USA > Delaware > History of Delaware : 1609-1888 > Part 53
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The "Association," as they styled it, ako prom- ised that " we will subject ourselves to such pains, penalties, military punishments and disgrace as courts-martial, to be constituted from time to time, of the officers of our own body, -hall or may inflict on any of us offending against the rules of military discipline, or contravening in word or deed the true interest of America, or the spirit and principle of this Association."
The Assembly met again on June 5th, but did nothing until two days later, when it received the announcement from the delegate to Congress that the latter body was " unanimously of the opinion that it is absolutely necessary for the preservation of the lives, liberties and properties of the good people of the twelve united colonies and of the parish of St. John, in Georgia, to have an armed foree at their general expense sufficient for repel- ling and defeating all hostile attempts by arms to deprive them of the same." The Assembly re- solved, without di -- ent. to bear whatever share of the expense of the military establishment which should be fixed by Congress, and authorized the Speaker to draw upon the loan offices for an im- mediate loan of 5500, the money to be subse- quently replaced in the offices. Then the House ajourned to August 2Ist.
1 Following the chronological order of events, mention should be made at this place of the project to organize a fourth county in Ilaware. The committee having the | min in chuze, hell a meeting at Broad Creek, Head of Indian River, June 20, HEY, and adapted resolution, de- claring that, although they were not requereuted in the Inlawate As- sembly, they got required -a b coundonce in the delegates to Congress that they would bind themselves to support all its measures. The resolutions continne :
"And further to support the union of the Colonies on which, under God, our safety depends, we unanimously resolve that Jobti Dagworthy, John Jones, John Tenant, Lohy Pe Hin-, Sinon Koll ex, Win. Holl ind. Samuel Strasse, Joshua I' Ik. Elment Bayly, Was FIk, John Mitchell, Peter Hubbard and FF'ich Litmon tor ajawanted a committee to thert and correspond with the gift committee of this and the other govern- ments, and that any seven of them may det.
"And whereas di- advantageous conta Insious nuty probably be drawn from the conduct of the people lage, with respect to their entering into this Assumption at this Late porad, the ummmintera done with pleasure embrace this opportunity to satisfy wir follow subdects in a ne ad that our backwardnew in this att ar has been totally and wh dy owing to the dueturting of method state of the bees of totalties between the two governments of Peut-yhvant ail Maryland, atel hot fota the utitlu- ence of any Toutes amongst ne, or any disregard to the common cause. But as these are now happily established, we hope to evince to the world
Among the Tory episodes of 1775, the Sussex County committee had an interesting struggle with Thomas Robinson." In a circular dated .July leth the committee say they have taken too little notice of the complaints of Robinson's Toryism, and that therefore :
"Mr. lodanson, weakly unazining that this tend ruess and Ietaty prace led from tear, began tevaunt ami, vui, and with an . tientety eva the compamon of ignorance, proceeded mote boldly and ofunits to stamp hts vile and slavish Ministeral pian ides mpon the weak and newly, over tous many of whom, in the forest of Sussex ated Mats land, by means of las other and state, he has too much influence."
At this meeting (July 18th) the committee took testimony concerning Robinson's Toryism. Peter Watson swore that on July 10th he was at Robinson's store, on the head of Indian River. and saw John Gozlin, clerk to Robinson, sell two parcels of tea, " one of which he delivered to a girl, the other to Leatherberry Barker's wife," the tea being taken out ofa canister holding twelve to fit- teen pounds. Then Robert Buteher testified that when he told Robinson that the committee was ad- vising the people to muster in order to defend their liberties, Robinson replied that " they were a pack of fools, for it was taking up arms against the King ; and that our charters were not annihilated, changed or altered by the late Acts of Parliament, and therefore we ought to obey the King and those that were put in authority under him; and that the great people were only leading the poor in- to a premunire, and after they had done it would not help them out of it." Nathaniel Mitchell testified that Robinson had declared that "the present Congress were an unconstitutional body of men and that the great men were pushing the common people between them and all danger."
