AN ADDRESS,
4
EMBRACING THE
EARLY HISTORY OF DELAWARE,
AXD THE
SETTLEMENT OF ITS BOUNDARIES,
AND OF THE
WITH ALL THE CHURCHES SINCE ORGANIZED
OX ITS ORIGINAL TERRITORY:
DELIVERED IN DRAWYERS CHURCH, DEL., MAY 10, 1842.
BEING ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-ONE YEARS SINCE THE SITE OF THE
PRESENT HOUSE OF WORSHIP WAS PURCHASED.
BY REV. GEORGE FOOT.
PHILADELPHIA:
PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF THE CHRISTIAN OBSERVER.
1842.
Checked i
May 19y ^/>^
Whatever of wealth or of honor they gained : whatever
of piety and devotedness they exhibited, they have all been
forgotten ; and the clods once heaped over their graves, no
longer mark the spot where their ashes repose. How
many warnings and appeals have been uttered on this spot !
How vast the influence of truth on the minds of the genera-
tions which have successively worshipped here ! How
many immortal spirits have gone hence to the bar of God
to receive their final doom I O! could the departed speak,
what scenes of seraphic joy, and of keen and hopeless de-
spair would the former worshippers on this spot disclose ?
— But the tomb from which no message ever comes, holds
them all in perpetual silence till the day of doom shall ar-
rive. How solemn the thought, that when an equal period
of time shall have passed away, others will hold our pos-
sessions and succeed to our places in society, and in the
sanctuary; while death will feed on us, the clods will cover
us, and the very names of many of us will be unknown ex-
cept in the records of eternity!
To this place where your fathers w^orshipped, will many
of you look back as the spot where truth, pointed by the
Spirit of the Eternal, reached your heart and led you to
God, and hope, and heaven ; or where the Saviour's
call was unheeded, and salvation spurned, and your ruin
sealed. •
But our object on the present occasion is to give you
an outline of the history of this region, and especially of
this congregation. You will bear it in mind that it is no
easy task to gather up history where but few and imperfect
records exist. If there are imperfections in these details,
you will remember that it is the almost inevitable result at-
tending any investigations where so few materials remain.
The earliest permanent settlement in Delaware seems to
have been made by the Swedes, in 1637. Christina, Queen
of Sweden, formed the plan, and sent Peter Menewe as
commander of the colony, in the ship " Key ofCalmar.^^ This
colony purchased the lands on the west side of the Dela-
ware, from Cape Henlopen, called by them "Paradise
Point," to the Falls of Sanchickan, or Trenton.
Prior to this date, the Dutch were in possession of the
lands on the eastern side of the river. Menewe soon died,
and Peter HoUendare succeeded him. The Swedes set-
tled on the Christina creek, where they built a fort, and
called both the creek and fort after the name of their queen.
In 1638 Kieft, the Dutch governor, remonstrated against
the building of the fort. In 1642 John Printz was sent
from Sweden, in the ship Fame, as governor of the colony.
Two other ships of war accompanied him, the Swan and
the Charitas. With the emigrants, at this period, came the
Rev. John Campanius as chaplain of the colony. Among
other things, Printz was instructed to persuade the Dutch
who had settled under the crown of Sweden, to remove
farther down from the vicinity of Fort Christina ; to con-
firm the treaty with the Indians for the lands lying on the
west side of the river, from Cape Henlopen to the Falls of
Trenton. The agents of Queen Christina had purchased
the lands from Cape May to Raccoon creek, nearly oppo-
site Marcus Hook, and the English had settled on Fer-
ken's creek, (now Salem.) Printz was directed to treat
these English kindly, and in order to unite them with the
Swedes, was directed, if they were willing, to receive them
under the Swedish government. This colony at Salem,
settled on lands purchased by the New Haven company, in
Connecticut, and was originally composed of fifty families
who removed from that place to Salem in 1640, "for the
purpose of establishing trading houses and gathering churches
I*
6
in Gospel order and purity," and in close combination with
the New Haven Colony in all their fundamental articles, and
under the jurisdiction of that colony. After much annoy-
ance from the Dutch, the New England setdements on the
Delaware were taken under the protection of the Legisla-
ture of the United New England Colonies, and in 1664 the
forces of Massachusetts and Connecticut assisted Sir Rob-
ert Carr in subduing the Dutch on the Delaware. Gov.
