USA > Delaware > History of Delaware : 1609-1888 > Part 34
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" Dear Sir : I have just time by the bearer to tell you that he brings in his wagon the several things expressed in the list war lord, who is you will under to be received from bun, and with my at uty wishes for the General's health and success, desire he will do the little government of New Castle, Kent and sussex the honor to accept of this small token of their regard for him and the cause in which he Js emplo: ed.
" Sobie days ago, fifty very fine oxen went from bence and ar .. posted by one hundred hat chee put Lamaster, which the General w put to such u-e as he thinks ht, upon the present More.
"I am sir, your miost homtalde servant, " ROBT H. MOERI-
" Philadelphia, June 9th, 177. " To Capt. Robust itrine."
The list of provisions sent included twelve hams, eight cheeses, two dozen flasks of oil, to . loaves of sugar, one cask of raisins, one box .1 spice and currants, one box of pickles and it -. tard, eight casks of biscuits, four keys of sturgeon. one key of herring, two che-ts of lemons, two ke _. of spirit, one cask of vinegar, one barrel of pota- tues, and three tubs of butter.
The elections in 1755 for sheriff and coroner in the various counties proved the successful candi- dates to be William Goldensher for sheriff, and Robert Morrison for coroner of New Castle County ; Casar Rodney and French Battle, tor the same offices in Kent County ; and Jacob Kol- luek, Jr. and Paynter Stockley in Sussex. In 1756 the war was declared, and preparations began in earnest. A map of Delaware Bay and River, which had been prepared by John Fisher, was about to be published, when Governor Morris ordered the publication to be postponed, lest : copy should reach the hands of the enemy and furnish them with assistance. The Assembly of the lower counties provided for striking the sum of two thousand pounds in new bills of eredit, and on May 20th an embargo was declared prohibitin: any exportation of provisions or arms from either of the three counties. This latter act, passed in May, expired on July 7th, as did also a similar law in the province. The Governor at onee re- quested the province to renew their embargo, but this they stoutly refused to do, unless the lower counties would continue the embargo passed by their Assembly. Governor Morris went to New Castle to induce the Assembly to extend the time of the aet, but they were only willing to continue it until July 20th, and from then for as long a period as the province might pass a similar act. but in no case should the time extend beyond October 22d New York and New Jersey had put effective embargoes into operation, but unle -- the barriers existed on every side the Assembly of the province held that an embargo would he not only useless, but harmful to them. The bi !! was finally pas-ed, although it was the cause of much displeasure to many merchants, and later 'brought forth a vigorous protest from them.
The elections in the lower counties for 1756 resulted in favor of William Golden and Robert Morrison for sheriff and coroner of New Casth County, Casar Rodney and Matthias Crozier for Kent, and John Rodney and Wrixam Lewis for Sussex. A month later, by the beginning of November, the three counties had organized their militia in accordance with the acts of the As-tu-
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bly, and the following commissions were issued : for the Upper Regiment of militia in New Castle County, New Castle Hundred, North Division, Captain Richard Me William, Lieutenant Nath- aniel Silsby, Ensign Zachariah Luwanigh : South Division, Captain Alexander Porter, Lieutenant. samuel Aldricks, Ensign John Bryan ; White Clay Creek Hundred, West Divisjon, Captain Rees Jones, Lieutenant Sammel Platt, Ensign Thomas Williamson ; East Division, Captain Sam- uel Patterson, Lieutenant Thomas Dunn. Ensign William Reid ; Miln Creek Hundred, North Divi- -inn, Captain Evan Reese, Lieutenant James Walker, Ensign William Ball ; South Division, Captain Thomas Gray, Lieutenant William Mc- Mehan, Ensign Alexander Montgomery : Chris- tiuna Hundred, Sonthwest Division, Captain James Latimer, Lieutenant Empson Bird, Ensign Thomas Duff; Southeast Division, Captain Andrew Trau- berg, Lieutenant William Hay, Ensign Robert Robinson ; North Division, Captain Thomas Ogle, Jr., Lieutenant John Armstrong, Ensign John Hendrickson; Brandywine Hundred, Southwest Division, Captain William Empson, Lieutenant Thomas MeKim, Ensign John Elliot ; Northeast Division, Captain Emanuel Grub, Jr., Lieutenant Benjamin Ford, Jr., Ensign Benjamin Kellam ; Field Officers, Colonel William Armstrong, Lieu- tenant-Colonel John Finney, Major John Me- Kinley.