This was quite enough for the committee, and they summoned Robinson to appear before the General Committee at the house of John Newbold on July 22d to answer to the charges against him. The citation was sent by Elisha Cotting- ham, who reported to the General Committee that he had served it upon the contumacious Tory, " who desired him to give his compliments to the gentlemen of the committee and acquaint them that he did not, nor could not, think of coming before them unless he could bring forty or fifty
that we have as proper a sense and as becoming a zeal for the liberties of America as our fellow -sulgeits in the other parts of this government "
".V. B .- In this new County analizary preparations for well-being against the bloody attacks of the infatuated British ministry Me catfied on with great sjarit. It is expected we shall soon have bitteen liminited or thore of a wi H-tratund militia ; and the e anmuttee are endeavofthis to obran the necessary supplies of warnke stores."
" Thomas Relaunch, of Sussex County, was prominent during the Revolutionary turned lot las Tury sentiments and antagonism . 1 the patriots. He was tried on the charge of towson, and found guilty of bring wan etteiny to his country and a contumaciatis apposer of hetts and the natural light of mankind." In response to a students to Je ar atı itiswer, falunson went a contemptnous hte-size. He was hi !
Robinson was se loother of Judge Peter Relation, ont Serrat. who was appointed justice of the supreme Court of the State, that day 170%. Peter IS Minden, fir thtre terms Secretary of state and associate judge of the superior Court, was & sons of Thomas Robilison.
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HISTORY OF PEGAWARE
armed men with him." This bold defiance of The members .ha ! were Casar Rodney, Wm. their authority was more than the committee had anticipated or were prepared to meet. They had no force at their immediate command with which to drag Robinson from his forest home. and the most they could do was to place him under what a hundred years later came to be known as a boycott. They resolved to hold him " forth to the publiek, as an enemy to his country and a con- tumacious opposer of liberty and the natural rights of mankind," and they enjoined all persons " to break off all dealings and commercial connections" with him.
The re-olutions of the committee were published in Bradford's newspaper, and on Oct. 12th Robin- son wrote to the publishers complaining that the publication was made without allowing him au opportunity to controvert the charges, and that although it had failed in Sussex of answering the private election purposes for which it was made, it might have an unfavorable effect for him upon people at a distance. He inclosed a certificate signed by five members of the Committee of Inspection to the effect that they had not yet had it in their power to fully discuss the character of Thomas Robinson, but they submitted a resolution adopted by a majority of the committee on Aug. 16th. By this resolution it was declared that the proceedings of the Committee of Correspondence on July 27th was illegal because it had been drawn up and sent to the press by only four members of that committee instead of the seven required to sanction such action. The five members of the Inspection Committee added that -- "And from any circumstance that has yet appeared to us on the inquiry that we have been able to make, the charge against Thomas Robinson is altogether without foundation. The public is therefore de- sired to suspend their opinion in regard to said Robinson until he is heard by the General Committee." This was signed by Isaac Minshall, (chairman), Joseph Turpin, Isaac Bradley, John Laws and Alexander Laws.
At a meeting of the White Clay Creek New Castle County ) committee at Henry Darby's house, in Newark, Aug. 7th, William Patterson presiding, Rev. Morgan Edwards presented him- self and signed the following recantation, which was voted satisfactory :
" Whereas, I have some time since, frequently, made n-s of rash and imprudent expressions with respect to the conduct of my f d .w country. men, who are now engaged in a noble and patriotich struggle for the liberties of America against the artetity measures of the British Ments- try, which conduct has justly raised then resebilinent against me. I now confess that I have spoken wrong, for which I am sorry attiva forgive- Dess of the publick ; and I do propuse that for the future I will con-luct my self in such a manner as to avind giving offense, and at th . satie true, in justice to myself, der lare that I am a friend to the present measures pursued by the friends of Ame ucan liberty att do In irtily apar ne of them, and, as far as in my power, will endeavour to je anote them."
A new committee for Kent County was chosen at an election in the hundreds on Aug. 14th
Meredith, John F .. . James Moor, James Tilton, John Baning. W: :. Kitten, Vincent Loocker- man, Benefiet B->> Benjamin Coombe, Na- theniel Last. Jula Clark, John Davis, Ryncar Williams, ERPA Morris. Belitha Laws, Benjamin Clark, Wiu. Cut.z. Elward Rees, Isaac Carty. Thomas Skillington. - da- >now, Ezekiel Needham, Wm. Jorden, James Starling, Jamies Wells, Jacob Stoat, J.F . Bell, Edmund Stout, Risden Bishop, Joshua 4 -In. John Gordon, Vincent Lockerman, Je .. Ibathan Caldwell and Thomas Rodney. They convened at Dover on Aug. 17th and chose Casar Rodney as chairman ; Mark McCall, ckik; and appointed as the Committee of Correspondence, Thomas Rodney, James Tilton, W'm. Killen, John Baning and Vincent Loocker- man.
