USA > Delaware > Sussex County > Some records of Sussex County, Delaware > Part 35
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This is a brave God, and bears celestial Liquer;
We will kneel to him.) When the People add to this modest account the Pay of their General, they will find that their Presidents
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MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS.
of New Orleans, for the Time being, cost them more than their Presi- dent at Washington.
From the 13th of September 1806 to the 24th of May 1807, Gen- eral Wilkinson was allowed for Rations 2033 Dollars and fixty fix Cents, notwithstanding it was exprefsly declared by an Act of Con- grefs, passed on the 16th of March 1802 that his Pay of 225 dollars per month should be "his full and entire Compensation, without a" "Right to demand, or receive any Rations, Forage, travelling Ex-" "pences,' or other Perquisite or Emolument whatsoever, except such" "Stationary as might be requisite for the use of his Department." In the eight months then he recived for Pay & Rations 3900 Dollars. You will please to add to this, his Salary of Governor of upper Louis- iana, for the said eight months, about 1700 dollars, and you have for your republican Brigadier General 5600 dollars; which is at the Rate of 8400 dollars per year.
In 1802 and 1803 he received, for his personal Expenses, 2715 dollars and 29 Cents :- as Indian Commissioner 4898 dollars :- and as Brigadier General 5400 dollars, total 13913 dollars and twenty nine Cents, or Six thousand nine hundred and fifty six dollars and fixty four Cents per annum.
I make no account of 3879 dollars & 79 Cents paid him by John Wilkins; nor of 7891 dollars the amount of Money and Supplies furnished him by public agents; for, I suppose, he has rendered, or will render, his accounts thereof; in which it is but Charity to hope that there are no more Charges of Claret and Madeira, and red wine and white wine & Champaign & Hermitage, and Mackaroons, and Preserves and Sugar Plumbs, seeing there was enough of them, to surfeit us all, in the other accounts. Nor do I say any Thing about .11000 dollars secret Service Money paid him, as that account was Settled with Mr. Jefferson himself who deemed "the Specification of its Disbursement inexpedient."
Mr. Falstaff you will remember that, during one of the last year's administration of the Federalists, Mr. Tracy, a member of the Senate of the United States, was sent by the the Secretary of War, in the Recess of Congress, upon Businefs of the Public, to the Westward. I think he was allowed six dollars per Day for his Services: and there was a Washerwoman's Bill, and perhaps a Barber's Bill in the List of his Expences. Have you forgotten the Noise you exclusive Patriots made about this thing at the Time? Mr. Tracy was a poor Man, and very probably travelled with his Saddle bags behind him : and his Six dollars per Day enabled him to lay by something for his Wife and Children at Home, who lived in plain republican Simplicity. My God! what would have been said if Mr. Tracy had sent in his Bill of Hermitage, and Madeira, & Champaign, and Cegars, and red wine and white wine, and macaroons, and Sweet meats, and Sugar Plumbs? Where is the Difference in the Case? Was not Mr. Tracy made of the same Flesh and Blood as General Wilkinson? In Point of understanding there was no Comparison-it was Silenus to Apollo. No Doubt he would have liked a Glass of sparkling old Hermitage as well as the General: but not having such a Bank to draw upon he was obliged to say, with Horace, (a)
-- mea nec Falerno Temperant vites, neque Formiani Pocula colles.
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SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY.
Yes I venture to say that either the Sugar Plumbs or Mackaroons would have been Ratsbane to him. He would never have drank any more Tokay or Burgundy or Hermitage or Champaign, as long as he lived, at the public Expence. How you impartial-and honest -and virtuous-and honourable-and mouth of labour saving Patriots would have hopped about with the account and blazoned it to all the world! How you would have rung it in our Ears! One would have given us the account under the biting Head of "SOBER HABITS." Another would have dished it up to us under the Cover of "FEDERAL FRUGALITY !!! " Here would have stared us in the Face "A FEDERAL NABOB:"-there we should have feen "LOOK AT IT FAIRLY:" and here would have been "SIGNS OF THE TIMES !! " -"MONARCHY MEN"-and the Lord knows what.