The Lower Regiment of New Castle County was composed of the following officers, commis- sioned from the places named ; St. George's Hun- dred, Captain John Jones, Lieutenant Jerome Dushane, Ensign Isaae Gooding ; Captain John Vance, Lieutenant John Vandyke, Ensign John Anderson; Captain Adam Peterson, Lieutenant William Whittle, Ensign Alexander Bryan ; Apoquinimink Hundred, Captain William Wil- liams, Ensign Garrett Rothwell ; Captain Alexan- der Chance, Lieutenant Charles Car-on, Ensign Daniel Weldon ; Captain George Ganz, Lieuten- ant Matthew Rhea. Ensign Thomas Bennet ; Red Lion Hundred, Captain Jacob Gooding. Lieu- tenant Thomas Tobin, Eusign David Howell ; Prncader Hundred, Captain Lewis Thomas, Lien- tenant David Barr, Ensign William Mitchell : Captain Thomas Cooch, Lieutenant Alexander Porter, Ensign David Rowland ; Field Officers, Colonel Jacob Vanbebber. Lieutenant-Colonel David Wether-poon, Major Thomas James. .
The Kent County militia was as follows: Upper Part of Mispillion Hundred, Captain Thomas Clark, Lieutenant Elijah Morris, Ensign Joseph Marrat ; Middle Part of Mispillion Hundrel. Captain Robert Killen, Lieutenant Archibald Fleming, Ensign Samuel Bevins Turner: Lower Part of Mispillion Hundred, Captain Benjamin Brinklee, Lieutenant John Molliston, Ensign
Isaac Hall ; Town of Dover, Captain John Clay- ton. Lientenant French Battle, Ensign James Well -; Dover Handr.J. Captain Casar Rodney, Lieutenant James Sykes, Eusion Caleb Luff; Upper Part of Little Creek Hundred, Captain John Barnes, Lieutenant. Jane's Tybout, Ensign Matthew Crozier; Lower Part of Little Creek Hundred. Captain John Brinklee, Lieutenant Willson Boekmaster, Ensign Stokely Sturgis; Murder Kila Handred, Captain Daniel Robinson, Lieutenant Charles Hillyard, Ensign Benjamin Warren, Jr. ; Lower Part of Murder Kiln Hun- dred, Captain William Rhoades, Lieutenant Jo- seph Hutcheson. Ensign Thomas Craig ; Upper Part of Duck Creek Hundred, Captain David Clark, Lieutenant John Reese, Ensign JJohn Ca- boon ; Lower Part of Duck Creek Hundred, Cap- rain Charles Hillvard, Lieutenant Jacob Stout, Ensign Thomas Tilton ; Tidbury, Captain John Caten, Lieutenant Joseph Caldwell, Ensign James Caldwell ; Field Officers. Colonel John Vining, Lientenant-Colonel John Brinkle, Major Andrew Caldwell.
The Sussex County militia was organized as fol- lowe : for the northern military di-triet of Cedar Creek Hundred, Captain Benjamin Wynkoop, Lieutenant Bethuel Watson, Ensign Levin Crop- per . for the southern military district of Cedar Creek Hundred, Captain Thomas Hill, Lieutenant Isaac Watson, Ensign Nehemiah Davis ; for the northern military district of Broad Kiln Hundred, Captain John Haverloe, Lieutenant James Ship- man, Ensign George Claypoole: for southern military district of Broad Kiln Hundred, Captain .Joseph Cord, Lieutenant William Craig. Ensign Absalom Little ; for the northern military dis- triet of Lewes and Rehoboth Hundred, Captain David II:Il, Lieutenant Jacob Kolluck, Jr., En- sign John Hall ; for the southern military district of Lewes and Rehoboth Hundred, Captain John Newbold, Lieutenant Rice Wolf. Ension Peter March : for the northern military district of In- dian River Hundred, Captain Cord Hazzard. Lieutenant Peter Robinson, Ensign Thomas Prettymar ; for the southern military di-triet of Indian River Hundred, Captain Burton Waples, Lieutenant John Burton, Ensign William Pretty- man ; Field Officers, Colonel Jaeoh Kollek, Lieu- tenant-Colonel Rives Holt, Major Jacob Phillips.