Printz resided at Tinnicum, (then called Tenackongh, and
also Tutaenungh) and built a fort on the shore which he
called New Gottenburg. Here a church buih of wood was
consecrated by Campanus, September 4th, 1646. The
Dutch on the east side of the river interfering with the
trade of the Swedes, they erected a fort at Elsingborough,
which was called Helsingborough. This fort was called
Myggenborg, or Mosquito Fort, because the Swedes were
compelled to abandon it on account of the annoyance of the
Mosquitoes. After the erection of this fort, the Dutch
abandoned the fort which they had erected opposite Tinni-
cum, called Fort Nassau, and in 1651 took possession of
New^ Casde, which the Swedes had called Sandhnken, and
erected Fort Cassimir, the remains of which are still near
the bank of the river, a short distance from the town. In
1652 Gov. Printz returned to Sweden. Prior to that date
John Claudius Rising had arrived, who afterwards became
governor of the colony. The Dutch continually claimed
• the soil of Delaware, and in 1646 William Kieft and his
council granted to Abraham Planck, Simon Root, Jan
Andriesson, and Peter Harmenson, two hundred acres of
land each, on South river, near " Bird Island," (probably
Reedy Island,) on condition of their settling on said
lands within one year. They also promised them more
lands, provided they should want the7?i, on condition that
they should bufld houses and reside on the lands. But if
they did not reside on them, their title was to be forfeited.
In 1654 the Swedes "took Fort Cassimir by storm, and
expelled the Dutch." They improved the fort and called
it " Trinety Fort." During the same year, however, Peter
Stuyvesant, Governor of New York, sailed for Delaware with
seven ships and 600 or 700 men, subdued all the Swedish
forts, laid waste their country, issued his proclamation per-
mitting those to remain who were willing to submit to the
Dutch government and carried the remainder to New York.
Thus- ended the Swedish government in Delaware.
Johan Paul Jaquet w^as the first Governor of Delawaqf
under the Dutch. He was succeeded by Peter Alricks.
When Delaware was conquered by Sir Robert Carr, the
estate of Peter Alricks was confiscated, and granted to Wil-
liam Tom. Alricks was the ancestor of all the families of
the same name in this vicinity, some of which have been
connected with this congregation during nearly the whole
period of its existence.
The grant of Charles II. to his brother the Duke of York
and Albany, made in 1664, conveyed to him all lands from
the west side of Connecticut River, to the East side of Del-
aware Bay. In September 1664, Sir Robert Carr arrived
in Delaware Bay, and took possession of all the Dutch forts,
and reduced their entire possessions to subjection to the
crown of England. Delaware seems to have been united
with the lands granted by the crown to the Duke of York,
and lying between the Connecticut and the East side of
the Delaware River, by conquest. All the inhabitants were
confirmed in their possessions and privileges on condition of
their taking the oath of allegiance to the King, and of fidelity
to his government.
On the 17th of May, 1667, the town of New Castle was
incorporated. The English laws were established in the
town and on both sides of the Delaware, and a Sheriff, to be
chosen annually, was appointed for the corporation and
RIVER.
On the 29th June, 1674, the Duke of York obtained a
new patent from the King, for the lands granted him in
1664. This patent made the Eastern shore of the Dela-
ware his Western boundary. Two days after, he appointed
Sir Edmond Andross governor of his territories, which were
surrendered to him by the Dutch. Sir Edmond Andross
purchased in 1665 from the Indians a tract of land extend-
4i^ig along the river, about eight or nine miles below the falls
at Trenton, and as far above,, with all the islands in the
Delaware.
In 1664, the Duke of York granted to Lord Berkley and
Sir George Carteret, the Province of New Jersey, bounded
on the vjest by:the Delaware Bay. Thus it appears that in
all grants from the crown to the Duke of York, and from
the Duke of York to Berkley and Carteret, and in the pur-
chase of lands above Philadelphia from the Indians, by An-
dross, and also in establishing the office of Sheriff of New
Castle county, the Eastern shore of the Delaware w^as made
the line of Delaware in all cases.