Yes, yes, I see Mr. Falstaff I am taking Pains for nothing-YOU WILL NOT DARE TO PUBLISH THIS LETTER: and the poor silly Dupes of your Party will glue their Eyes together-and stuff their Ears- and turn their Heads away. You will not DARE to publish it, and yet you need not fear, for they will not DARE to read it. Go on good Folks-step high over the stumbling Blocks that Truth and Wisdom lay in your Path-proceed; you will save your Faces by it-but you [balance missing.]
WHEN EDWD.
When Edward left his native plain, He heaved a sigh he dropt a tear, Ere spring returns thy Constant Swain Thy faithful Edward will be here Tho Edward vowd and I believed Ah! blooming flowrets why so fair Alas ye prove that I'm deceived for faithlefs Edward is not here.
The early lark proclaims the Spring The Thrush delights with notes so clear The flowers will bloom and birds will sing Tho faithlefs Edward is not here.
Had Edward been true oh how blest I'd been Each flowret more sweet and more gay every seen If he had been true so had I been too But if with another he seeks for delight To be true to myself I his falsehood requite Young Henry is true so will I be too At the dance on the green at the wake or the fair I'll be happy and Merry tho faithlefs Edward's not there.
MY SWEET VILLAGE MAID
When I quitted the cottage that stands on the Moor Round the which play'd the breezes of Health 'Twas to gain for fair Anna the nymph I adore Abroad a snug portion of Wealth
I told the sweet girl when preparing to part Of my constancy ne'er be afraid
Tho distant your Image will dwell in my heart For there reigns my sweet Village Maid.
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MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS.
2
Fortunes prosperous gales had now wafted me back And I hasted my Anna to meet
While fancy pourtrayed while I followed the track With what Joy I my Anna shall greet How her bright eyes will sparkle approaching to view When of present my store I displayed
And touching her lips, whisper these are for you Yes all for my Sweet Village Maid.
3
I trudged smiling thus with pleasure my guide When a shriek onward did urge
I flew to the spot saw drove down by the tide An angel embraced by the surge.
I dashed thro the stream brought her safe to the shore, On the bank where she gently was laid
Reviving I saw the dear girl I adore Ah me twas my sweet Village Maid.
PRESBYTERIAN RECORDS.
" At the Court of Common Pleas held in Lewes, Sussex County May 6th 1707 before Thomas Fisher, Joseph Booth, Jonathan Bailey, James Russell, and William Bagwell Esqrs. Justices of said court Thomas Fenwick appeared in open court and acknowledged and made over for the use of the Presbyterian professors for a Meeting House, School House and burial place a parcel of land in the town of Lewes be- tween the county road that goes to. Mr. Samuel Davis' plantation, on the Hill, containing one hundred foot square according to a deed of settlement bearing date May 6" inst."
The Pennsylvania Magazine, Vol. 8, 1884, has a very inter- esting article by the Rev. Edward S. Neill about the Rev. Matthew Wilson, D.D., of Lewes, Delaware. He says :-
"Among the prominent men in the State of Delaware, during the formative period of the Republic, was Matthew Wilson, D.D. of Lewes.
"As a scholar, civilian, physician, educator, and divine, he was surpassed by few in America. His parents settled in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and in East Nottingham Township, on the 15th of January, 1731, he was born."
During his boyhood, a man of remarkable talent and versatility, Francis Alison, D.D., afterwards Vice-Provost of the College of Philadelphia, now the University of Pennsyl- vania, was settled over a congregation at New London in Chester County.
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SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY.
As a Scotch-Irish Presbyterian, Alison was imbued with the idea that the school was as necessary as the church, as the anvil to the blacksmith, and that Christianity must advance by employing keen-eyed science as her servant.
He was among the first to agitate for a college in Penn- sylvania and Delaware.