The returns for the militia of the lower counties summarized the above as follows: The Upper Regiment of New Castle County contained eleven companies, with the officers named and two ser- grants for each company, with an average of sixty privates. The Lower Regiment of New Castle County consisted of nine companies, averaging about fifty privates, but with the same officers as in the Upper Regiment. Kent and Sussex Coun- ties furnished twelve and eight companies respect-
-
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
ively, and the officers and privates in each were the same as in the various companies of the Lower Regiment of New Castle County. From this it appears that the lower counties organized a force of over two thousand troops.1 In 1757 the same zeal was continued, the Assembly passing acts for striking bills of credit to the amount of four thousand pounds for His Majesty's use, for punish- ing desertions and mutiny in the army. A con- siderable difficulty arose about the middle of the year in consequence of the scruples entertained by the Quakers against bearing arms, and their stub- born resistance of the militia laws. The first in- stance that occurred was early in January. Christopher Wilson, of Christiana Hundred, had been summoned by Captain Thomas Ogle, but refused to appear. While seated on his horse, shortly afterwards, conversing with a friend. Samuel Clenny, two constables, William Bradshaw and Thomas Elliot, placed him under arrest, and he was afterwards taken before Justice David Bush. The justiee, with very little ceremony, ordered him to jail and he was taken to New Castle. In June, however, a number of complaints were lodged against the same Justice Bush. Joseph Niekols complained that he had been summoned to appear before him and state why he had not complied with the provisions of the militia acts. He assured the magistrate that he was moved altogether by the dietates of conscience, and not at all by a desire to disobey the laws; but notwithstanding, the consta- bles soon appeared and seized a cow. Joshua Baker had suffered in the same way, and Ruth Mendenhall testified that four men had come with swords and elubs and dealt out a similar fate npon her son. Thomas Niekols was another of the vietims. These cases were brought to the attention of the Governor, and in addition other incidents of a like nature were cited. Joseph Newlin, John Perry, Jacob Robinson, Richard Carsan, William Shipley, Jr., and Henry Troth all complained that their property had been seized to pay .the fines exacted by Justice Bush for an aet which they heldl was specially permitted by charter. Governor Denny took the matter under consideration, but it was allowed to drop. The incident at least served the Assembly of the province with a weapon of defense against the Governor, who had chided them for not being as diligent in the passage of militia laws as the lower counties.
delight at being independent of the province. Ti charges were in truth most unjust, for the part tak. .. by the lower counties in the French and Indian W .- was relatively, and in some respects absolutely, [ .. greater than that taken by the province.
By the end of 1757 they had nearly four thousand troops organized. A battery and barracks wer. also begun late in the year, and the little govert- ment was boldly straining every nerve to faithfully perform its duty. The embargo was renewed :: New Castle and Lewistown in March, 1758, and very soon afterwards Governor Denny convenel the Assembly at New Castle. In his speech befor. that body, he informed them that in letters lately received from England, the King promised to make every effort at the coming session of Parliament t. secure the passage of an art for compensating the provinces for their efforts in his behalf, but als .. requesting all po-sible assistance at that very critical moment. The A-sembly promised, through Speaker Jacob Kolluck, to do all in their power, and regretted that their means were not sufficient to allow them to offer as much as their inclinations prompted. Nevertheless, an act was soon pa-sed for raising a loan of eight thousand pounds.
In April, 1759, the Assembly passed a bill for reprinting and exchanging twenty thousand pounds of bills of eredit, and for striking seven thousand pounds additional for His Majesty's use. Jacob Kolluck, William Armstrong and Casar Rodney were appointed to superintend the printing of the twenty-seven thousand pounds, the bills varying from one to twenty shillings. They were signal by William Armstrong of New Castle County. Johns Barns of Kent, and David Hall of Sussex. Ten thousand pounds were placed in the hands of the trustees of the loan office in New Castle County. and for Kent and Sussex, their trustees received respectively six and four thousand pounds for re- distribution. The seven thousand pounds were placed in charge of Messrs. John Finney, George Munro, Casar Rodney, Joseph Caldwell. David Hall and Joseph Kolluek, Jr., and was to be used in the support of one hundred and eight men for service in the southern colonies the money being raised by an additional tax of six-pence on the pound for five years. The reason for joining together these two measures, which it seemed might better have been passed separately, soon became apparent. They had pursued the latter course on to the re-emission. When the Governor and Council came down to New Castle, on May 5th. they flatly refused to ratity the double measure,
Considerable jealousy had, in fact, sprung up in . a former occasion, but the proprietary had objected the province. The Governor was accused of being partial to the lower counties, and insinuations and attacks of every description were publicly aimed at them. The only notice taken of this by the for the reason named, and also because in the pre- Assembly at New Castle was in an address to Governor Denny in October, 1757, when they expressed their disgust at such assaults, and their vious year the lower counties had supported the hundred men, and now had eut the number down to one hundred and eighty. A conference was held between the Governor and the Speaker of the
1 " Archives of Pennsylvania," p. 87.
