USA > Delaware > Sussex County > Some records of Sussex County, Delaware > Part 31
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The Committee appª in April last with the same power then given were Contd except John H. Burton in whose place John Marshall was Chosen for the ensuing year. At the same time Governor Paynter, John Marshall, and John Rodney, Jr., were appd to meet other delegates of the different Congre- gations, to Consider the propriety of procuring a Pastor to Officiate in the Churches lately under the charge of the Rev. Mr. Pleasants.
January 10th, 1838 .- At a meeting of the Wardens and Vestry, it was Resolved that three Delegates be appointed to meet the Delegates from the other parishes at George Town on Tuesday next, to take measures for procuring the services of a Clergyman.
Col. Samuel Paynter, George Parker, Jr., and Henry F. Rodney were appointed.
Resolved that the Treasurer of this parish be authorized to pay its quota of the expense of the present Visit of the Rev. Mr. McKim.
The Delegates above appª met others from Indian River, Dagsboro and George Town, and agreed to receive the Rev. Mr. McKim as their Minister, and make up a reasonable, or adequate compensation for him.
Easter Monday, April 16th, 1838 .- There being but a small meeting the officers appª for last year will be con- tinued this year, viz .: Daniel Rodney and George Parker, Wardens. Vestry: George Parker, Jr., George Hickman, Thomas Coleman, Albert Burton, John H. Burton, John Rod- ney, Junr., Robert Burton, Samuel Paynter, William Mar- shall, Sr., William Paynter, John Marshall, David J. Mar- shall-12. Trustees :- Danl. Rodney, Saml. Paynter, Thomas Coleman, George Parker, Senr., George Hickman, Cornelius Paynter, Rev. Mr. McKim, Pastor.
March the 9th, 1839 .- Several advertisements were put up in public places for the Election of a Trustee in the place of William Burton, Esq., decd. Elect" to take place Thursday, March 21st.
March 21st .- Trustees present as below, also Vestry Wm. & John Marshall, Albt. Burton, John H. Burton, Thomas
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SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY.
Norman, S. John Rody, &c., at which time it was resolved that an action of Trespass be brought agt. Ferdinand Schey, for encroaching on the Church yard or Burying Ground of St. Peter's, Lewes.
GEORGE PARKER, DANL. RODNEY, SAMUEL PAYNTER, ROBERT BURTON.
Easter Monday, April 1st, 1839 .- Officers continued in office Samuel Paynter and Robert Burton were appointed Lay Delegates to represent Saint Peter's church in the State Convention to be held at Seaford in May next.
September 26th, 1839 .- At a meeting of the Wardens, Vestry, &c., of Saint Peter's Church, held pursuant to a Public Notice, it was resolved unanimously to call the Rev. Mr. Whitesides, who has lately paid a visit here from Philada. as Rector of Saint Peter's Church, and guarantee the sum of two hundred dollars, certain-and any further sum that can be raised beside the said $200,0 0 100 as our part of his salary for one year.
2d. Resolved that this meeting request that each of the parishes, viz .: Dagsboro, George Town & Saint George's Chapel should act upon the proposition as soon as possibly convenient, and say what certain sum each Congregation would give for the support of the said Rev. Mr. Whitesides and forward the same to the Wardens of Saint Peter's Church at this place, to be by them forwarded to the Rev. Mr. Whitesides. Provided that those Parishes should agree to call the said Clergyman, and in case a union can not be made with the said Parishes (as has been heretofore) then it is recommended that this Parish try to effect a union with Milford.
Easter Monday, April 20th, 1840 .- The same Wardens, Vestry, and Trustees continued in office.
Samuel Paynter and Robert Burton were appointed to represent this church in the Convention to be held in Milford -and John Rodney and John H. Burton also appointed in case either or both of the other delegates could not attend. At the same time John Rodney was appointed the Treasurer of Saint Peter's church in the place of George Parker, Jr., who was not in attendance at the meeting this day.