Prior to the arrival of Penn in 16S2, the general court at
New Castle ordered the Sheriff to arrest John Fenwick, who
resided at Salem, and claimed to be the proprietor of one half
of the Province of New Jersey, and to bring him before the
court.
There is a record of a trial at New Castle, in which
Robert Hutchinson is appellant, vs. Thomas Smith, James
Pierce, William Johnson, and William Wayghtman, Defend-
ants.
The case involved a claim to lands lying on Cohanzy
creek. It was tried in the court at New Salem, (N. J.)
Oct. 11th, 1680, and was brought by appeal to the General
Court at New Castle. The court at New Castle reversed
the decision of the court at New Salem, Nov. 2d, 1680.
This decision was carried by appeal to the Court of Assizes,
in New York, in October following. (Transcribed Records,
Book A., p. 176.) Thus the fact is established that the
territoF}', and even the court at Salem was under the juris-
diction of New Castle. In 1682 William Penn arrived and
took possession of Delaware on the 28th of October. He
had two deeds from the Duke of York : the one conveyed
to him the town of New Castle, and all the " Land lying
within the compasse or circle of twelve myles about ye same,
witli all Islands, ye river and soyle thereof." Another deed
conveyed to him all the lands lying south of said circle to
*• Cape Inlopen," composing the two counties of St. Jones
and Deale, or Whooreskill. • The first of these deeds in-
cluded Salem. '^*<^*-^- '
Edmund Cantwell was the first Sheriff of New Castle
county, under the government of William Penn. He was
also high Sheriff under Sir Edmond Andross in 1676 ; and
in 1717 Rowland Fitzgerald was the high Sheriff of this
county. The descendants of Fitzgerald resided in Tho-
roughfare Neck.
In 1659, the Governor and council of Maryland, sent
Col. Nathaniel Utie, to claim in behalf of Lord Baltimore,
the lands on the Delaware. In answer to this demand,
Stuvvesant, Governor of New York, commissioned Au2;us-
tine Herman and Resolved Waldron as his ambassadors to
tlie Government of Maryland to remonstrate against this
claim. The Dutch claimed Delaware on the ground that
prior to 1623 they had made a setdement called the Hoore "
Kill, which was destroved by the Indians: and that in 1623
10
they had built Fort Nassau, fifteen leagues higher up the
river, and on the Eastern Shore, and that many other
places had been settled by the Dutch, and Dutch Swedes ;
and that they had purchased the lands from the Indians.
During the attempt of these ambassadors at negociation,
the Governor and council of Maryland presented them a copy
of Lord Baltimore's patent. The ambassadors very shrevi^dly
alledged that His Royal Majesty of England had granted to
Lord Baltimore lands ''which had not been seated and
taken up before, only inhabited by a certain barbarous peo-
ple, the Indians."
But as the South River, called Nassau, and by the Eng-
lish Delaware, had been taken up and appropriated long be-
fore by virtue of a commission from the High and Mighty
States General of the United Provinces, and settled, not by
Indians, but by a Christian people, that therefore the grant
of Lord Baltimore could have no reference to Delaware.
The arrival of Sir Robert Carr in 1664, and the surrender
of Delaware to the forces under his command, put this
claim of Lord Baltimore at rest until the arrival of William
Penn. Then the claim was renewed. The Duke of York
was now James 11., King of England, and this claim was
referred to a committee on Plantations. In November,
1685, this committee reported that the land granted to Lord
Baltimore was such as ivas inhabited by savages, but that
the tract now claimed by him had been j)lctnted by Christians
antecedent to this grant. But, to avoid all difficulties on the
subject, they decided that the peninsula should be divided
into two equal parts, by a line drawn from the ladtude of
Cape Henlopen to the fortieth degree of north latitude.
To carry out this decision, commissioners were appointed
to form a map of the country, which map was sent to Eng-
land, and made the basis of the agreement in 1732. By
11
this agreement, the centre of the town of New Castle was to
be ascertained, and a circle of twelve miles drawn around
it. A due East and West line was to be drawn from Cape
Henlopen to the Chesapeake. From a point in that line
equidistant from the two Bays, a line was to be drawn north-
ward till it should so touch the western point in the circle of
twelve miles as to become a tangent to it. From the point
of tangency a line was to be drawn due north to a point
within fifteen English miles of the most southerly part of the
city of Philadelphia. This agreement was not carried into
effect, and Lord Baltimore petitioned George II. to make to
him a new grant to lands on the Delaware.