The Presbytery of Lewes, in 1738, sent a memorial to the Synod of Philadelphia, in which they use this language :-
"That this part of the world where God has ordered our lot, labours under a grievous disadvantage for want of the opportunities of uni- versities and professors' skilled in the several branches of useful learning, and that many students from Europe are especially cramped in prosecuting their studies, their parents removing to these Colonies before they have an opportunity of attending the college, after having spent some years at the grammar school; and that many persons born in the country groan under the same pressure, whose circumstances are not able to support them to spend a course of years in the Euro- pean or New England colleges &c. &c."
In 1744 a school was established. Mr. Alison was "chosen Master of said school, with privilege of choosing an usher under him to assist him."
Matthew Wilson was pupil under Alison in the school at New London.
Alison was succeded by the Rev. Alexander McDowell.
Under McDowell Wilson became a teacher in the school.
By the Presbytery of New Castle, Wilson was ordained as a minister October, 1755.
One of Wilson's pupils was Dr. John Neill, of Snow Hill, Maryland.
Dr. John Neill was the son of John Neill, lawyer, of Lewes, and the brother of Col. Henry Neill, of Lewes. After the discussions relative to the Stamp Acts, on February 21st, 1769, a son was born to Wilson, and was named James Patriot Wilson.
When ships with tea, arrived at the mouth of the Delaware River, upon which a duty of three pence per pound was to be paid for the benefit of the East India Company, he resolved that his family should use no more of the article. To recon- cile the ladies, he published a paper in the newspapers, which afterwards appeared in the February, 1775, number of the American Magazine, showing the enervating effect of tea, and giving the names of seventeen herbs or vegetables which were good substitutes. In the midst of this discussion his wife's sister came from Philadelphia on a visit, and brought
OLD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 1727.
1
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319
MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS.
down some of the prohibited article. She claimed that she was a patriot, but saw no good reason why she should not drink "old tea" upon which no duty had been paid, and "tea she would drink." The good Doctor, always diffident, and dreading "a tempest in a tea-pot," quietly submitted.
When, in 1774, the news reached Lewes that the British government had closed the port of Boston, he was one of the committee to send help to the distressed inhabitants of that city.
After the Declaration of Independence there was an in- crease of the Tory teeling in Sussex County, and those in favor of separation from Great Britain were in the minority.
The following letter throws a great deal of light upon conditions prevailing in Sussex County :-
"LEWES TOWN, July 30th, 1778.
"SIR: Inclosed you have a letter from the Rev. Mr. Wilson, solicit- ing your interest for the liberty of a certain James Cooper, one of the Reffugees from this State, now in your Gaol; the young man, I be- lieve, was corrupted by some persons of the disaffected class; but they have ever acted so cautious, and ever so true to each other, that no positive proof could be had against them.
"I should be glad that you would not let Mr. Wilson's Letter be made public, as it will of consequence create him some enemies, that may have it in their power to injure him. Should it be in your power and not too much Trouble to obtain liberty for the young man to come down, I will pay any expenses for his imprisonment.
"I am Sir Yours
"HENRY NEILL.
"To Col. William Bradford
"At the London Coffee House
"Philadelphia."
Dr. Wilson's Letter.
"To Mr. William Bradford, and other members of the honourable Board of War in Philadelphia. Favoured by Henry Neill, Col .- Lieut. of Sussex.
"GENTLEMEN: We are informed that some few of our Sussex Tories have fallen into your hands, and are justly confined in Jail, where they are much much more likely to have an Impartial Trial, than here, where at least two-thirds of the County, by the Influence, Lies, Falsehoods, & base insinuations of your Joshua Fisher, and about a score of leading Men, who at that Time, held all Offices and Places of Trust in this County, are really disaffected to the American Cause, yet, by their numbers will soon be elected to fill their places again; so that if this State can do any harm to the Cause of America, by betraying the French, our Friends, or any of the Whig Colonists trading here, or by assisting, supporting, or encouraging our enemies, as well as persecuting forever the Whig Colonies here 'who have borne
320
SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY.
the burden and heat of the day,' there are more honors than I can now foresee, must come from Tories ruling the Delaware State.