Wednesday, October 28th, 1840 .- At a meeting then held pursuant to regular notice given with regard to the calling of
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VESTRY RECORDS.
a Minister, it was then agreed after due deliberation, to call the Rev. John Reynolds, now living in Milford, Kent County, Delaware, provided a full majority of the Vestry & Ward- ens should sign a call of invitation to the said Rev. John Reynolds for said purpose. A letter of Invitation was then agreed to be made out and a copy recorded below, viz .:
"LEWES, SUSSEX COUNTY, DEL. "Nov. 2, 1840
"REVD. JOHN REYNOLDS
"DEAR SIR :- We the undersigned wardens, and a majority of the - Vestry men of Saint Peter's church in Lewes Sussex County Delar are desirous of having regularly preformed in said Saint Peter's church -The divine services of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Do here- by respectfully offer to your consideration the following proposition, Namely, that you take into your charge the said Saint Peter's Church and perform Episcopal services in the same every other Sunday for one year.
"For which we do agree to pay you the sum of One Hundred and Seventy Five Dollars, certain per annum, and do Further promise to increase that sum to two Hundred Dollars provided that it can be raised by subscription.
"DANL RODNEY "GEORGE PARKER Wardens "JOHN MARSHALL "ALBERT BURTON
"WILLIAM PAYNTER
"GEORGE PARKER JR. "JOHN RODNEY
"JOHN H. BURTON
"WILLIAM MARSHALL "ROBERT BURTON "DAVID J. MARSHALL" Vestry Men
N. B .- This above call of invitation was accordingly ac- cepted by the said Revª John Reynolds.
Feb. 23d, 1841 .- Capt. Wm. Brock Dr. for Burying his child in the yard this day $1.50.
March 27th, 1841 .- Capt. Wm. Brock gave bond to Saint Peter's Church for Ninety two & 80 Dollars, for property on Market St.
Easter Monday, April 12th, 1841 .- At a meeting held this day in Saint Peter's church Albert Burton was called to the Chair and John Rodney appointed Secty.
Owing to the unfavorable state of the weather there were but few persons present, no business transacted and no election.
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SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY.
Resolved to adjourn until Saturday afternoon next at 2 Oclock.
Saturday afternoon, two Oclock, April 17th, 1841 .- The members of the church met pursuant to adjournment Daniel Rodney was called to the Chair and John Rodney appointed Secretary.
Present at this meeting, Vizt. Daniel Rodney, John H. Burton, Joshua S. Burton, William Skellinger, David J. Marshall, Albert Burton, Robert Burton, George Hickman, Thomas Norman, Richard Paynter, Peter Warrington, John Rodney.
The following persons were appointed as lay delegates to represent this church in the State Convention to be held at George Town in May next, Vizt. Col. Samuel Paynter and Robert Burton, and George Parker Jr. was also appointed in case either of the other delegates could not attend.
On Motion Resolved that this meeting go into the election of a Vestry by Ballot, whereupon the following persons were elected Viz. George Parker Jr., John H. Burton, David J. Marshall, Albert Burton, John Marshall, Robert Burton, William Skellinger, John Rodney, Wm. Paynter, Nicholas R. Rodney and George Hickman.
Samuel Paynter and William Marshall were also chosen. The Wardens, Daniel Rodney & George Parker Sen".
Easter Monday, March 28th, 1842 .- At a meeting held this day in Saint Peter's Church Rev. John Reynolds took the chair, and John H. Burton was appointed Secretary.
The Wardens and Vestry were continued with the addition of Dr. William Harris as Vestryman.
Col. Samuel Paynter and John Rodney were elected Dele- gates to attend the Diocesan Convention to be held at Wil- mington in next May-and Robert Burton and John Marshall were elected as substitutes.
April 7th, 1842 .-- At a meeting of the Trustees of St. Peter's church held this day, Present Daniel Rodney, Samuel Paynter, George Hickman, and Robert Burton. It was unanimously that the Treasurer of the Trustees of this church shall not pay out any monies without a written order signed by a majority of the Trustees.
