USA > Delaware > History of the state of Delaware, Volume III > Part 4
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Being seriously wounded in the famous battle of Germantown, he was further incapacitated for active service. Returning to Lewes he renewed the practice of the profession of law, and when just fifty years of age assumed the office of Governor. He served the full constitutional term, retiring in January, 1805. Eight years later, 1813, he was commissioned one of the Associate Justices of the Court of Common Pleas for Sussex County, in which office he served until his death, September 18, 1817. He was buried in the graveyard of the Presbyterian Church at Lewes.
Nathaniel Mitchell was the successor of Governor Hall and thereby became the sixteenth Governor of Delaware. He served the full term from 1805 to 1808. He was a resident of Laurel and made an enviable record as a soldier in the Revo- lution. He served in the thickest of the fight at Brandywine and Germantown with Colonel Patterson's Flying Camp. Three years after the war he was elected a member of the Con- tinental Congress, serving for four years. After the close of his term as Governor, he served as a member for one term of the State House of Representatives. His mother was a sister of General John Dagworthy. He died February 21, 1814, at his home in Laurel and was buried in the graveyard at old Christ Church near that town.
George Truitt was elected by the people the seventeenth Governor of Delaware, and served from January, 1808, to January, 1811. He was a large land-owner and occupied a stately residence on the State road between Felton and Canter- bury. He was a member of the State Convention that rati- fied the Constitution of the United States and the fact that he was a leading and influential citizen in the community where he lived, is shown by his election on four different occasions as a member of the State House of Representatives and once as a member of the State Senate. His only daughter married Dr. James Fisher of Camden, but died early, and there are no descendants of Governor Truitt now living. He died October 8, 1818, in the sixty-second year of his age and was buried on
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his own farm where his remains, together with those of his wife and daughter rested until the spring of 1903 when by resolution of the General Assembly of this State an appropria- tion was made whereby the remains of the Governor and his family were reinterred in the Barratt Chapel Cemetery.
The eighteenth Governor was Joseph Haslet who was the son of Colonel John Haslet of the First Delaware Regiment in the Revolution. The father was of Irish birth, and an early Presbyterian minister, who fell at the Battle of Princeton at the head of his regiment. A native of Kent County, Joseph Haslet learned the trade of watchmaker under Ziba Ferris, in Wilmington, and after gaining his majority settled on a farm in Cedar Creek Hundred in Sussex County. He served as Governor from January, 1811, to January, 1814. His term covered the exciting events of the War of 1812 but he proved himself equal to the occasion and in all respects upheld the dignity of the State in that trying time. After the lapse of eight years he was again elected Governor of the State serving from January, 1823, until June of the same year when he died. He was the only person ever elected, by the people, a second time to the office of Governor in the State.
The contest in the fall of 1813 resulted in the election of Daniel Rodney who became the nineteenth Governor of Dela- ware. He was an inhabitant of Lewes where he was born September 10, 1764. Engaged to some extent in the coasting trade he settled after the War of 1812 in his native town of Lewes, and having married a daughter of Major Henry Fisher, engaged in mercantile pursuits during the remainder of his life. He was a man of fine business ability, taking an active interest in public affairs and serving his State in various capa- cities. He was a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for three years from 1817, twice elected a member of Congress from this State and served for a short while as United States Senator. He died September 2, 1846, and his body was in- terred in the Episcopal churchyard at Lewes.
Governor Rodney was succeeded by John Clark who became
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the twentieth Governor of Delaware on January 21, 1817. He was a Federalist in politics and was the son of William Clark, who commanded a company at the battle of Monmouth in the Revolution. John Clark resided in Appoquinimink Hun- dred near Rothwell's Landing on Duck creek in New Castle county, on a farm which he inherited from his father. His wife was a daughter of John Cook one of the early Governors of Delaware by whom he had one daughter, who married Pennell Corbit of Odessa. Sarah Corbit, a child of this latter marriage, married Anthony M. Higgins the father of Ex- Senator Anthony Higgins, who, in this way, is the great- grandson of Governor Clark. John Clark Higgins, the pres- ent United States Consul at Dundee, Scotland, was named after Governor Clark, and is also his great-grandson. Gov- ernor Clark served the full constitutional term; he died August 14, 1821, and was buried in the old Presbyterian graveyard near Smyrna.
