USA > Delaware > Sussex County > Some records of Sussex County, Delaware > Part 32
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SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY.
awarded his career cannot be foretold. His efforts resulted in what the world called failure, and for 200 years he has slept in the greatest obscurity. Yet when we compare him with his contemporaries, with the courtiers, Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir William Berkeley, with Cotton Mather, inciting the magistrates to hang old women for imagi- nary crimes, and see him wrestling with Cromwell, not for his own gain, but for the help of the downtrodden and the poor, teaching the separation of the Church and the state, protesting against the injuring the minds of children by dogma, and with so clear a sense of justice that even the vicious, when driven from the community, were to re- ceive their share of the possessions, we cannot help but recognize his merit and intelligence, and feel for him that sympathy that makes us all akin. When we find him, first of all the colonizers of America, so long ago as 1662, announcing the broad principle that 'no lordship or servile slavery shall burden our company,' he seems to grow into heroic proportions. Whatever else may happen, certain it is that the events of the life of one whose work marks the very beginning of the literature and history of the ten millions of people who now live in the States along the Zuid river must always be of keen interest to them and to their descendants."
LEWISBURG, PA.
THE BOMBARDMENT OF LEWES BY THE BRITISH
APRIL 6 AND 7, 1813.
March 13th, 1813, the Bay was blockaded by three frigates of seventy-four guns each and smaller vessels. The frigates Poitiers, Belvidere, had been sent from Norfolk.
One of the papers speaking of arrival of the fleet says :-
"Our inhabitants are in a great state of alarm. On Saturday a British seventy-four came into the Delaware, and is now about ten miles within the Capes. On Monday a frigate anchored alongside. Last night, at twelve o'clock, two of the Cape May Pilot-boats were driven in Maurice River and captured by the enemy."
The militia was assembled on the coast.
In a letter to a friend in Baltimore dated March 20th, General Green says :--
"We have a British fleet at the Capes of the Delaware. They have burned several vessels and taken others. We have had an engage- ment with them from the shore. Our ammunition gave out, or we would have prevented from burning the Charleston packet. They had four large boats full of men, and came within two hundred yards . of the shore. I am now on my way to Lewistown, where there are one thousand men under arms. We have men sufficient to prevent them from landing, but we are in want of ammunition, which we shall be supplied with in a few days."
Shortly after the arrival of the British fleet, its commander, Commodore J. Beresford, sent the following letter "to the first magistrate of Lewistown."
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MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS.
"SIR :- As soon as you receive this, I must request you will send twenty live bullocks, with a proportionate quantity of vegetables and hay, to the Poitiers, for the use of his Brittanic Majesty's Squadron, now at this anchorage, which shall be immediately paid for at the Philadelphia prices.
"If you refuse to comply with this request, I shall be, under the necessity of destroying your town."
If the first magistrate of Lewes had sent the supplies, it would have cost him his life. It, the letter, was sent to Gov- ernor Haslet at Dover. He immediately left Dover and came to Lewes. In a letter to the British Commodore dated March 23d in a reply to the letter sent to the first magistrate, Governor Haslet says :-
"As Governor of the State of Delaware, and as commander of its military force, I improve the earliest time afforded me, since my arrival at this place, of acknowledging the receipt of your letter to the chief magistrate of Lewes.
"The respect which generous and magnanimous nations, even when they are enemies, take pride in cherishing towards each other, enjoins it upon me as a duty I owe the State over which I have the honor at this time to preside, to the government of which this State is a mem- ber, and to the civilized world, to enquire of you whether upon further and more mature reflection, you continue resolved to attempt the destruction of this town."
Beresford replied the same day as follows :-
"In reply to your letter received today, by a flag of truce, in an- swer to mine of the 16th inst., I have to observe, that the demand?I have made upon Lewistown is, in my opinion, neither ungenerous nor wanting in that magnimity which one nation ought to observe with another with which it is at war. It is in my power to destroy your town, and the request I have made upon it, as the price of its security, is neither distressing nor unusual. I must therefore persist, and whatever sufferings may fall upon the inhabitants of Lewes must be attributed to yourselves by not complying with a request so easily acquiesced in."
Not until April 7th did Beresford make the attack. One of the newspapers of that day says :-
"Commodore Beresford would seem to have suddenly altered his mind with respect to burning down Lewistown, to make a fire to roast the Delaware oxen by. It would be too offensive to suppose a British officer would threaten without meaning to make good his word. But certain it is that the Commodore has fallen into a dilemma, which 'his friends' at the coffee house have not explained. Delaware beef is highly seasoned, and if served up with forced meat balls, might not prove as palatable to this nautical hero as the beef of old Eng- land."