In 1735 the whole subject was brought by the Penns be-
fore the court of Chancery ; and in 1750, Lord Hard wick
decided that the agreement of 1732 should be carried into
effect. The question was raised whether the circle should
be a radins of twelve miles, or a Periphery of twelve miles.
The chancellor decided that it should be a Radius of twelve
miles, and its centre the centre of the town of New Castle.
. Other difficulties arose. In 1751 the chancellor decreed
that the radii of the circle should be measured by horizon-
tal, and not by superficial lines. Shortly after, Lord Balti-
more died, leaving his son Frederick a minor. This occa-
sioned a further delay until 1760, when the agreement was
signed by him, and Thomas and Richard Penn, and com-
missioners were appointed who were directed to run the
boundery lines. Several fruitless attempts to run a line from
the siiven point so as to form a tansrent to the circle were made.
The commissioners finally employed Mason and Dixon, who
had just returned from the Cape of Good Hope, where they
had been to observe the transit of Venus. They succeeded
in establishing the line between Delaware and Maryland,
which has since been called Mason and Dixon's line.
12
On the 9th of November, 1768, the commissioners ratified
their map and plan of surveys and divisional lines, embracing,
according to the decree of Lord Hardwick the chancellor,
all the articles of agreement made in 1732. Thus the claim
of Penn to a circle of twelve miles, measured by horizontal
lines, was confirmed by the commissioners under a decision
of the court of Chancery in England in 1768, only eight
years before the American Revolution. (See Landholder's
Assistant, p. 166, 172.)
The jurisdiction of the Pea Patch Island, then, was
given to Delaware, by decision of the chancellor of England,
in 1750, and ratified by the final settlement of the Boundary
of Delaware by commissioners in 1768. The act of the
Legislature of Delaware passed in 1813, which ceded that
island to the United States, provides " that all processes,
both civil and criminal, issuing under the authority of this
state, may be executed and served within the place." (Di-
gest, p. 673.) In all past time the Sheriff of New Castle
county has served his processes to tide-water mark on the
New Jersey shore. Moreover, it can be proved that the
tenant at will of the present claimant of that Island, under
the decision of the U. S. District Court, votes in Delaware.
In J 837 the Legislature of Delaware requested her sena-
tors and representatives in congress to recommend a retro-
cession of that Island to Delaware, or to adopt such other
measures as should enable Delaware to maintain her just
right and tide to said territory. Any decision which puts
that Island within the jurisdiction of another state unsettles
all the boundaries and jurisdiction of Delaware. She has
not, nor has she ever had any other boundary than that
which made the Pea Patch a part of her territory.
The setdement within the bounds of this congregation be-
gan at an early period.
13
In 1671, Francis Lovelace who was then Governor of all
the territories of the Duke of York, granted a patent for
300 acres of upland, called " High Hook," and some adjacent
marsh to Jan Sieriks. This farm is now in the possession
of Jacob Vandegrift, Jr.
In 1671, a patent was granted to Abraham Coffin, for
400 acres of land called " Mountain JVeck,^^ and the annual
quit rent was four bushels of winter wheat. In 1686 this
tract was resurveyed to Johannes De Haes and Ephraim Her-
man. De Haes subsequently became the sole owner, and
willed it to his son, Roelef De Haes, in 1694. Johannes
De Hoaef, or De Haes, was a member of the first Legisla-
ture of Pennsylvania, held under ¥/illiam Penn in 1683.
He was a distinguished man and a native of France. He
was a maternal ancestor of the Janvier family. Roelef, his
son, was a member of the first legislative assembly in Dela-
ware, after the Legislature for the territories was established
in 1704. He was an elder in Presbytery (probably from New
Castle,) in 1713. We here present before you an original
likeness of De Haes which has been preserved. He was
evidently, as his costume shows, either a knight or a military
officer of high rank.