At a meeting of the committee of St. George's Hundred, New Castle County, Aug. 21st, Peter Hyett presided and Peter Cahoon, another suspected Tory, was brought up to the ordeal of examination. The committee accepted from him this spology :
" 17 grens, I have som tir " since, frequently, novle use of rash and In.prudent expressions with respect to the conduct of my worthy con- tryu. n, now struggling in the most noble cause of liberty, I do, there. fore, Like this opportunity pean kly to declare that my expressions have proceeded from a very contacted knowledge of the British Constitution: and the just rights of human nature, and am now sensible of my acting ent.coly wrong, for which I am extremely surry and humbly ask for- given as of the pubdick, upon restante of my solving promise to conduct myself for the future in such manter as shall be approved of by ny countymen, in promoting to the utmost of my power and heartity ap- proving the different resolves and modes prescribed by our honomable Continental Congress for the preservation of American freedom, which I now plainly see is attempted to be rooted out of this country by are - rupted ministry. I hope this pubinck acknowledgement of my error, and a fill conviction of the justo e and legality of the canse, will wipe uft the just reseutrients that my tomer bud conduct hive raised as uust me and indure the publi k to believe me determined, as I am for the future, to stand forth for freedom and the good of this country."
Charles MeKinzie, master of the ship " Peace and Plenty," on Sept. 18th petitioned the New Castle committee for permission to take in a cargo for a foreign port. He had brought to the Dela- ware passengers from Belfast, Ireland, and was naturally anxious to avoid the loss of returning in ballast by carrying out a loading of freight. There seems to have been no reason for suspecting him of any ulterior purpose, but the committee peremptorily refused to allow him to ship a cargo and only permitted him to take on board enough provisions and stores for the crew. Such were the rigors of the non-intercourse policy.
The Delaware delegates in Congress on July 8th joined in signing the petition to the King. On July 29th Congress, having under consideration the allotment of the Continental currency to the various colonies_ resolved that the proportion of each should be determined according to the total population of each, including negroes and mulattos ; but as no accurate census was available arbitrary quotas were assigned, subject to revision as each
1
225
DELAWARE DURING THE REVOLUTION.
colony furni-hed a corrected list of inhabitants. Under this provisional enactment the allotment to Delaware was 837,219,50, which she was to redeem by special taxes.
The Council of Safety held an important meet- ing at Dover on Sept. 1th, when John MeKinly was elected president and James Sykes secretary. The session continued for six days,. and was mainly employed in perfecting the military organization of the three counties, which embraced altogether nine battalion. The three battalions of New Castle County commanded respectively by John McKinly, Thomas Cooch and Richard Cant- well, were formed intoone brigade, with MeKinly as brigadier-general. Kent County reported two battalions under the command of Casar Rodney and John Haslet, which, with the Western Battalion of Sussex County, were formed into a second brigade under Brigadier-General Rodney; and the three battalions of John Dagworthy, David Hall and Jacob Moore were organized into a third brigade under Dagworthy as brigadier general. Com- missions for these officers were made out, and it was entered on the minutes that "there are about 5000 effective men in this government associated and determined to defend their ju-t rights and liberties with their lives and fortunes."
The Kent County committee had at their meeting on Oct. 16th at Dover, to deal with Daniel Varnum, who had obeyed a citation for his appearance. A special accusation, to which he pleaded guilty, was that he had declared " he had as lief be under a tyrannical King as a tyrannical Commonwealth, especially if the d-d Pre-by- terians had the control of it," for which he thus made retraetion over his signature and in the presence of the committee :
"Being conscious that such language by me und is the language of the worst of ehemies to America, and that it hath a threet teile they to injure the common cause in which all steenuil he engaged. 1 take this and that in future I will pay a strict regard to the resolves of the tutti- nemal Congress and rules and dirctions of the Committe - of said county, carefully avinding everything that has the least tendency to violate or contravene the same."