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SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY.
At last the attack was made. Colonel Davis' despatch to the Governor says :-
"This evening the Belvidere and two small vessels came close into Lewes and commenced an attack by firing several thirty-two pound shot into the town, which have been picked up; after which a flag was sent, to which the following reply was returned :--
" 'SIR :- I reply to the renewal of your demand, with the addition for "a supply of water," I have to inform you, that neither can be com- plied with. This, too, you must be sensible of; therefore I must insist the attack on the inhabitants of this town is both wanton and cruel. I have the honor to be your most obedient servant
"'S. B. DAVIS
" 'Colonel Commandant.'"'
One Captain R. Byron seemed deputed by Beresford to continue the correspondence for supplies. He says:
" No dishonor can be attached in complying with the demand of Sir John Beresford to Lewes in consideration of his superior force. I must, therefore, consider your refusal to supply the squadron with water, and the cattle that the neighborhood affords, most cruel, upon your part, to its inhabitants. I grieve for the distress of the women and children are reduced to by your conduct, and earnestly desire they may be instantly removed."
Colonel Davis answered that he had already taken care of the ladies.
The attack was made immediately, "and continued till near ten o'clock. The fire from our battery silenced one of their most dangerous gunboats, against which I directed the fire from an eighteen-pounder, for which I request you (the Governor) will immediately send me a supply of shot and powder, as it is uncertain how long the bombardment will continue. They have not succeeded with their bombs in reaching the town, and the damages from their thirty- two-pounders and canister cannot be ascertained until daylight."
A letter sent from Dover, April 7th, to the Baltimore Federal Gazette, says:
"When the bombardment began, two eighteen-pounders were serviceable, but without ball; two nine-pounders, ball too large; there were but fifteen casks of powder.
"One of the eighteen-pounders mounted on the 6th played on a sloop and silenced its guns.
"Our men behaved well; the women and children left the garrison; the Belvidere came within two miles of the town, too close for her shot to fall in it; the smaller vessels sent balls flying over the town.
"On the fifth of April there were 286 men, 418 muskets complete; 8000 cartridges; 25 bags of grape-shot; 15 kegs of powder; 2270
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MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS.
flints; 41 twelve-pound balls; 88 nine-pound ball; 167 six-pound ball; 216 four-pound ball; 434 kegs of lead; 2 eighteen-pounders, one mounted; 2 nine-pounders, badly mounted; 4 six-pounders, badly mounted; 3 four-pounders, mounted."
The Baltimore Patriot, April 7th, read: .
"This morning a very steady smoke was seen in the direction of Lewistown, supposed to be occasioned by throwing rockets into that place.
"The enemy fired eight hundred cannon balls on shore, which were picked up by the brave people of Lewes, and 'returned to the enemy with interest.'
"A spectator describes the scene as follows: 'He was just above the town and have a clear view. The British ships were ranged in line of battle; the fire ceased about two o'clock, when he visited the earth-works. The weather was threatening, wind easterly. Captain Byron drew off his squadron at four o'clock, a few miles, where he re- mained until sailing for the Capes.'
"About five-hundred shots were fired. A collection was made of one hundred and fifty of small sizes and a few bombs. Houses were injured, chimneys cut almost in two, the corner-posts, plates, and studs cut off in several houses. The foremast of a schooner was cut away, and another received a shot in her hull.
"Of two particular rockets thrown, one fell on a lot, another in a marsh.
"A fire was directed at the breastwork, where more than thirty men were stationed. Shot struck the battery and broke the pine logs. Two shots entered by the guns.
"A further account mentions that one bombshell fell in the town, likewise the shots of the Belvidere, and fell some distance beyond. The loss by destruction of property was estimated to be $200018
"On the tenth of April a letter reached Philadelphia from Dover, dated the 8th inst., written at quarter past 8 o'clock, saying: 'Lewes is yet safe, Mr. White left there at eleven o'clock yesterday, and says the enemy cannot, in his opinion, destroy the place unless they land, which he thinks they would probably do in the course of the day. The barges, to the number of five, were full of men. The house of Peter Hall (a tavern on the bank) was demolished, and several others damaged; the bombs and rockets fell short of the town.'"
The same paper concludes:
"The British withdrew from Lewistown on the eighth, after bom- barding and cannonading it incessantly for twenty-two hours, without doing any material injury to the place, most of their shot and shell falling short of their object."