"To remedy these dangerous evils I can see only 2 plans that appear practicable, either to disfranchise the Delaware State, and divide it between Maryland and Pennsylvania, which appears more necessary, because the State is too weak to bear the expense of its present Government, and also because of its smallness: any conten- tion here between a leading Whig and a leading Tory would imme- diately divide the whole State into two parties, when Justice and Peace would be excluded from the State.
"The other remedy would only be partial and temporary, i. e., The Congress fixing such Resolves, by such accurate Descriptions of Characters as would exclude all Tories and disaffected persons from holding any Offices in the State during this Generation at least.
"This would, indeed, incapacitate a great number from doing the highest injuries to the Country, Yet the most artful and dangerous Tories who stirred up the rest, and use them as Catspaws, would be still at the helm. They have veer'd all around the Compass, give the Whigs no positive proof against them, and have secured the Tories, to give no Information.
"The most probable Way to come to the Truth, would seem by pardoning some Tory or two on condition of becoming a true Wit- ness against the Rest. There is one, Couper (James), I think, who would perhaps turn evidence on these terms. He kept Merchants" accounts formerly for Col. Simon Kollock, a staunch Whig, when this unhappy Couper was thought a good Whig, but going to live with Philip Kollock, he became such a Tory, as to go voluntarily, with others, to the English.
"Would you take the trouble to have him sounded apart from the rest, whether he would, in order to be restored, & pardoned, & ad- mitted to Protection in Col. Kollock's house again, honestly inform you who were his advisers to prompt Him to go to the Enemy, whether he knows and can prove enough to convict Lawyer Moor, Isaac Smith, John Wiltbank, Philip Kollock, Esquires, Peter Robinson, late Sheriff, Anderson Parker, Ben. Burton, Esquires, &c &c.
"If you should find that he will make a good State Evidence, perhaps you could send him down in Col. Neill's vessel, who is Lieu- tenant of the County, and would take proper Care of Him, that he might not be enticed by the Tories.
"I am, with great respect, Gentlemen, "Very much at your Service "MAT. WILSON. "LEWES, July 29, 1778."
Henry Neill, son of John Neill, of Lewes, lawyer, mar- ried Mary, daughter, of Col. Simon Kollock. He was made, in September, 1775, Adjutant of the First Delaware Battalion, of which David Hall was Colonel. In May, 1778, he was elected Lieutenant of the County of Sussex. In June, 1780, he was Acting Colonel of the Fourth Delaware Regiment, being the second regiment of Delaware in the Continental service.
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MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS.
In 1803 he died, childless.
His friend, Dr. Wilson, prepared the following inscription, which is cut on his tombstone in the Presbyterian grave- yard, Lewes :--
"In memory of Col. Henry Neill who died Nov. 10, 1803, aged 61 years, who valued independence, who dared, scorning submission to a foreign yoke, to force deliverance from the oppressors rod."
Dr. Wilson died March 31st, 1790.
GRANT FOR COOL SPRING CHURCH.
SEPTEMBER 13, 1737.
To ye Minister & Congregation of Presbiterians near Cold Spring in Sussex for 10 Acres to enclose their Meet'g House.
FORT CUMBERLAND, April 9th, 1757.
SIR :- We esteem ourselves obligd to you for the kindness shown by you & Mrs. Dagworthy to Old Ross &c. &c.
We are alive here. I have ordered the Volunteers to be informd that none are to proceed [torn] this Expedition, but [torn] as Sure them for me, and Mr. Ross by the first Occasion will Send them to Maidstone. My Complimts to Mrs. Dagworthy. I am Your most obt hule Sert.
ADAM STEPHEN. FORT CUMBERLAND, Feby 14th, 1757.