This is the farm afterwards owned by Thomas Noxen, the
founder of Noxenton Mills. On this farm Brigadier Gen-
eral Caesar Rodney encamped for a season with his corps of
Delaware militia at the period when Gen. Howe landed at
the head of the Elk River. One division of Howe's army,
under the command of Baron Kniphausen, passed through
the present boundaries of this congregation, and encamped
on the farm, now owned by Henry Cazier, on Bohemia
Manor. Thomas Noxen belonged to St. Ann's congrega-
tion, and died in 1743. I here present to you a mourning
ring bequeathed by him to one of the members of his family,
2
14
and also a ring presented by him to his only daughter, Mrs.
Frisbie. This Noxen farm was owned by John and Henry
Vanleuvinigh in 1730. Henry Vanleuvinigh is called Van-
leud on the records of this congregation in 1746. The farm
on the opposite side of the Apoquinimy also, on which Schee
Merritt now resides, was owned by Noxen, and was called
" Walnut Landing." There was a wharf on that farm, the
•remains of which are still visible.
Below this, and on the opposite side of the creek was
another landing called Whitlit's landing, and owned by Wil-
ham Whittit, who was a trustee of this congregation ia 1754.
On A. Snow Naudain's farm, and directly in the rear of his
house, was another landing. There was another landing at
Noxenton, which is probably the landing anciently called
" High Landing."
Cantwell's Bridge, on the same creek, derived its name
from the fact that the General Court granted to Richard
Cantwell authority to establish a toll bridge at that place in
1731. Near it resided Abraham Martin, Treasurer of this
congregation in 1731 : and the Legislature allowed Cant-
well to take one acre of land from Martin at a fair valuation,
as the site of a toll-house.
In 1675 Richard Seays, (called See on our records,) sur-
veyed the Bennet Farm, north of Major Vandegrift's house.
This farm has been owned by the Alricks, the Andersons,
Taylor, and Vandyke, and by Dr. David Stewart. The
Seays were Huguenots.
The Gettons were also French, and owned the farm on
which Mr. McMullen now resides, near Hickory Grove.
In 1676 Garret Otto surveyed 272 acres north of Draw-
yers creek, below the farm of Dr. Euler. This farm is
now owned by William Polk.
In 1684 Amos Nicholas surveyed 300 acres. A part
15
of this farm is now owned by James Wilson, and was once
owned by Thomas Hyatt, an Elder, and afterwards by
Peter Hyatt, a member of this congregation.
In 1676 George Ashton surveyed a part of the farm on
which Major Vandegrift now resides, with all the lands lying
east as far as the western line of the farm belonging to John
Dilworth, Esq., and extending north to Doctor's Swamp.
In 1678 Adam Peterson surveyed 200 acres of land, the
tract on which Middletown now stands, the original plat and
title to which I here present before you ; and in 1682 Hans
Hanson Miller (otherwise known as Hans Hanson) surveyed
500 acres adjoining Adam Peterson. We are also in pos-
session of this plat and survey. 1678 then, was the earliest
purchase of lands at Middletown.
In 1682 the court granted to Edmund Cantwelland Cas-
per Herman, 200 acres of land lying on each side of Draw-
yers Creek, " for the use of a water-mill,* which the said
Cantwell and Herman do intend to erect on the said creek
for the publick good of the inhabitants." (Records, Book
A-, p. 190.)
In 1686 John Taylor sold to Thomas Snowding of Apo-
quinimy, 170 acres of land on the north side of Second
Drawyers Creek, lying between Taylor's Branch and Snow-
ding's Branch. This farm was west of the farm of Hon.
Louis McLane.
The Briscoe family was at New Castle in 1682.
In 1685 Daniel Smith surveyed the farm now owned by
Abraham Vandegrift, called Strawberry Hill.
In 1686 Edward Green surveyed 2000 acres, called
Green's Forest. A part of this farm was afterwards owned
by James Anderson, a Trustee of this congregation in 1754 ;
and has descended to James Houston his grandson, who is
* Probably this was Cannon's Mill.
16
now a Trustee ; Charles Haughey now owns a part of this
tract, and probably Mount Pleasant was a part of it.