Easter Monday, April 17th, 1843 .- At a meeting of the Con- gregation of Saint Peter's church held in said Church this day, Daniel Rodney Esq. was called to the Chair, and Dr. William Harris appointed Secretary.
-
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VESTRY RECORDS.
On motion it was resolved that. the meeting go into an election for a Warden to supply the place of Mr. George Parker Sen decd., by ballot.
George Parker Jr. was duly elected in his place. Daniel Rodney was re-elected for the other Warden.
It was resolved to reduce the number of Vestrymen from 12 to 8.
The following persons were elected: Samuel Paynter, William Marshall, sen', John H. Paynter, John Marshall, John H. Burton, William Paynter, Albert Burton, John Rodney.
Col. Samuel Paynter and Robert Burton were appointed delegates to the Diocesan Convention to be held in Smyrna in May next and George Parker and John Rodney were elected as substitutes.
Saint Peter's church, Wednesday, January 3d, 1844 .- At a meeting of the Vestry pursuant to a notice being given. Col. Samuel Paynter, Daniel Rodney, William Marshall, sen". John H. Burton, Albert Burton & John Rodney, also, the Sex- ton of the said church, Thomas Norman. The object of the meeting being stated, vizt. for the consideration of the calling of a regular minister, and fixing on some sum of money (certain) for his support &c $15020, was promised (certain) for the services of the Rev. Walter E. Franklin, the present Missionary of the Parish, or for the services of the Rev. John Linn McKim, who is shortly expected to come into the County of Sussex and take charge of some Parishes in the same; for the selection of either we do hereby leave to the Direction of the Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Alfred Lee, D. D., or to the Bishop and the said Clergyman, as it may best seem for the good of the Church in our said County, trusting that it will be so arranged that peace and good will may again dwell amongst us.
The meeting then adjourned to Wednesday the 24th after arranging to have a new fence on the Northwest side of the Church yard.
Easter Monday, April 8th, 1844 .- At a meeting of the con- gregation held in the church this day Daniel Rodney was called to the Chair and John Rodney chosen Secretary.
John Rodney was elected a Trustee in the place of George Parker sent decd and John H. Burton was elected Trustee in the place of Thomas Coleman. Col. Samuel Paynter was elected Warden in the place of George Parker Jr. decd.
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SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY.
The Wardens are considered as Vestrymen.
Col. Samuel Paynter and Robert Burton were appointed Lay Delegates to represent this parish in the Diocesan Con- vention to be held in this town of Lewes in May next.
John Marshall and John H. Burton were appointed as substitutes.
Easter Monday, 1845.
"RESPECTED FRIENDS
"This being the day observed by the Church for a hundred years past to make appointments and fill up vacancies &c. I think it is proper to inform you, that I am from age, and personal infirmities, unable to attend our meetings a Chairman, of the Trustees, and Wardens. I do therefore resign the aforesaid offices, the first of which I have held since 1795 when Mr. John Russel removed from Lewes.
The Books, Papers, &c I have delivered over to Mr. John Rodney, to lay before you. There will be several vacancies of Trustees, which you know will require ten days notice to the Congregation
"I am yours most affectionately
"DANL RODNEY
"TO THE WARDEN, VESTRY AND CONGREGATION OF ST. PETER'S."
By resolution the above was not accepted.
Easter Monday, March 23d, 1845 .- The following were con- tinued in office : Wardens Daniel Rodney and Col. Samuel Paynter. Vestry: Daniel Rodney, William Marshall sen". John Marshall, Albert Burton, Col. Samuel Paynter, John P. Paynter, John H. Burton, John Rodney.
William P. Orr was elected in the place of William Paynter decd who departed this life March 19, 1845.
May, 1845 .- A meeting was held in Saint Peter's Church according to notice. A request of the Rector the Rev. John A. Childs who has been duly received.
Delegates to the Convention to be held in Wilmington the last Wednesday of this month, vizt Col. Samuel Paynter and Robert Burton. Substitutes John Rodney and John H. Burton.