SIR :-- John Fraser Complains that Some of the Detachmt from Fort Frederick has Carried off a gang of His Horses brought in by the Cherokees & taken privately away from them & stabled at Cressops plantation untill the Cherokees were gone out of the Way. William Ross has a Gray Lame Mare Carried down by the Same party.
The Cherokees are gone, & their return, in my Opinion [torn]. The Catabaws carried home at the Rate of £30 a man among which was £20 in Silver & £50 of Wampum & yet disatisfy'd. Fear is the strongest bond of an Indian they love & despise. Nothing but hard fighting & Success will recover the Indian Interest.
I am Sir, Yr most Obt huble Serv
ADAM STEPHEN.
SIR :-- I have made what Enquiry I Could Relating to Mr. Fraziers Horses but do not find the Party from & his has taken them they Brought an old Lame Horse which was turn'd loose as being Useless which very Probably belongs to Mr. Ross & I suppose is Returned. all the News we have here is that Lord London Meets the Governors from the Differant Province this Day at Philada. the Result it is Prob- able we shall heare in a few Weeks.
SIR :-- In Return for your [torn] Inclosed Some English [torn] to Pass off an Hour or two, this Dismal Weather, I am &c.
322
SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY.
SIR :- Your Letter of the 11th Inst. I have received & in Answer thereto am to acquaint You that the Governor approves of Your Agree- ment with the Mason concerning the Building of the Chimnies & plais- tering the Officers Barracks, but He says You must not enter into any such Engagement with the Soldiers who are employed as Sawyers, or into any with those that profess themselves Carpenters; Such as are employed in those Capacities will be considered & have an allowance [torn] unless You will enter into a particular Engagement with them His Excellency desires You will find them Business on the Allegany Mountains for a time or take any other method to bring them to a right Understanding. The Governor desires to know how much plank Mr. Waugh will want to finish the Soldiers Barracks that are already set up & those of ye Officers; & as the Assembly is to meet next Monday Sennight His Excellency desires You will as soon as possible send him Muster Rolls of the three Companies specifying for what time each man first enlisted or has since engaged to serve that he might try the same before the House if it shall be thought Necessary. I have writ to the Agents & presume they will forthwith send up the Cloathing for the Recruits as well as Money to pay the several Companies.
I am Sir Your most humb. Servt
ANNAPOLIS, The 13 Jan'y. 1757.
J. RIDOUT.
SIR :- This will be presented by John Linton the Recruit whom I mentioned to You in a former Letter. He comes with the Waggon & as He is to go by the Way of Elk Ridge I have given him a Dollar to bear his Expenses to the Fort. He was enlisted the 27th of Jany. so for his Board in Town since that time I must [torn] five Shillings which with the Bounty [torn] advanced him & the Dollar above men- tioned makes £1. 15. 0. to be remitted me by any Opportunity of Conveyance that shall offer.
I am Sir Your most humb. & obed. Servt., J. RIDOUT. ANNAPOLIS, the 1st Feby. 1757.
SIR :- The Governor desires that those Officers & Men that brought William Johnson from Plummer's to Fort Frederick may be part of the Detachment that You shall order hither with the Covered Waggon for Powder; His Excellency wants to ask them some questions but You need not mention it to them. You will let me know by a Line who the Persons are.
I am Sir Your most humb. & obedt. Servt., J. RIDOUT. ANNAPOLIS, the 1st Decr. 1756.
P. S .- We have an Account that Adl. Hawke has had an Engage- ment with the French Fleet & taken & destroyed 7 of theirs with the Loss of three of his own Ships. Many Circumstances that are men- tioned give us room to believe the Account ought to be depended on. We are also told that Bing has shot himself.
The Governor would not have You take any of Capt. Joshua Beall's Men into ye Company till farther Orders.
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MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS.
PRELUDE.