Another paper says:
"The militia fired but few shots, as they had only one eighteen- and one nineteen-pounder and but few shots for them, and of which they endeavored to make the best possible use, and have reason to suppose they gave one of the sloops the contents of the eighteen- pounder, as she was obliged to haul out of the line soon after it was seen to strike her.
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SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY.
"We are assured the inhabitants of Lewis and Pilot-towns, the volunteers and militia under the command of Colonel Samuel Davis, behaved in a cool and determined manner. The pilots who were sta- tioned in the fort deserve the highest praise, and the whole was so judiciously stationed by the commanding officers that had the British landed they would have been able to give a good account of them- selves.
"Powder from Dupont's Mills in Wilmington was rapidly sent forward to Lewes, and ball was hurried there, too.
"The general government had furnished Delaware one hundred and fifty stands of arms, part of its war quota; these were distributed among the volunteers at Lewes. The British made an attempt to land on the 8th; a number of small vessels with armed men approached the shore, the militia and volunteers hastening to the beach to re- ceive them.
"The British were called back by a signal from their squadron. Col. Davis resorted to a ruse. He marched the militia and volunteers along the water front up to where, unseen by the enemy, they could enter a back street of the town, countermarch to the water front and along it, go and return; thus deceiving the British into believing that an advancing army was flooding Lewes with troops."
The old inhabitants say that many of the marchers carried cornstalks to represent guns.
"On the 8th, the fleet was at its anchorage at the capes, foiled and dispirited, without bullocks, vegetables, hay, or so much as a cup of cold water.
"April 28 the Belvidere put to sea, sailing for the Chesapeake with a few prisoners."
William Marshall, pilot, and lieutenant-commander during the bombardment, left a diary in which is recorded the fol- lowing persons who were in the battery:
John Gauns, Second Lieutenant, Commander; Job Cor- nell, Sr., Job Cornell, Jr., John Rowland, Richard Poynter, Samuel Rowland, Arthur Pointer, Charles Baker, William Edwards, Thomas Norman, John Saunders, Moses Nichols, Jacob Art, P. Davis, Samuel Thompson, Simon Edwards, George Orton, Joseph Ort, Jerry Shillenger, John Clampitt, Samuel West, William Jeffries, J. W. Batson, William John- son, J. W. Norwood, Thomas Virden, William Masters, James Nicholson, B. Atkins, David Hall, Nathaniel Neuman, John Davis, Simon Edwards, Jr., John Norman, William Lewis, Cook Clampitt, Gilbert McCracken, William West, William Art, Privates.
There were 500 men encamped at Block House Pond.
One ball from the British ships made a hole in the door of Caleb Rodney's store.
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MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS.
Gilbert McCracken, whose name appears in the list of soldiers, had also served in the Revolutionary army. Being taken prisoner by the British, he was carried to New York and imprisoned in the "Jersey, " prison ship. At that time he was only twelve years of age.
The people were in a great state of excitement when the firing commenced and many wished to flee, some did so. Thomas Rowland said to his wife: "Put your trust in God; bury the tool-chest in the garden, and set your face for Copes'." Mr. Cope lived seven miles from Lewes.
A sloop called "Black Duck," loaded with cotton, was captured by the British just before the fight, but was re- captured by the Americans.
While Henry McCracken was standing near Colonel Davis a musket ball grazed the latter. Turning to McCracken he said, "Henry, an inch more and that ball would have fixed me."
Niles' Register of April 24th, says:
"The people of Lewistown are making themselves quite merry for the late bombardment of that place. They enumerate their killed and wounded as follows: one chicken killed, one pig wounded-leg broken. It was a ridiculous affair on the part of the enemy. We have nothing new from this quarter except that Sir John Beresford has captured five oyster-boats, and, after a severe engagement, caused these whole cargoes to be devoured."
After the battle the British made another attempt to ob- tain water. They dropped down the river seven miles and sent men in boats with casks for water, and halters for bul- locks. Colonel Davis had suspected such a move and had sent Major George H. Hunter with one hundred and fifty men, to prevent the landing of the British. Major Hunter drove the enemy back to their ships, minus water and bul- locks.
COPIES OF OLD LETTERS FOUND IN LEWES.
FORT CUMBERLAND Dec. 9, 1756.