April 11th, 1846 .- At a meeting of the Congregation of St. Peter's Church Lewes, held according to notice given as the Law directs, the Hon. Dan1 Rodney was called to the Chair, and John H. Burton was appointed Secretary. On motion it was Resolved to fill the vacancies in the Board of Trustees occasioned by the nonacceptance of John Rodney, and the death of the Hon. Samuel Paynter. Whereupon they pro- ceeded to ballot for two Trustees, and on counting the ballots
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VESTRY RECORDS.
William Marshall and William P. Orr were found to have an unanimous vote and declared to be elected.
The Hon. Daniel Rodney having left the chair it was on motion Resolved that the resignation of the Hon. Daniel Rodney be not accepted, and that he be continued in office.
Easter Monday, April 13th, 1846 .- Delegates for the Con- vention to be held at Milford in May, Robert Burton and John Rodney.
John H. Burton and William P. Orr as substitutes.
On motion, Resolved that liberty be given to inter in the Burial Ground of Saint Peter's Church, the remains of the late Nathan Kingsberry, without charge, on account of his former connection with this church as Rector.
"Easter Monday, April, 1847 .- Congregational meeting, the Rev. John A. Childs, Rector, in the chair. Alfred P. Robinson was appointed Secretary. Warders: Robert Bur- ton, William P. Orr. Vestry: William Marshall, John Mar- shall, Alfred P. Robinson, Joshua S. Burton, John Rodney.
"Robert Burton and Wm. P. Orr were appointed Delegates to represent this church in Convention to be held in George- town May next.
"The following was offered and adopted:
"'Whereas it hath pleased Divine Providence to remove from our midst the Hon. Daniel Rodney, for many years and at his death Warden and Chairman of the Trustees, be it Resolved
"'That while expressing due resignation to the Divine Disposal of events, they are deeply sensible of the loss they have lately sustained.
"'Resolved That a copy of this preamble and resolution be presented to the family of the deceased.'
"ALFRED P. ROBINSON Secty."
At a special meeting May 10, 1847, the following preamble and resolution was read and offered:
"Whereas by an act passed Feb. 25, 1843 the words Rec- tors, Wardens and Vestrymen are said to be taken and applied to the word 'Trustees' in the former act of incorporation, and all the lawful powers in them vested, be it Resolved, That the powers of the said Trustees are hereby vested in the Wardens and Vestry of this church."
On motion it was Resolved
"The the Wardens and Vestry of this Church, be and are hereby elected Trustees of the same."
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SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY.
November 6th, 1847 .- Called Meeting. Whereas by a change of the powers heretofore vested in the Trustees, into Rector, Wardens, and Vestry, the office of Treasurer is now vacant. William P. Orr was appointed Treasurer. 1 At the meeting Easter Monday, April 24th, 1848, a letter from the Rev. Aaron Freeman recommending the Rev. John Colhoun, was read.
"At a meeting of the Wardens and Vestry Nov. 3, 1848, steps were taken towards raising money for a new church. The present building is the result of that resolution. The Vestry & Congregation of St. Peter's Church met Saturday, May 15, 1852, in accordance to previous public notice. Whereupon John Marshall was called to the Chair and Wm. M. L. Richards appointed Secretary.
"The object of the meeting being to take the sense of the Congregation in regard to the sale of the old church building which was about to be effected under a resolution of the Vestry at a previous meeting, was fully stated. A letter was then read from Mary King to the Vestry offering to pur- chase the building for $300.00; to be paid in sums of $100.00 annual payments by means of public fairs for that purpose; or $400.00 if an additional year be allowed for the payment.
"This proposition having been considered of no importance toward the attainment of the object designed, no action was accordingly taken upon it.
"Afterwards a motion was made by Wm. M. Hickman that the meeting approve of the course of the Vestry and Com- mittee touching the matter of the church building, which was negatived.