At the election held in November, 1819, Henry Molleston was elected Governor but he died before January of the fol- lowing year, and in his stead Jacob Stout, Speaker of the Senate, became the twenty-first Governor of Delaware and performed the duties of the office from January, 1820, to Jan- uary, 1821. Jacob Stout was born near Leipsic, in Little Creek Hundred in Kent County, in 1764, and lived in that locality until his death in 1855, when he had attained the age of 91 years. He married Angelica, daughter of Chancellor William Killen. He served frequently as a member of the General Assembly, and at the session of the same in 1818 became Speaker of the Senate. He was a leading business man and for many years a director of the Smyrna Bank. He was a progressive farmer, taking the greatest pride in the improve- ment of the many farms owned by him. For some years after retiring from the Governorship he served as one of the Judges of the court of Common Pleas. John R. Nicholson, the pres- ent Chancellor of the State, is a great-grandson of Jacob Stout. Governor Stout was buried in the Presbyterian church- yard at Dover.
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John Collins became the twenty-second Governor of the State of Delaware, by election of the people, in January, 1821. He lived ot Laurel in Sussex County at the time of his election. His father, who was known as Captain John Collins, owned at one time over 2000 acres of land in Nanticoke Hundred, and at his death part of this land descended to his son John, who not only was an active farmer but who was interested in the conduct of a mill and forge in Nanticoke Hundred. He served only fifteen months in the office, dying in April, 1822, during his term.
On the death of John Collins in April, 1822, the office of Governor devolved upon Caleb, Rodney, Speaker of the Senate, who continued to act as Governor until the January following. In that way he became the twenty-third Governor. Caleb Rodney was born at Lowes, April 29, 1767, and during all of his life was a resident of that town. When a young man he engaged in mercantile business and conducted for many years a large wholesale and retail trade. He was a leading man in the community and served frequently as a member of the General Assembly. The store and dwelling at Lewes occupied by Caleb Rodney are still standing, and one of the doors of the house, that bears the mark of a ball by which it was struck during the bombardment of Lewes in the War of 1812, has been preserved to the present time. After retiring from the office of Governor, Caleb Rodney lived quietly in his native town until his death on April 29, 1840, his 73d birthday. His remains lie buried in the Episcopal churchyard at Lewes only a short distance from the store in which he conducted so many years his successful business.
The next, or twenty-fourth Governor, was Joseph Haslet, of whom we have spoken at length heretofore in this chapter. He became governor for a second time by the election of the people, being inaugurated January 15, 1823, but on June 24th of the same year, he died suddenly, after serving only five months of his term.
On the death of Joseph Haslet the duties of the governor-
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ship fell upon Charles Thomas, Speaker of the Senate, and he, as the twenty-fifth Governor of Delaware, exercised the func- tions of the office until January, 1824. Charles Thomas was a resident of New Castle. He was a son of Charles Thomas and Susanna McCallmont, and was born on his father's farm in Dragon Neck in Red Lion Hundred, June 23, 1790. He was educated at Princeton College, studied law under George Read, Jr., and was admitted to the New Castle County Bar in 1813. From 1817 to 1819 he served as a member of the State House of Representatives, and in 1821 was elected a member of the State Senate, and at the session of the Senate in 1823 was elected Speaker. After his retirement from the governorship he never appeared in public life again. He was a man of fine literary attainments, but does not seem to have figured as an active practitioner at the Bar. His mode of living would indicate that he was a man of large wealth. He left one daughter, Eliza Thomas, who died a few years ago in Wilmington. Charles Thomas died February 8, 1848, and was buried in the Presbyterian graveyard at New Castle.
