Louis MeLane, who was celebrated for his public services, was a son of Col. Allen Me- Lane, and was born in Smyrna, May 28, 1786. In 1798 he entered the navy as a midshipman, and cruised for a year under Commodore De- catur in the frigate Philadelphia. Retiring from the sea, he studied law with James A. Bayard and was admitted to the bar in 1807. In 1817 he was elected a member of Congress from Delaware and remained in that office until 1827. During this period, in opposition to his constituents, but on conscientious grounds, he voted against permitting slavery in Missouri. From 1827 to 1829 he was United States. Senator, and Minister to Eng- land from 1829 to 1831. In the latter year, on his return, he entered the Cabinet as Sec- retary of the Treasury, and held that office until 1833, when he was appointed Secretary of State; he retired from political life the fol- lowing year. Mr. MeLane was president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company from 1837 to 1847. In 1845 he was entrusted by President Polk with the mission to Eng- land during the Oregon negotiations. He was a delegate to the Reform Convention at An- napolis in the winter of 1850-51. In 1812 Mr. MeLane married the daughter of Robert Mil- ligan, and had issue. He died in Baltimore, October 7, 1857.

ITon. Robert Milligan MeLane came of a distinguished ancestry, as has been shown. He was a grandson of Col. Allen MeLane, the Revolutionary hero, and the oldest son of Lonis MeLane, the eminent statesman and politician. He was born in Wilmington, Dela- ware, June 23, 1815, and died in Paris, France. April 16, 1898, at the advanced age of nearly eighty-three. He was educated at St. Mary's College, Baltimore, and then went with his father to Europe, where he studied for two years at the College Bourbon, Paris. When he returned home General Jackson ap- pointed him a cadet at West Point, where he was graduated in 1837.

the not dod

min oid i hhen vous bon aw olf imal ign bb'

158

BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

In 1841 Mr. McLane was sent to Holland to examine the system of dykes and drain- age, and in Paris was married to Miss Georg- ine Urquhart, daughter of a Louisiana mer- chant. In 1843 he left the army and began the practice of law. In 1845 he was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates, and in 1847 was sent to Congress as a Democrat. Ile was returned again in 1849. In 1853 Presi- dent Pierce sent him to China as Minister, but at his own request he was soon recalled. He was eminently successful in his diplomatic mission, and upon his return to this country in 1856 plunged anew into active party work. Buchanan rewarded him in 1859 with the ap- pointment of Minister to Mexico.

Mr. MeLane resigned his position in Mexico at the outbreak of the Rebellion, and returned to Baltimore. There he became a conspicuous opponent of the National Government and friend of the Confederates. In 1863 he was counsel for the Western Pacific Railroad, and in 1864 and 1865 visited Europe several times. He was elected to the State Senate of Mary- land in 1876, and two years later wrested from ex-Governor Swann the Democratic nomina- tion for Congress, thus re-entering the House twenty-eight years after leaving it. He served two terms, refusing a third. In 1883 he was made the Democratic candidate for Governor of Maryland and was elected to that position, which he still held in March, 1885, when he was appointed Minister to France by Presi- dent Cleveland. In that position he served for four years, and then retired from public life.

All things considered, the political career of Robert Milligan MeLane was one of the longest and most distinguished in the history of the country. He became very much at- tached to France and the French people, and resolved to live there. He spoke the French language with fluency and polish, and spent the last days of his long life in Paris. His re- mains were brought home and interred in Baltimore, the city of his adoption. No greater man ever went forth from Delaware, and the city of Wilmington is proud to claim him as one of her sons.

Dr. Allen McLane was born in Smyrna, Kent county, Delaware, in 1785. His father was Col. Allen MeLane, of the Revolution, and his mother was Rebecca Walls, sister of Lewis Walls. Minister to England. Dr. Allen

MeLane was educated at Newark Academy and Princeton; he then studied medicine and graduated from the University of Pennsylva- nit in 1811. He commenced the practice of his profession at New Castle, but soon after- wards removed to Wilmington and settled permanently. Dr. MeLane served in the war of 1812. He was one of the first Mayors of the city of Wilmington. He married Cathe- rine G., daughter of George and Mary Thomp- son Read, June 18, 1812, and they had issue: I. Samuel; II. Allen; IHT. Mary; IV. Julia; V. George. The sons all died in carly man- hood. Dr. MeLane, the father, died in Wil- mington, January 11, 1845.