· "Additionally to the above motion, it was resolved that the church building be retained and be repaired by enlarg- ing and modernizing its construction in the manner deemed most advisable to the committee formerly appointed by the Vestry and that the congregation will approve the course of the committee in the matter.
"WM. M. L. RICHARDS, Secty.
-
CAPE HENLOPEN LIGHTHOUSE.
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MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS.
MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS.
A LOST SETTLEMENT OF THE DELAWARE.
PLOCKHOY'S COLONY, WHICH THE BRITISH WIPED OUT. RESEARCHES OF THE PENNSYLVANIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY THROW LIGHT ON PLOCKHOY'S ATTEMPT-THE SITE OF THE SETTLEMENT WAS NEAR LEWES, DEL.
(By Dr. George G. Groff.)
In making a report to the British Ministers in 1664, Sir Robert Carr, Governor of New York, wrote that he had "destroyed the quak- ing colony of Plockhoy to a nail." We know that the Dutch and English were then at war; that Carr visited the Delaware river to de- stroy the Dutch forts, and that it was on this river that he found and destroyed the colony of Plockhoy. But who was this Plockhoy? Who were the colonists? Where was the colony planted? For 200 years there was absolutely no answer to those queries. Now, through the researches of members of the Pennsylvania Historical Society, and especially of the Honorable Samuel W. Pennypacker, the archives in Holland have been made to yield their hidden secrets, and we know the purpose and end of Plockhoy's colony, and of the man himself.
In the various Government documents of the New Netherlands possession of the Delaware or South river is claimed from "primitive times," "ancient times," for "many years," the earliest date for the establishment of any Dutch trading station being given as 1598 by adventurers of the Dutch Greenland Company, who, it is claimed, built forts both on the North (Hudson) and on the South (Delaware) rivers. From this date, until finally driven out by the English, the Dutch seem to have maintained stations on the river, and since there often were married men, with their families, in the stations, they may be considered permanent settlements.
In 1609 Henry Hudson visited the Delaware and in 1610 Lord Delaware. Cornelius Mey made his settlement in 1624; DeVries founded his first colony in 1630 and the second in 1631. New Albion, by Lord Clowden, was founded (if any settlements were ever made) in 1634. In 1635, and again in 1640, 1641 and 1642 the Connecticut people made determined efforts to found settlements on this river. In 1638 the Swedes made their first settlements. Then there is a mysterious Minesink settlement, which is claimed to have been made "shortly after 1609."
PETER CORNELIUS PLOCKHOY.
In 1662 Peter Cornelius Plockhoy, a Mennonite, of Zierik Zee, Holland, after unsuccessful applications to Cromwell, Lord Protector of England, 1658, and to the English Parliament in 1659, obtained from the States General of the United Netherlands and the Magis-
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SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY.
trates of Amsterdam permission and aid to establish a colony, or community, in New Netherlands. On June 6, 1662, he entered into an agreement with the Burgomasters of Amsterdam to take twenty- five Mennonites to the South river. One hundred guilders were ad- vanced to each colonist, and the colony was to be free from taxes for twenty years.
The settlement was made on the Hoorn Kill, near the town of Lewes, Del., on the same site on which had been planted the first unfortunate colony of DeVries, 1630, which was totally destroyed by the Indians. The place was called Swanendael, or "Valley of the Swans," by the first colony. In Plockhoy's prospectus the place is referred to as "Swanendael, where Osset had his throne." Osset being the Governor of DeVries colony when it was destroyed by. the Indians. The prospectus says :
"New Netherlands 's the flower, the noblest of all lands. The birds obscure the sky, so numerous in their flight; The animals roam wild and flatten down the ground, The fish swarm in the waters and exclude the light, The oysters there, than which no better can be found, Are piled up heap upon heap, until islands they attain, And vegetation clothes the forest, mead and plain."
"No LORDSHIP OR SERVILE SLAVERY."