"SIR :- I hear you have been at Annapolis lately and would have been glad to hear ye news,-
"We have erected a sort of Ravelin on the north side the fort one face fronting the Hill, the other, that of the Valley on the East Side Wills Creek. The Rampart is brought almost to a Level with the Hill, is about 20 foot thick, The parapet six foot high and of the same thickness; In the angle of the Ravelin I have built a maga- zine proof against small shells, and has out a way under ground to the Water of Wills Creek. Govr. Denwiddie has given orders to Continue the work.
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SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY.
"I expect news from the Ohio Daily-a small Detachmt has been out about twenty days and I am sorry have had very severe weather -I am
"Sir Your most obt hub1 Servt,
"ADAM STEPHEN.
"P. S. I wish you and Mrs. Dagworthy the Compliments of the Approaching Season, We have had some diversion on the Ice al- ready."
"Mr. Nunez pay unto Jacob Kollock, John Rodney and John Wilt- bank of Sussex County in Delaware Esqr whatever Monies you as Administrator of a certain Henrietta Sims late of the said County deceased, may have recovered or shall recover as belonging to the said Henrietta at her death and since to me as Governor of the Three lower Counties she having died without any relations or known kindred, which Monies I expect when paid by you to those gentle- men they will apply to the use of Christ Church in the Town of Lewis and the receipt of them or any two of them shall be your discharge for the same from yo"s
"I am Sir Your very hble servant "JOHN PENN
"NEW CASTLE ye 24th March 1770. "To MR. DANIEL NUNEZ "of Lewis Town."
"Dr. Franklin presents his Thanks to Mr. Hill for the opportunity given him of perusing this Manuscript which has afforded him much pleasure by refreshing his Memory of things and Places that he had formerly seen. Dr. F. would be glad to have also a sight of the Drawings particularly that of the Marble Mill at Bakewell, having lost one he made himself when there, It is to be wished that all our young Men who travel had the same spirit of observation and Diligence in noting down what might be useful to their Country.
"JAN. 18, '87."
"PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 16, 1780. 'MY DEAR GENERAL.
"I received your favour of the 29th of Septr. last, and have taken the liberty of publishing to the World, tho' not as coming from you, the perfidy, villainy & meaness of the Wreck Arnold-This man appears to me to be Phenomenon of Human Depravity, and were I certain you would not conceive it arrogance in me, I should sup- pose that Omnipotence itself could not form so complicated yet so complete a Character of every thing that is base and injurious-
"Inclosed I send you a number of late News Papers, from these you will learn how great & how important a Change has taken place, in our legislature. Will you believe me? Our honest friend Delaney is a Member-Sam Penrose Mr. R. Morris Christian Sam, (would we had more christians) Geo. Gray, Geo. Campbell, &c. &c. in the same stile-however, by these papers & the inclosed Lists you will see the Change that has been affected, & I thank God, I have been instru- mental, in some small degree, in this business, having like a Freeman given my vote for men who pleased me.
-
L RARLE. JOHN PENN ESQ" TO S' PETER'S CHURCH AT
HURCH AT LEWIS JOWA
4.
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MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS.
"Pray what think you of the Principle established in the Report of the Committee of the late House, respecting their making up on Depreciation? However, as the Scale of Depreciation is the chief thing, whenever that is agreed on by the New House we shall trans- mitt you the same for your Observations thereon and approbation. "Your family Dr General are all well, some of your friends are not, among the number I am one; I have been persecuted with a villianous fever which at length left me, but in a feeble and weak State indeed-It has proved fatal to many, 20 having been buried of a day for months past-
"I have nothing new to communicate therefore shall bid you adieu. "Subscribing myself your sincere friend & Servant "F. JOHNSON"
CORRESPONDENCE OF WILLIAM HILL WELLS, EsQ., DAGSBOROUGH, DEL.
PHILADA: 9 March, 1794.