LYDIA DARRAGH OF THE REVOLUTION.

By Henry Darrach, of Philadelphia, not re- lated to her family.

(The Darragh family is not related to the families spelling their names Darrach and Darrah.)

Lydia Darragh is remembered in American history on account of the services she rendered her country in giving information to General Washington, encamped in White Marsh, dur- ing the winter of 1777-78, of the intended at- tack of the British forces then stationed at Philadelphia. Her timely information en- abled Washington to be prepared when the enemy came to make the attack. Her de- scendants from early days have resided in Delaware and Maryland.

She was the daughter of John Barrington, of Dublin, Ireland. On November 2, 1753, at Quaker Meeting, Dublin, she married Wil- liam Darragh. They came to this country shortly after their marriage, and settled in Philadelphia. Lydia Darragh died December 28, 1789, in her sixty-first year: her husband died June 8, 1783, age sixty-four years. Both were buried in the Friends' burial ground, southeast corner Fourth and Arch streets, Philadelphia.

Her will, showing the correct spelling of her name and names of her children, is re- corded at Philadelphia in Will Book U, p. 413 (vr. 1790).

She had nine children, as follows:

I. Mary, born 1754, died in infancy; II. Charles, born November 18, 1555; d. June 5, 1801 (not known to have married). Ensign

159

STATE OF DELAWARE

in Second Pennsylvania, 1777, and first lieu- tenant; retired July 1, 1778; III. Ann, born August 12, 1757, died August 17, 1840; mar- ried; no issue; IV. William; V. Lydia; VI. Mary; all three died in infancy;

VII. John, born December 5, 1763; died July 23, 1821 or 1822; married February 7, 1787, Margaret Stewart Porter, of Delaware; born December 2, 1769; died May 10, 1841. Issue eight children, viz:

i. (First)-Lydia Barrington, born De- cember 17, 1787, died January 10, 1834, married James Short; issue one child, Alex. Darragh Short, born 1810, died June 9, 1834, married 1831 or 2, Anna Jamima Naudain, of New Castle county, Delaware, born 1811; died 1872; issue one child, James Hall Short; born New Castle, Delaware, March 23, 1834, died March 12, 1897; married November 4, 1858, Martha Ellen Humphreys, Smyrna, Delaware, born October 13, died November, 1596, and had issue, nine children, viz:

(1) Alex. Darragh Short resides near War- wiek, Md .; married, December 22, 1886, Clara B. Simons; issue four children, George, Edgar Lawrence, Mabel and Martha Ellen; (2) William C. Short, resides near Cecilton, Md .; married, March 9, 1882, Anna B. For- aker; issue, viz: James Hall, Joseph P. Pearl, Edwin C., Leroy; (3) Anna Jamima Short, Baltimore, Md .; (4) Emma Naudain Short, Baltimore, Md .; (5) Martha E. Short, mar- ried; (6) Leah K. Short, Cecil county, Md .; (7) Lydia Barrington Darragh Short, Balti- more, Md .; (8) Thomas Enos Short, Cecil county, Md .; (9) Estella Short.

ii. (Second child of John Darragh and Mar- garet Stewart Porter), viz: Alex. Porter Dar- ragh, b. August 26, 1789, purser in United States navy and died at sea, January 9, 1831; buried at Gibraltar; married, September, 1823, Eliza Tucker Armistead, of Norfolk, Va., died November 26, 1826. Issue two children: (1) Margaret Porter Darragh, b. September 26, 1824, married, April 2, 1842, Dr. Thomas Newton, of Norfolk, Va .; issue, Eliza T. Newton, Sally Newton, Berkley Newton. (2) Martha Julia Darragh, b. No- vember 9, 1825: d. November, 1825.