It was on the bank of the Delaware that the Declaration of Inde- pendence was promulgated. It was here that the first treaty was made with the Indians which was never broken. It was here that the first united protest against African slavery was made, while the English and Dutch were actively engaged in the slave trade. And here, only three years after a Massachusetts court decreed that the Quakers, Daniel and Provided Southwick, should be sold into slavery in the Barbadoes, Peter Cornelius Plockhoy established his colony in which "no lordship or servile slavery " should ever burden the people. It endured but two short years, and was then destroyed by Carr, as above stated. Plockhoy's colony was a community settlement, and his ideas, published in two letters to Cromwell, an address to the English Parliament and in the prospectus for his colony, show him to have been a man far in advance of his age, the forerunner of Robert Owen, Charles Fourier and Robert Bellers. Two fundamental ideas were at the basis of his community, namely, equality and association. He advocated unity in the Church. "In the Church differences of opinion can be permitted, but brotherhood and unity possess them all." He urged complete separation of Church and State, and that "the common life must again rest upon righteousness, upon love and upon brotherly union."
PLAN OF THE COMMUNITY.
The title page to Plockhoy's prospectus, taken from the Hon. Samuel W. Pennypacker's history of Germantown, reads:
"Short and clear plan, serving as a mutual contract to lighten the labor and anxiety and trouble of all kinds of handicrafts men by the establishment of a community or colony on the South river, in New Netherlands, comprising agriculturists, seafaring men, all kinds of necessary tradespeople and masters of good arts and sciences, under
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MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS.
the protection of their High Mightinesses, the Lords-State-General of the United Netherlands, and particularly under the favorable auspices of the Honorable Magistrates of the City of Amsterdam, de- pending upon the privileges of their Honors, as hereinafter set forth, granted for the purpose. Brought together by Peter Cornelius Plockhoy, of Zierik Zee, for himself and other lovers of New Nether- land. Amsterdam, 1662." This prospectus provided that members might dwell in their own homes and improve them as they saw fit: each one was to labor six hours each day in some useful occupation; profits were to be divided to each person over 20 years of age; officers were to be elected by ballot each year, but no officer could succeed himself. The only officers provided for were a director and two bookkeepers. The funds of the community were to be kept in a strong box, with three different locks, each officer having a key to a single lock, so that the funds could be handled only when all three were present, a plan now pursued by the Friends with church funds. Only those goods were common which were produced by the six hours of required labor. Children were all required to attend the common school half of each day, and to work at some trade the other half of the day; in this school no human formulas of religion, but only the Holy Scriptures, natural sciences and similar instruction enabling them to rightly use their reason, were to be taught. No foundation of sect or partisanship was to be laid in their hearts. (It would al- most seem that Girard drew his rules for his college from Plockhoy.) Those who could not conscientiously bear arms in self-defence were to pay a contribution, in case the same were needed for the defence of the community. In matters of religion there was to be full free- dom of conscience. No member of the community should be servant or servant maid, yet strangers could be employed at a wage. No lord or slave was to be tolerated in the community. Members were free to withdraw at any time and receive their share of the profits. Members were permitted to marry in the community or out of it, as they saw fit.
THE TRAGIC ENDING.
The colony was planted at Swanendael. Two years later it was totally destroyed. There is absolutely no record of what became of the colonists, except the founder and his wife. Of them Judge Penny- packer says: "In the near 1694 there came an old blind man and his wife to Germantown. His miserable condition awakened the tender sympathies of the Mennonites there. They gave him the citizenship free of charge. They set apart for him at the end street of the village, by Peter Klever's corner, a lot twelve rods long and one rod wide, whereon to build a little house and to make a garden, which should be his, so long as he and his wife should live. In front of it they planted a tree. Jan Daeden and William Rittenhouse were appointed to take up a 'free will offering,' and to have the little house built. This is all we know, but it is surely a satisfaction to see this ray of sunshine thrown upon the brow of the hapless old man as he neared his grave. After thirty years of untraced wanderings upon these wild shores, friends had come across the sea to give a home at last to one whose whole life had been devoted to the welfare of others. It was Peter Cornelius Plockhoy. What recognition may hereafter be
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