Samuel MeMasters wrote to Dr. James Tilton from Lewes Nov. 14, 1775:
"This informs you that an itulictient was found by the Grand Jury of Sussex County against a number of zealot- friends to their country for, it is said, insulting a critiin J. C. The party nlars are as follows ; J. C., some time in the month of September, came to Lewes, and in an open, profane manter cursed the homemade Continental Congress and all those that would not curso it ; calling upon the supreme Being in a most solemn manter to den the Congress and all that would not d-1 it ; that the d-d set would tuin the Country. For which . \pre -- 1ohs and anch like it was thought proper he should be liard up istare the Committee of Inspection as guilty of thison against the limiting of America and als , the degress ; for the Congress acting shit dole to the power delegated that haly ought to be esteetmed as Kine, and, therefore. whatever to sad against that body should be jermed treason. C., lo ing had up before the Committee, and the fart betale it -ufficiently prave 1. one of the andieneo -und ' it's mondei like a death warrint' c. in an insulting, swriting wat, saabl ' Put it in execution' However, mon mature consideration of the Committee, some of which were too letter than C., a sort of recantation was drawn up and signed by € , lint by no no ats satisfactory to the people. Upon which some concluded we should proceed in the new noble of making converts, by bestowing upon C. a coat of tar-and-feathers ; but after some hesirition and nich je.faitsler,
were presented from using and silent metros, unless beating th drawn tow rovde, and two lots throwing ant . dowy unknown to the men, which as soon as they were married wet um diately stoppe I. aBright him This is as hear the state of the matter as Ican po lert. This they have made a root of, and I M , Joq, as king's attorney, has actel ta this matter
craneo of the vive low, all the heads of liberty hete in suswex iny as well sur pp as contend any longer; for we are too weak to oppmed Mint-terial to 14 "
Dr. Tilton replied very promptly. After ex- pressing his surprise at the information imparted by Mr. MeMaster-, he added :
"I have heard a great deal of Sussex Toryism, but imagined if you had really with among von, they would have arted more ingemundy than ly plaving off the civil law as an en_ne against the Sorts of Lil - erty. The recent -guess of Mr H., I should have thought would have t acht the im bott- Your Grand Jury most certainly have been inittu- ated with very undur quejadices or they never could have countenanced such an trhu thiệnt as you mention.
.. I wish I was abde to gove von euch advice as would be protiralde to your deluded countryaten ; but when I consider that I am writing to a man younger than myself. and who has, perhaps, as little indurner in Sirex as I have in Kent, I convene Irannot testify my esterne for a lover of our liberty letter thin by communicating my sentiments of present tronbles in as short and plain a manger as | r ...
" I lay it down as a maxim that the claim of England of America " to tix her in all waves whatsoever ' Hadrontive to common sense, not to be tolerated but spurned at by trermen, and to be resisted to the last rx- trenuty whenever attempted to be put in execution. It is found equally true by our experience that the caval or municipal laws of the l'onvinces are not sufficient to defend ne against the unjust and ruet means used to bring me under unjust and arbitrary taxation. What resource, then, had Amorality her . Why, she appelle I to the Law of nature, which, har- mg a like respect to all, Is funded only in justice and truth. In doing this, however, the Americans have net violate ] the constitution of Ing- land was their enemies have suggested) for that, being found. I in Mbetty, cannot be repigment to the eternal and immuntalde laws of truth and Justice By the law of harte, then, and fire Constitution of England we are perfectly right in deterding our nights and liberties. The law of nature is above all others and constantly governis in the last exigency of attairs. In our present struggle. is it not equally necessary to guard az4th-t intestine enemies as foreign foes ? But by what Low of the latt can we do it> By rone, and therefore we apped to the law of nature. By this law, the representatives of a people in Committee publish an Pir tay and make him intamous forever ; and by this law the people at Large tar und-feather Torres and traitors. The sole object of natural law is inshire ; atul nar rable to it, in Mr. Co's cass, the only question -honkl be, hois hi- jmini-liment hoon more than adequate to his erinies ? If he has discovered himself unfriendly to his country, and especially to America, he- Light escape conll be owing to nothing but great puitiality or uneotumoon henmanity in his countryaten. And as to thu we men who woubl now take advantage of the civil law against those who were the instruments of justice on C in behalf of their Country. I take it for granted they have a plentiful stock of igne rince or an uncommon share of lod les or wickedness; and I will venture to all that were they in aus post of the Fuite Colours locales soares, they would in the one case meet with proper instruction, and in the other suitable correction."