MY DEAR SON :- Tho' I have nothing worth Postage to communicate, except the pretty general Welfare of the Family, yet I thought a Line might remove any Anxiety that might arise from our Silence, for tho' it is near 9 & the Post goes off to morrow neither of thy scribbling Sisters have prepar'd a Letter-thy last > Post proved very pleasing, and I hope thy new Arrangement of Businefs will be ultimately more to thy Advantage, for great Undertakings require great Stock; I wish thou had not quite so much locked up in Leather but I suppose it was the best that could be done-If you get the Papers regularly you will perceive that we are on the Brink of a War- the late out- rageous Proceeding of the British Cabinet in directing the Seizure of all Vefsels going to a French Port whether beseiged or not has exas- perated all Clafses of Citizens, & altho' we must certainly suffer more by War than even by the Restrictions aimed against us by England, yet the Spirit of the People & the Idea of the Honor of a Nation will precipitate us into a War unlefs a Peace in Europe should speedily take Place-Congrefs have resolved on the Measure of providing Ships of War, and to have all the great Sea Port Towns immediately fortified,-perhaps the Mornings Paper by the Post will furnish the Acct. of the Evacuation of Toulon which took place on the 18 Decr. & all the french Fleet burnd but 2 Frigates-the Accot came from Carthagena to N York the Harbour was a noble one but the Town could not be retained-the surrounding high Ground commanding it, they embarked in such haste that it is said numbers of the Citizens who wished to fly rushed into the water after the Boats & were drownd the Harbour is somewhat thus [map]
Our Friend Charlotte is in Town & likely to have occasion to stay here a few Months-I fear a War will make it difficult to find money for the great Canal her Husband is engaged in tho' it may furnish a number of idle hands-our dear Love to Bettsy & the Tiney ones and thyself BW
PHILAD July 17 1794
MY DEAR SON :- Having wrote by last Post, I should not write again so soon, but as the present Conveyanc will cost nothing, a Letter worth nothing ought not to be so much complained of-however I
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SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY.
am sure some Value will be given to it, for bringing only 4 Days later Accot. of our being well & I hope I may add that Hannah walks stronger every Day -- This Afternoon Benny, Polly & Rachel go off for the Sea Shore if Rain does not prevent of which there is some Probability-we have had a more rainy Season spring & Summer than I ever remember-though my Books will not hand down so true a History of it as I fear thine will-at least it will be a negative History of Work not done in the Swamp ;- what a Pity it is that when the Shingle Businefs stands still, the Saw Mills cannot be turned to Accot .- I formerly used to please myself with the Thought that when there was too much Water in the Swamp the Mills wod dance up & down more merrily-but this I am disappointed in.
Capt. Derrickson has brought up a Cargo of young Blacks-B Morris has one Anth' Morris 2-G Wells I believe one, & I am just now going to look at a 7 year old Boy-perhaps to prove a Plague they are all to be bound to 28, but we are going to bring on in our Su- preme Court the important Question, "whether any Man can con- stitutionally be held to Service either for Life or beyond 21"-Lewis, Rawle Ingersol & Bradford, have all undertaken to plead for general Freedom, & a Case is prepared-the 2 former are standing Coun- sellors of the Abolition Society & wod take no Fee-the other Gen- tlemen hesitated & have it ad referendum whether they will not return the 50 Dollars each which we we have given them-whether we succeed or not. I shall not hold my Boy (if I get him) above 21- Love to Bettsey & the young ones.
Thy affect Father R W
WILMINGTON July 27th 95.
SIR: In consequence of the communications made from your county, respecting arrangements for the election of Governor; a number of Gentlemen met at this place on Saturday last. They fully agree with you in sentiment, that union is most important, & more likely to be obtained by a conference & mutual communication of senti- ments, than in any other way. On the part of this county we have therefore appointed Mr. Grantham, Mr. Bayard & Mr. Frazer, to meet the commifsioners from Kent & Sufsex at Dover at the time mentioned in your letters. I sincerely hope we may get such a chief magistrate, as will do honor to the State; & who by patriotic & con- ciliatory measures, may unite us all in sentiment & exertions for the interest & happinefs of our common country-rescue us from those factions which prevail, & which are so enemical to the peace order & dignity of government.
I am with much respect Your obedt Hbble Servt
GUNN'G BEDFORD JNR
Willm Hill Wells Esqr
THE GROVE, December 24th, 1795.
DEAR SIR :- I hope before now you have received a letter from me refpecting some of your bufinfs in the Law-I have not as yet taken any Steps in your suit against Leven Miller as it waill be proper to Confult you refpecting the plase you wan to have prosefs ifsued, should you Conclude to Commence profeedings in Sufsex I have no doubt but you wanto be succefsful in the collection of your debt
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MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS.
there-but should you Conclude to profeed against him in Maryland it would be best I think to remove the Judgment as it is and ifsue Si Fa there againft him which must be done when evere it is moved, tho' I am sure the money Can be got without this mode of profeed- ing-I suppose you must have had all the news from the City. the difagreement of senate to the appointment of the Chief Justice of the United States is Confidered a damn'd good thing The involved sit- uation of this man and the disreputable means which he was prac- tiseing to extricate himfelf from embarrafsment in my Judgment ware reasons suffecant to warrant the measure of the Senate. but added to this thay I am told had other strong ones.
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