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COLONIAL HISTORY
Assembly who politely informed him that the House lad resolved to furnish no men at all if they were . mupelled to alter their bill. They well saw that the Governor could not afford to reject their assist- once, no matter how in-ignificant it was. Their aleulations soon proved to be correct, for on the 7th the Council reluctantly ordered the Governor to sign the bill.
In October the returns for the election of sherit's and coroners announced that in New Castle County John MeKinley and William Smith had been elected; in Kent County, Thomas Parker aed William Wells, and in Sussex, Joseph Shankiand and Jabez Fisher.
In April, 1760, the Assembly was met by Gov. James Hamilton, who had succeeded Gov. Denny in November. He announced new instructions from the King, graciously thanking his American subjects for their services, and offering to arm and supply with provisions the large number of men which he hoped they would continue to raise. The Assembly asserted their desire to comply with this to the utmost limit of their ability, and at the same time handed the Governor two bills for his signa- ture. Governor Hamilton withheld his -ignature, to learn what they proposed to do in connection with his war message ; but on their promise to issue a new loan, he signed the bill and returned to Philadelphia. The Assembly this year placed four thousand pounds at his disposal, but they now also devoted some attention to internal affairs, which had for several years been subordinated to the war. The Supreme Court was completely reor- ganized under the name of the Supreme Court of the Government of the Counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex upon Delaware. It was to meet at New Castle on the twenty seventh of April, and the twenty third of October, at Dover on the twenty eighth of October, and on the Monday pre- ceding the meeting of the Court of Common Pleas in May, and at Lewistown on the Mondays pre- coding the meetings of the Court of Common Pleas in May and November. There were now to be the chief justice and three others to preside, instead of two, as before. A supplement to the act passed in 1719, for encouraging the construction of gond mills, was also passed in 1760, and an agent for the government of the lower counties was stationed at London to look after their interests. The agent appointed was David Barclay, Jr .. of London.
Thomas Dunn and James Walker were elected sheriff and coroner at the October elections in New Castle County ; William Rhodes and Jabez Jen- Kins in Kent ; and Joseph and David Shankland in Show.v.
In 1761 the London agent announced that he had received something over three thousand ywounds, as the share belonging to the three count- ils, out of a sum granted by Parliament as com-
pensation to the colonies. The agent was allowed to retain one -halfper cent , and for the management of the residue Benjamin Chew and William Pluim- stead were appointed trustees. One-half of this sum was paid to New Castle County, three-tenths to Kent, and the remaining wwo-tenths to Sussex, and the money was ergdoyed in liquidating the debts contracted in evesequence of the war.
The days for holding the Supreme Court were again changed this year, and were fixed for New Castle on the nitth of April and fifth of September ; for Dover on the fifteenth of April and fifteenth of September ; and for Lewistown on the Fridays pre- ceding the meetings of the May and November sessions of the Quarter Sessions.
Another payment was received by Agent Bar- clay in London, in 1762. this time amounting to three thousand seven hundred and forty-five pounds, and paid pursuant to an act of Parliament of 1759. William Plumstead and Benjamin Chew were again appointed to manage the fund. The money was divided among the counties in the same proportion as the hrst payment and applied to similar purposes. These payments were a great reliet to the people, to whom the war had been a heavy burden. They at once rallied, however, and again began to employ their money for pur- poses more profitable than war. The public roads were the first things that were looked after. In Kent County the road beginning at Salisbury, dividing Kent and New Castle Counties, and thence running to Dover, as well as the two draw- bridge roads leading from Dover, were now made public or king's roads, which placed them under the care of the county authorities. In Sussex County the roads running from the Three Runs through Lewistown were raised to the same dignity. In New Castle County a new highway was built, beginning at the border of Chester County and going to Brandywine Creek, and from there one was laid out to Salisbury and another to Blackbird Bridge.
The successful candidates in 1762 for sheriff and coroner for New Castle County were Thomas Dunn and James Walker ; for Sussex, Daniel Nunez, Jr., and Samuel Rowland, Jr .; and for Kent, William Rhodes and John Gray. The next year the same offices were filled in New Castle County by Thomas Duff and William Stewart, in Sussex by Daniel Nunez, Jr., and John Wattom, and in Kent by Daniel Robertson and John Gray.