Early in 1775 a permanent lookout scout was stationed at Lewes, and pilots were warned not to bring any British armed vessels up the bay. The river below Philadelphia was obstructed after September 9th with the checaur-de-frise, about forty vessels being allowed to pass out before the last day of grace. 'A narrow, intricate channel only was left, the secret of which lay with two trusty pilots, who were in the pay of Pennsylvania, and whose duty it was to bring up vessels with stores and annuunition, privateers and other authorized eratts. The buoys had all been removed from the Delaware, and pilots were ordered to lay up their boats except when on special service. To prevent the enemy from coming up, tire-rafts were built and a floating battery was constructed at Philadelphia.
When Washington. was made commander-in-
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2226
HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
chief of the Continental army on June 15, 1775, he was also commander of the navy too. Instrur- tions were immediately given for the organization of a navy in the Delaware, and a number of ves- sels were fitted out. John Paul Jones, the tir-t lieutenant aboard the " Alfred," under Commodore Esek Hopkins, was the first to hoist the American flag1 on the Delaware. Captain John Barry, of the " Lexington," was the first to put to sea from the Delaware, in Dee., 1775, in a regular commissioned national vessel for a regular cruise. The Delaware people were now about to have an experience of actual warfare. The British man-of-war " Roe- buck" eame up the bay in the last week of March, 1776, accompanied by a tender, and at once there was commotion from Cape Henlopen to Philadelphia. The Pennsylvania Committee of Safety had charge of the fortifications that had been erected above the mouth of the Brandywine, and there had been provided a flotilla of "row- gallies"-large, heavy open boats, the biggest of which required twenty oar men and carried a ten- pounder earronade in the bows. When the Pennsyl- vania committee were notified, on March 27th, by Henry Fisher, of Lewes, that the enemy were in Lewes Road, they ordered four of the armed boats to report to Capt. Barry, of the brigantine "Lexington" (in the Continental service), and " to exert their utmost endeavors to take or destroy all such vessels of the enemy as they might find in the Delaware." Colonel John Haslet, then in com- mand of the Delaware militia, was on the lookout and kept Mr. Read. then president of Congress, fully informed of the progress of affairs, which is detailed in his letter of April 9th :
"I beg leave to inform you that, being well acquainted with the de- fenceless condition of the County of Stesex, on the first intimation of the Roebuck being in the Rowl of Lewes, two compames of the bat- tallion still under my comumand were directed to do duty their, where they still continue. The Commeil of Safety for this government ordered, the militia armis of this county into the hands of the Continental troops
1 It is of the brig " Nancy," Capt. Hugh Montgomery, of Wilmington. that the story is told that she was the first vissel to horst the American colors in a foreign port. In the winter of lito she was charte put tran her owners, Joseph Shalleross and Joseph Tathall, By Robert Morris, and in March, 1776, saded for Porto Rico umier British colors, whete she Isuded Don Antonio Seronta to procure arts and ammunition under a contract with the spanish government. At st. Croix and st. Thomas the munitions of war were secretly shipped, and the vessel was complet- ing her cargo at the latter port in the last week of JJuly. when Captain Montgomery received the news of the declaration of independence. Ile resolved that the brig should now show her true colours, and Thomas Mendenhall, one of the petty others, went to work to make them. on the day set for sailing from st Thomas, the Danh from chor and bis suite, with twenty other resbb nts of the -land, wute tavited on board to dine. As the barges approached with the guests they were andered to halt while a suinte of thirteen guns was fired from the knig, and the colors were run up to the accompaniment of cheers for the National Congress, and shouts of " Down with the Lion, up with the stars and Strijxs !"
In IFFF a brig owned by Joseph Shalleress & Co, no Te haut traders of Wilmington, and commawird by Capt. Hugh Mourgomery, home- ward bound from a foreign port, in order to escape long raptured by the British, was unloaded and her carga concealed at 12: Harbor. Joseph Shalleross was sent word, and, with Bart y Harris, William Windl . K and a number of chip-carpenters, went to reload the west. A squad of British madr an attack of them at might with the design of capturiz Shall ross and Montgomery, Int Fem awakenel in time, they escaped in an quen boat, with British rifle-bulls flying all around them. The darkness of the night alone sived their lives.
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