Samuel Paynter became, by election of the people, the twenty-sixth Governor of Delaware in January, 1824. He lived at Drawbridge, Broad Kiln Hundred, Sussex County, where he conducted a large and prosperous mercantile busi- ness. The house in which he dispensed a generous hospi- tality for many years, was, within the last year, burned to the ground. Occupying the position of a prosperous tradesman he exercised a wide influence in the eastern part of Sussex County. In 1818 he was appointed one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas for Sussex County, and five years later was elected Governor. Nearly twenty years after the expiration of his term as Governor, he was elected a member of the State House of Representatives, being then in his seventy-sixth year; and a year later, on October 2, 1845, he died, and his remains were buried in the Episcopal church- yard at Lewes.
The outcome of the election held in the fall of 1826 was the
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selection of Charles Polk as the twenty-seventh Governor of Delaware. Charles Polk was born near Bridgeville in Sussex County, November 14, 1788. He married Mary Purnell of Berlin, Md., and from the marriage sprang a family of fifteen children. He was the fourth in the family line of the name of Charles Polk, and his father having died when he was very young, he attributed whatever success he attained in life to the training of his mother.
After receiving a good education, for that time, he studied law with Kensey Johns, Sr., but never entered actively into the practice of law, preferring the occupation of a husband- man, in which he was very successful. In later life he became the owner of a large tract of land along the Delaware bay shore in Milford Hundred in Kent County and here he resided for many years. He was many times a member of the General Assembly, both from Kent and Sussex counties. He was a Federalist in politics and was elected Governor over David Hazzard. He served a full term as Governor and being after- ward elected to the State Senate, became the Speaker of the Senate in 1836, when by the death of Governor Bennett he again became Governor. He served a term as Register of Wills in Kent County ; was President of the constitutional convention of 1831 and Collector of Customs for the port of Wilmington from 1850 to 1853.
During most of his life he was one of the most active politi- cal factors in the State. He was one of the closest personal and political friends of John M. Clayton, who served as his Secretary of State, and is remembered as an exceedingly affable and delightful gentleman of strikingly handsome ap- pearance, and possessing qualities of mind and character that endeared him to the populace. He is said to have been offered at one time the United States Senatorship from Dela- ware, but declined the offer. He died at his home in Milford Hundred on October 27th, 1857.
The last Governor under the Constitution of 1792 was David Hazzard of Sussex County ; elected by the people in 1829, he
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became the twenty-eighth Governor of Delaware in January, 1830. He was born in Broadkiln Hundred on May 18, 1781. He served as an ensign in Captain Peter Wright's Company in the War of 1812, and in carly life was, for several years, a Justice of the Peace. After the expiration of his term as Gov- ernor he served a term in the State Senate. In 1844 he was appointed one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas, serving for three years. He was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1852, but resigned. His home was in Milton where for many years be commanded the re- spect of the whole community. He was a man of strong religious tendencies and for many years was recognized as one of the leading laymen in the Methodist Church in the State. He died July 8, 1864, at his home in Milton in his eighty- third year.
Caleb P. Bennett, the twenty-ninth Governor, was elected in November, 1832, as a Jackson Democrat, and by a majority of only 57 votes. He was a native of Chester County, Pennsyl- vania, and was born November 11, 1758. When but three years of age, he moved with his father, Captain Joseph Ben- nett, to Wilmington and lived in that city ever after. His father was a sea-faring man sailing a vessel from Wilmington to the West Indies. Governor Bennett's grandmother was Mary Boone, a daughter of the famous Daniel Boone the early Kentucky settler. Both of his parents were members of the Birmingham Friends Meeting, and the Governor always ad- hered to the faith of the Friends.
Young Bennett entered the Delaware regiment in the Revo- lution as a private soldier ; was afterwards promoted to a Ser- geant, and served as ensign in Captain Thomas Holland's Company of David Hall's Delaware Regiment. He fought at Brandywine, was wounded at Germantown, and served until the close of the war, reaching the rank of First Lieutenant. He was with the army at Valley Forge during the trying winter of 1777 and 1778 and at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown was in command of one of the American batteries.
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During the War of 1812 he was commissioned Major of the Delaware State Militia and was in command of the forces at New Castle.