iii. (Third child of John Darragh and Mar- garet Stewart Porter), Ann, born December 5, 1791, died June 24, 1866, iv. John Dar- ragh, born December 26, 1793, died Decem-

ber 29, 1793; v. Margaret Stewart Darragh, born December 28, 1795, died June 26, 1849; vi. Susannah Darragh, b. January 14, 1798, . died January 21, 1880; vii. Eliza Darragh, born July 16, 1800; died July 19, 1801; viii. Eliza Darragh, born April 24, 1802, died July 26, 1885; married, September 8, 1836, John Janvier; died May 29, 1890, age eighty- one years, 10 months, 16 days. Issue Julien D. Janvier and Margaret W. Janvier, both of New Castle, Delaware.

VIII. William, born July 23, 1766; died December 11, 1290.

IX. Susanna, born December 19, 1768; died September 18, 1792.

BARRATT GENEALOGY.

Philip Barratt, the emigrant of the family, so far as is known, is supposed to have come from England; but however that may be, he had settled in Kent county, Delaware, prior to the year 1755. He was born in the year 1729. Ile owned a large tract of land in South Mur- derkill hundred, probably four or five hun- dred acres, upon which he resided. He also owned a sloop called the Friendship, in which he shipped pork, corn, bark and staves to Philadelphia. He took an active interest in public affairs, and on October 6, 1225, was commissioned by Hon. John Penn, Governor of Pennsylvania, as high sheriff of Kent coun- ty. Mr. Barratt was re-elected sheriff Octo- ber 1, 1776, and served in that capacity dur- ing the Revolutionary war, in which he ren- dered most efficient services in aid of the struggling colonies. An evidence of this is afforded by the fact that on December 20, 1777, the General Assembly appropriated twenty-nine pounds to Philip Barratt, Sheriff of Kent county, for public services to repay him for money advanced and expended in aid of the cause. He was also a justice of the peace for Kent county, his commission being dated June 30, 1283.

In October, 1779, Philip Barratt was elect- ed a member of the Legislature, and on De- cember 22, 1729, voted for Jolm Dickinson, Nicholas Van Dyke and George Read, as dele- gates to the Congress of the United States. Under the authority of the Legislature, in the carly part of the year 1280, he paid to the State militia for Kent county the sum of

ร่างชื่อะไป ร่วมทีมรอง

i : ETal bolli

12. 1

1 15887 92011 891818

INKY 1.881

160

BIOGRAPHIICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

three thousand six hundred pounds, that amount being appropriated by the House of Assembly to him for that purpose. Ile seems to have taken a prominent part in the Legis- lature during all this period. Elected first in 1781, he was a member continuously from that date until the session of 1783, during which period he served as a member of the · special committee to ascertain the names of such persons within his county as shall have furnished the commissary's or quartermas- ter's departments with supplies for the use of the Continental army; also to dispose of sun- dry supplies in Sussex county. Ile was a member of the Standing Committee on Ac- counts on behalf of the Assembly. He was present at the meeting of Council, February 4, 1782, on behalf of the Assembly, and de- livered a letter from Alexander Hamilton, aide-de-camp, dated at Middlebrook, April 20, 1779, addressed to the commanding officer of

the Delaware regiment, and enclosing an act of Congress of December 16, 1778, for annex- ing to that regiment Capt. MeLane's com- pany; also a resolution of General Assembly of June 1, 1779, annexing Capt. MeLane's company to the Delaware regiment, together with certain resolutions of General Assembly, dated October, 31, 1780, empowering the State treasurer to purchase a certain sum of money in specie for the benefit of the officers of the Delaware regiment who had been made prisoners on Long Island; and also a certificate under the hand and seal of General Washing- ton, dated December 31, 1781, together with a memorial of Allen MeLane, dated January 30, 1782, and founded thereon. On January 24, 1783, Mr. Barratt presented to the Coun- cil a bill for raising twenty-six thousand two hundred and fifty pounds for the service for that year. And on February 4, 1783, on be- half of the House, he asked for a Committee of Conference of the Council in relation to it.