In 1764 the roads of New Castle County again occupied the attention of the Assembly. An entirely new system was adopted in this county for their management, the oll one not having given satisfaction. The roads were now placed under the control of a board of commissioners, consisting of Messrs. John Stapler, Thomas Tobin,
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
David Stewart, George Monro and John Me- quietly bear. To the Congress which was cl: Kinley. They had entire control over the build- at New York by the other colonies to pro ing and repairing of roads, and also filled up vacancies in their own body. No changes were made in this year in New Castle County offices by the annual elections, but in Kent Themas Collins and Matthew Manlove were elected sheriff and coroner, and in Sussex Daniel Nunez, Jr., con- tinued as sheriff and Henry Davis was elected eoroner. In November new commissions for the justices of the Court of Over and Terminer were issued to John Vining, Jacob Vanbebber and Richard Me William. To these John Clowes was added in 1765, and Robert Killen received an appointment as an additional justice of the peace for the Mispillion hundreds in Kent County, while the elections in the same year in the lower counties, resulted in the choice of Thomas Duff for sheriff of New Castle County and James Walker for coroner. In Kent County Thomas Collins and John Gray were elected, and in Sussex Rhoads Shankland and Nathan Young. In 1766 John Thompson and James Walker were elected to fill the two offices in New Castle County. The old sheriff's were re-elected in both the other counties, but new coroners, who were Solomon Wallace and Thomas Gray, for Kent and Sussex, respectively. Governor John Penn went down to New Castle on October 21st and passed a number of bills. A slight hitch occurred over a measure relating to testamentary affairs and providing for the better security of orphans in the enjoyment of their estates, probably owing to its great length. The Assembly finally submitted to certain amendments offered by the Governor, and this also beeame a law. While at New Castle Governor Penn issued commissions to Jacob Stout, Fenwick Fisher and Thomas Tilton to be justices of the peace in Kent County in places where none exi-ted. For the County Courts of the same county he also appointed as justices John Caton, Richard Wells, Thomas Irons, Andrew Caldwell, Casar Rodney, Charles Ridgely, John Barns, James Sykes, Wi liam Rhoades, William Rodney, Robert Holli- day, John Clark and Robert Killen. Another act of importance which received the Governor's signature while on this visit to New Castle was providing for changing the methods of choosing inspectors of elections and assessors, both of which officers were thereafter appointed by the qualified electors in each hundred at meetings held for the purpose on the 15th of every September.
The first shadows of the Revolution had by this time east themselves plainly in the light of the people. The Stamp Act m 1765 stirred up the righteous indignation of the colonists to the high- est pitch. After having put forth every effort in the French and Indian War, to be thus ungrate- fully treated in return was more than they could
against the Stamp Art the lower counties . Casar Rodney, Thomas MeKean and Ja. Kolluek, the Speaker of the Assembly. . When act was repealed the rejoicing was only equa! by the depression upon its passage. Rodney a: : MeKean were again selected by the Assembly . draw up an address to the King, expressive . their gratitude. They little imagined wh .. the address was prepared, the changes which r !. next deeade were to bring, as may easily t. gleaned from the following extract teeming wir . sentiment- of love and loyalty for Britain :
"We cannot help glotving in being the sulyeets of a king that I . inade the preservation of the civil and religious rights of his [ .... and the established constitution, the fontolation and constant ruk his government, and the safety, case, and prosperity of his people. .. chiefest care ; of a king where null an 1 . qu'il administration is srl .. felt and enjoyed in the remotest parts of hisdonunions. The cloud- 1' lately hung over Atuern ante dissipated One complaints have been h a1 and our grievances redressed ; trale and commerce again flourish. 0 hearts are animated with the wirmest wishes for the prosperity ut t. minther country, for which our atretion is unbounded, and your faith !! ! subjects here are transported with joy and gratitude. such ato the bl ... ings we may justly expert will ever attend the measures of your mail cets pursuing steadily the united and true interests of all your pre,'. throughout your wide-extended empire, assisted with the advice of a British parlament atol a sittings and wise ministry. We most bum !. 1. bestech your miatesty graciously to accept the strongest assurances the having the justert sense of the many tivots we have received to your royal benevolence, during the course of your majesty's reign. . . how much our present Inppiness isowing to your paternal I've ... care for your people, we will at all times most chiverfully contribut. . your majesty's service to the utmost of our alahtus, when your [ .. requisitione, as heretofore, shall be made known ; that your majesty w always find such returns of duty and gratitude from us, as the best ! kings may expert from the most loyal -nljects, and that we will domar- strate to all the world that the support of your majesty's governo :". nul the honor and interest of the British nation, are our chief car . au concern, degrin: nothing more than the continuance of our wi -. . . excellent constitution in the same happy, firm and envied situ.st: 1 which it was delivered down to us from our ancestors and your majesty > predecessor -. "
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