Altho Capt Daggworthy is a bad Correspondent And has not thought proper to favor me wh a Line these six Months nevertheless to shew him there is one at Fort Cumberland does not forget the many agreable Hours he has spent this time twelve Month whose name will be at the Bottom of this Scrawl & wh Capt. Daggworthy when he calls back past time may chance to recolect amongst the many less Animals in ye Creation to be known to Nature however Sc. to throw off the Disguise. Harry Woodward now speaks to you Wishing you & Mrs. Daggworthy Health happiness & success in all your Undertakings for the Present Year and at the same time cant help wishing you up at Fort Cumberland where you could See Tamor- lane Exhibited in a very pretty Play-House. And as Mrs. Dagg- worthy I am sure woud ask who were the Actors I shall now set them down wh the Parts they Acted.
Tamorlane performed by .... Capt. Peachy.
Bajazet
Lieut. Hall.
Mokeses
Mr. Hubbard.
Lama.
Mr. Lawson.
Morvan.
Mr. Kennedy.
Stratocles
Mr. Peachy.
Haly.
Mr. Thompson.
Prince of Tanais
Mr. Brockenbrough.
The Derveze
Mr. De fierre.
Axalla
Humble Servant.
Omar
Mr. Peachys Man.
Selima my Servant (who Acts very well.) Aspasia Myself.
There was an Occassional Epilogue wrote by Hubbard in which my Actor was taken off and spoken by him.
N. B .- Brockenbrough was so touchd by it so that he will never never Act Again.
Æsop was the Farce and De fierre was the fine Lady by wh you may judge if it was a Farce or not. I am just Summoned to a Genl Court Martial wh obliges me abruptly to Conclude wh my respts to Mrs. Dagworthy.
Your most Obedt Humble Servt.,
H. WOODWARD.
FORT CUMBERLAND.
ANNAPOLIS, Septr. 12th, 1755.
SIR :-- You are hereby directed to repair to Fort Cumberland & reassume the Command of the Mary [torn] with Your Co [torn] receive Instructions from me for that purpose, or unless the Virginia Troops find themselves strong enough & are ordered to march over the Alle- gany Hills to annoy the Enemy or construct some place of Defence there, in such Case You are to act as shall be judged best for his Majesty's Service
HORO SHARPE.
To CAPTAIN JOHN DAGWORTHY.
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SOME RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY.
To Captain John Dagworthy.
[Torn] Apl. 7, 1757.
SIR :- The Assembly is now sitting at Baltimore County & I under- stand Colo. Stanwick & Governor Sharpe are to have the Command of the Forces upon an Expedition to the Ohio which are to be those raised in Pennsylvania Virgini to be joined to one Batalion of the Royal Americans & the Governor desired me to [torn] an Express down as soon as either Daniel or the Indians should arive that he might make provision for Encouraging them & such Voluntares as shoud join them & I believe it would not be disagreable to him to let as many Soldiers [torn] Garrison go Voluntares I have dispatched a Messenger to the Governor yesterday who I imagine will Arive Today I apprehend by The Governor that he will be up soon in Order to have a Fort built at the Old Town, There is an Act. of the Fleet's sailing from Britain with the Forces & since I came from Town I heard that there had abt 10 or 12 Thousand Men arived at Hailifax & 20 Men of War who are to be joined by the Forces from new York & New England It's said that there is to be 500 Men raised in Mary- land & that the Pennsylvanians have passed a Bill for [torn]
Your Friend &
THOS. CRESAP.
To Captain Fohn Dagworthy.
SIR :- Inclos'd is the whole Instructions I Receiv'd the 23d Ult. hope you'l Lett Corpl. Love come Down to Join Mr. Beall in Charles County, Shall use all Endeavours to Raise what men I can while Down & Shall be at the fort by the Middle of March at Farthest, hope you'l Excuse the sending Barrickman Back Again, As we are in hopes of Stopping those person's Deserted.
I am with all Respect Your Humble Servt
ALEX. BEALL.
P. S. - Have Sent Mrs. Dagworthy A pair of Stockings price 6/6 if Dont think proper to keep them I will take them Again at my Return & as there was no more here shall Endeavour to serve her Lower Down.
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