On January 14, 1783, Thomas MeKean, Philip Barratt and Nathaniel Waples, of the House, and John Banning and Joshua Polk, of Council, were appointed a general commit- tee on public accounts.

These brief references to his public services show that he took quite an important part in the county and State, and did his utmost to further the success of the patriotic cause.

Philip Barratt was among the first converts

to Methodism, and was an intimate friend of Bishop Francis Asbury, whom he aided and defended during the Revolutionary war. In May, 1780, he and Waitman Sipple, feeling that a place of worship was necessary, took steps to found a chapel. He contributed an acre of ground; the result of their efforts was the present chapel, called in memory of him Barratt's Chapel. It is now known as the "cradle of Methodism" in consequence of the fact that Bishops Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke met there in 1784, and arranged the pre- liminaries for organizing the Methodist Epis- copal Church.

Philip Barratt married Miriam their children were: I. Andrew; II. Elijah; III. Caleb; IV. Nathaniel; V. Mary; VI. Philip, Jr .; VII. Miriam; VIII. Lydia. IIe died on October 28, 1784, in the fifty-fifth year of his age. By his will, dated May 18, 1783, he devised all his estate to his children above named, and directed that it should be partitioned among them.

I. Andrew Barratt, eldest son of Philip and Miriam Barratt, born September 22, 1756, died April 18, 1821, was probably the most prominent. He studied law and was admit- ted to the bar of Kent county. He was a member of the special convention of Dela- ware which met for the ratification of the Constitution of the United States, taking the place of Dr. James Sykes. He was also a member of the convention which framed the Constitution of 1792. Also a director of the Farmers' Bank at Dover, 1808-1811-1815. IIe was elected high sheriff of Kent county in 1780, and appears to have been in office by successive elections for twelve years, from 1780 until 1292. He was elected a member of the Assembly from Kent county on Octo- ber 20, 1791; was a member of the Senate from January 15, 1812, until 1814, and dur- ing this time, 1812, '13, '14, served as speaker. On November 12, 1816, he was elected a presidential elector as a Federalist, and voted for Rufus King for President, and Robert C. Harper for Vice-President. And again on November 14, 1820, during the "era of good feeling," he voted in the Electoral College for James Monroe for President, and Daniel Rod- ney for Vice-President. On January 23, 1799, he was appointed by Gov. Richard Bas- sett an associate judge, and served as such with

٢٠٠٠١:

161

STATE OF DELAWARE

great credit until his election to the Senate. As will be seen from this brief account of his life, Andrew Barratt was a prominent man in his generation.

Andrew Barratt married, December 10, 1778, Ann, daughter of John Clarke, Esq. They had children, as follows:

i. Elizabeth, born September 12, 1779, mar- ried Joseph White, had three children, An- drew Barratt, John and Ann Clarke White; ii. Ann, born October 18, 1781; married Dr. Robert Dill, of Milford, Del., and died Feb- ruary 13, 1814, leaving two children, Ellen Leighton Dill, born December 1, 1805, died December 25, 1868, and Robert Dill, born March 18, 1809, died October 16, 1832; iii. John, born February 9, 1784, died in 1818, was a prominent lawyer, and became Seere- tary of the State of Delaware. He married Ann Luff, and had children, as follows: 1. Elizabeth (Mrs. William Townsend), who had three children, John Barratt Townsend, born December 31, 1832, died February 2, 1859, had one son, John Townsend, of Frederica, Del .; Anne Townsend, wife of Hon. Jonathan S. Willis, has one daughter, Elizabeth Town- send Willis ( Mrs. William H. McCallum), of Philadelphia; and Mary Townsend, married first to Joseph Smithers, after his death to her cousin, Hon. Nathaniel Barratt Smithers, of Dover; 2. Ann (Mrs. James S. Buckmaster); 3. Mary (Mrs. John W. Cullen); iv. George Barratt, M. D., born February 17, 1787; studied medicine and practiced for some years in Kent county, Del .; married Rachel Luff, who survived him, and after his death married Paris Carlisle; v. Mary (Polly) Barratt, born April 12, 1789; vi. Sarah, born September 21, 1791, married in 1825 to William K. Lock- wood, and died a month after her marriage; vii. Letitia (Letty), born April 24, 1794; viii. Miriam, born January 24, 1797; ix. Philip Barratt, horn October 23, 1799.