His services as a soldier endeared him to the people and resulted in his election to the Governorship. The only civil office, other than Governor, that he occupied was that of Treasurer of New Castle County, which office he held from 1807 until 1832. He assumed the duties of Governor in January, 1833, and served until July 11th, 1836, when he died. He lived for many years at what is now known as No. 841 Market street, and was buried from there with military honors. He adhered until his death to the old-fashioned style of dress, consisting of low shoes, silver knee and shoe- buckles, long silk stockings, white kid breeches, velvet coat with brass buttons, ruffled shirt-bosom, powdered hair and cue. He was buried in the graveyard adjoining the Friends' meeting-house at Fourth and West streets, in the City of Wilmington.
On the death of Governor Bennett, Charles Polk, the Speaker of the Senate, succeeded to the place and became the acting Governor, serving from July 11th, 1836, until January, 1837. In this way Charles Polk became the thirtieth Governor of Delaware, and it will be recalled that he served a full term, from 1827 to 1830, and a full sketch of him appeared heretofore in its regular order.
The thirty-first Governor was Cornelius P. Comegys, who served the full term from January, 1837, to January, 1841. He was the son of Cornelius Comegys, whose ancestors settled on the Chester river, in Maryland, about the middle of the seventeenth century. Governor Comegys was twice married, his first wife being Ann, the daughter of Benjamin Blackiston, of Duck Creek Hundred. She lived but a short time, and his second wife was Ruhamah, the daughter of John Marim, who lived near Dover, and in 1804 they moved to the family seat of the Marims in St. Jones Neck, where they lived for many years.
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Governor Comegys was a most hospitable man, with popu- lar qualities, and he held many positions of honor and trust in the State. During the War of 1812 he served successively as major, lieutenant-colonel and adjutant-general. He was several times a member of the General Assembly, and served more than once as Speaker of the House. He was for many years a State Director of the Farmers' Bank at Dover, and for some time its cashier. He also served as State Treasurer.
He was the father of a large family, among whom were the Honorable Joseph P. Comegys, who became a distinguished lawyer, and served for nearly twenty years as Chief Justice of the State ; Benjamin B. Comegys, who attained the very highest rank as a financier in the city of Philadelphia, serv- ing as a director of the Pennsylvania railroad and as President of the Philadelphia National Bank. Another son, Cornelius G. Comegys, settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, and ranked high as a medical practitioner ; and a fourth son, John M. Comegys, D. D. S., became a skillful and successful dentist, spending his latter days at Dover. Governor Comegys was elected as a Whig, and was a devoted friend and adherent of John M. Clayton. Both he and his sons were strong and vigorous, both mentally and physically, and he was always considered an ideal type of the educated farmer and generous, free-hearted gentleman. He died at Dover January 27, 1851.
William B. Cooper became the thirty-second Governor by election of the people, and occupied the office for a full term, from January, 1841, to January, 1845. He was born and lived all of his life near the present town of Laurel. He, too, was an educated man, and is described as "being polished in manners with intellectual gifts of a high order and a fascin- ,ating conversationalist." He served one term as a member of the State House of Representatives, and in 1817 was appointed one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas for Sussex County. He is remembered as a man of great force of char- acter and a leading and influential man in the neighborhood in which he lived. He died April 27, 1848, in the seventy- eighth year of his age.
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After a vigorous campaign in the fall of 1844 Thomas Stockton was elected the thirty-third Governor of Delaware. He was the oldest son of John Stockton, and was born April 1, 1781. The father made a fine record as a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and served as Brigadier-General of the State Militia in the War of 1812, being in command when the British landed at the head of Elk. Governor Stockton mar- ried Fidelia Rogerson Johns, daughter of Chancellor Kensey Johns, the elder.
He was educated at Princeton College and afterwards set- tled in New Castle where he lived during the remainder of his life. He served as Prothonotary of New Castle County from 1810 to 1812, but resigned that office to join the Dela- ware volunteers in the War of 1812. Shortly afterwards he was commissioned a Captain in the United States army and proceeding to the Canadian frontier he distinguished himself in the battle of Fort George. During the war of 1812 he rose to the rank of Major and was in command of the American forces at Lewes.