II. Elijah Barratt, M. D., son of Philip and Miriam Barratt, was born on his father's farm near Frederica, Kent county, Del., in 1771. He was sole executor of his brother Nathaniel Barratt, who died in November, 1797, and also devisce of the farm which had been al- lotted to him upon the partition of Philip Bar- ratt's estate by Judge Thomas White, Richard Lockwood and Governor Richard Bassett (November 13, 1797. Will Book N, p. 184. Ke.). In his short professional career Dr. built in 1796, at Camden, Delaware. The

Elijah Barratt attained a high position in medicine. He was a member of the Dela- ware State Medical Society, having been elected in 1790, and was active in it until his death. He read the second essay which was delivered before that Society about 1791 on "The Influenza." (Garllard's Med. Journal, February, 1886, Delaware State Medical Soc., by L. P. Bush, M. D., 1886, Scharf's Ilis. Del., vol. I, p. 473, Scharf's His. of Delaware, 1889, Vol. 1, p. 483.) Dr. Barratt studied medicine under Dr. Nathaniel Luff, his brother-in-law, and became a practitioner, al- though he never graduated, a not uncommon occurrence in those days.

Dr. Barratt was prominent not only as a physician, but also in political affairs; he was a strong Federalist, and refused to be a candi- date for Congress. Henry M. Ridgely, United States Senator from Delaware in 1827, was an intimate friend of Dr. Barratt's, as the follow- ing incident taken from his life will illustrate: "About the time he was admitted to the bar, Mr. Ridgely became involved in a duel, which came very near costing him his life. The cir- cumstances were as follows: Dr. Barratt, of Dover, had been grossly insulted by a Mr. Shields, of Wilmington, and in accordance with the spirit of the times, sought satisfaction through the "code" and desired Mr. Ridgely to be the bearer of his challenge. The latter did so, and Shields refused to meet Dr. Bar- ratt, but challenged the bearer of the message. Ridgely felt he was obliged to accept; the duel was fought, he was severely wounded, and for a time it was thought he could not live. He recovered after a painful prostration, and pub- lie feeling was so aroused against his antagon- ist that he left Wilmington never to return. (Scharf's Hist. of Delaware, Vol I, p. 572). The reason why Shields refused to meet Dr. Barratt was that Dr. Barratt was a noted shot, was a most determined man and evidently meant business, and he was afraid to take the risk, while Ridgely, although a good marks- man, was not as cool or experienced as him- self. This the duel subsequently demon- strated. (Told me in 1884 by Nathl. Bar- ratt Smithers, a grandson of Dr. Barratt.) Dr. Barratt was commissioned a justice of the peace September 5, 1793. (Scharf's ITist. of Delaware, Vol. II. p. 1040.) He was one of the trustees of the first Methodist Church,

eingeR add or natenogle aid fitnes tibes

a Full palliV/ R

Fur coll ,nierton

bom Imibuta

htesh bita hoow

162

BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

deed was dated July 27, 1796, for one half acre from Daniel Lowber to Elijah Barratt et al., trustees for the people called Methodists in and about the village of Camden, on the road from Dover to Canterbury. (Scharf's Hist. of Delaware, Vol. II. p. 1133.) In the assessment of taxes for the year 1816, in Mis- pillion and what is now Milford hundred, Dr. Elijah Barratt's estate is returned as contain- ing three hundred and thirty acres. (Scharf's Ilist. of Delaware, Vol. II. pp. 1175.) II was nominated January 21, 1792, as Privy Councillor, at a meeting of both Houses of the Legislature, but was defeated. ( Min. Council, Vol. II. p. 1230.) He died April 11, 1809, and is buried in the family burying ground.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I, Part 25

Author: Runk, J.M. & Co Publication date: 1899 Publisher: Chambersburg, Pa. Number of Pages: 1482

Author: Runk, J.M. & Co
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chambersburg, Pa.
Number of Pages: 1482