Retiring from the army in 1825, he returned to New Castle, and on January 18, 1832, he was appointed Register in Chan- cery for New Castle County, and held that office until June 1, 1835. In November, 1844, he was elected Governor over William Tharp by a majority of forty-four. After serving in the office but a year and two months he died suddenly on March 2, 1846, and was buried in Immanuel church-yard in New Castle. He was the father of six children, one of whom, Miss Fidelia R. Stockton, died a few months ago at New Castle. Two of his sons rendered meritorious service in the army. The family has always shown a remarkable military spirit.
On the death of Governor Stockton, Joseph Maull, Speaker of the Senate, succeeded to the office, and became the thirty- fourth Governor. After occupying the office for six weeks, he was stricken with an illness which ended his life on May 3, 1846. Joseph Maull was born in Pilottown, at Lewes,
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September 6, 1781. He studied medicine under Doctor Wolfe, a well-known practitioner of that day, and for many years was a practicing physician in Broadkiln and adjoining Hun- dreds with his residence at Milton. He was frequently called upon to serve his State both as a member of the General As- sembly and in other capacities, and was during his entire life a leading citizen of eastern Sussex.
William Temple became the acting Governor (the thirty- fifth in succession) on the death of acting Governor Joseph Maull, as Speaker of the House of Representatives, and his term continued until January, 1847. Governor Temple at that time, and for several years preceding, had been a pros- perous merchant in Smyrna. He was a native of Queen Anne's county, Maryland, where he was born February 28th, 1814, but came to Smyrna when about eighteen years of age. In his very early days he showed a decided interest in political affairs in espousing the principles of the Whig party and became a leader in the same.
He had hardly reached his majority when he was elected a member of the State House of Representatives and was more than once re-elected to that branch of the Assembly and later to the State Senate. In 1862 he was elected, as a Democrat, as representative in Congress from Delaware, but died before he took his seat in Congress. His death occurred in May, 1863. An obituary written at that time says : "He was em- phatically a man of the world, possessing those rare qualities calculated to win every man and repel none. Frank, gener- ous, familiar and courteous, he possessed the key to unlock the hearts of men and blend their interests with his in the prose- cution of the public interest. Certainly he was a very pure- minded, honorable man, a man of soul and feeling, a friend of all and a great help to many in times of need."
William Tharp, who was the thirty-sixth Governor, was born November 27th, 1803, and was a grandson of John Tharp who came from Sussex County, England, and was one of the earliest settlers in Kent County, Delaware. His early life
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was spent near Farmington, and that was his residence when he was elected Governor. After his election he moved to Milford, at which place he spent the remainder of his life. Governor Tharp was a large land-owner, much of his land being cleared up and improved under his own supervision, and he was regarded as a very successful and progressive farmer. He was a strong man intellectually, a substantial citizen, prom- inent in his community and highly respected by all the people. His life, which was both useful and successful, ended on January 1st, 1865. He occupied a full term as Governor.
The election of William H. Ross as the thirty-seventh Governor in 1850 called to that exalted position the youngest man who had ever been chosen for the place. The campaign leading up to his election was an animated one, in which the leading cry of his political associates was " Ross, Riddle and Reform." Much enthusiasm marked the campaign, and both Ross and George Read Riddle, his associate on the ticket for representative in Congress, were elected by substantial majori- ties. While young in years, he brought with him to the office qualifications and attainments that eminently fitted him for the place. He possessed strong natural ability and was a man of extensive reading.
His birthplace was at Laurel, and he lived there from the time of his birth, June 2, 1814, until 1845, when he removed to Seaford, which became his permanent home. He showed a fondness for foreign travel, and having succeeded in business he was able to gratify his inclination in that regard, and both before and after his term as Governor he traveled entensively abroad. He filled the office with great acceptability, and was but forty years of age when, at the expiration of his term as Governor, he retired to private life. He left at his death three sons, all of whom have continued to live in the vicinity of Seaford and are leading and representative citizens of the State.
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