I have given you these dates of original surveys, that you
may see that the field of this congregation began to be set-
tled about the year 1671, and that from this date the settle-
ment was made at various points of our boundaries. From
that period the settlement here was rapid. These lands,
with those below the Apoquinimy, seem to have attracted
strongly the attention of emigrants, so that in 1683, New
Castle, St. Georges, and Apoquinimy Hundred, were the
only subdivisions of territory in the county. In that year
there were fifty taxable inhabitants between George's Creek
and the Apoquinimy. Among these were Henry Walraven,
who owned the farm adjoining Samuel Townsend on the
East ; John Foster, John Taylor, John Peterson, Hans Han-
son, Adam Peterson, Elias Humphreys, Judith Crawford
and Peter Alricks, the descendants of some of whom are
still with, us. Judith. Crawford was the widow of James
Crawford, who was a landholder here prior to 1671. Be-
tween Apoquinimy and Duck Creek there were forty taxa-
ble inhabitants in 1683.
Drawyers Creek has three branches. The " main branch^^
rises west of the Forest church, and crosses the road near
that church, There was also the branch between General
Mansfield's and Charles Haughey's farms, anciently called
the " Southern Branch of 2nd Drawyers.''^ The other
branch between Mr. Templeman's and Mrs. Hanson's was
called the " Northern Branch of 2nd Drawyers.''^ The St.
Augustine Creek was anciently called " J^rentidskill."
Reedy Island has been called Reedon, Reeden, Reeton,
Reeten, and Bird Island.
Pearcei's Run derived its name from Abraham Pearce,
^ho owned land adjoining it. It was anciently called "Ca-
noe Branch." The location of the Vandykes in Dutch Neck
was called " Berwick^ James Burnham's farm was called
"Spring Garden ;" General Mansfield's " Axmister ; Charles
Haughey's " Weston ;" and William Perry's " Poplar Hill."
*'The Trap" has had that name more than a century.
Nearly every farm had its own name.
In 1675 there were probably but three churches in the
present states of Delaware and Pennsylvania. On the re-
cords of the court we find the following order, viz :
'' At a special court held by the governor at New Castle
in Delaware River the 13th and 14th dayes of May 1675,
It was ordered, that the church, or place of worship in this
Town and the affairs thereunto belonging be regulated by
the court here, in as orderly and decent a manner as may
be.* That the place for meeting at Craine Hoeck do con-
tinue as heretofore! — that the church at Tinnecum Island
do serve for Uppland and parts adjacent. |
"And whereas there is no church or place of worship higher
upp the River than the said Island, for the greater ease and
convenience of the inhabitants there, Its ordered, that the
magestrats of Uppland do cause a church or place of meet-
ing for that purpose to be built at Wickegkoo, the which to
be for the inhabitants of Passayunk and so upwards. $ The
said court being empowered to raise a Tax for its building,
and to agree upon a competent maintenance for their minis-
ter : of all w^hich they are to give an account to the next
* The original church at New Castle, is mentioned bj ^''illiam Penn,
in a letter to the committee of the Society of Free Traders in London in
1683, as a Dutch Chuhch.
■\ Craine Hoeck, afterwards called Tranhook, lay on the low lands op-
posite to the old stone church at Wilmington. The stone church was
built on its present site about 1680.
t Upland is in Chester.
§ Wickegkoo is Wicocoa above the Navy Yard in Philadelphia.
. ^ 2*
18
general Court, and they to the governor for his approba-
con." Signed,
" E. Andros&."
The churches at Craine.Hoeck, Tinnicum, and Wicocoa
were Swedes churches, and sufficiently point out the loca-
tion of the Swedes.
The Dutch church, at New Castle, was pjrohably the nu-
cleus of the present Presbyterian church. The Episco-
pal church, in that town, was founded in 1689. We
have no evidence that any other church existed earlier than
1698. In that year the first Presbyterian church, in Phi-
ladelphia, was formed. In 1700 Bishop Compton, of Lon-
don, sent Rev. Evan Evans to Philadelphia.
This church, then, was the second Presbyterian church
organized in '^ew Castle county, and probably the second in
the State. There was a minister, at Lewistown, (Rev. Mr,
Black,) in 1708, the very year in which we find Mr. Wil-
son preaching here. Among the early setders, in this vicinity,
there were four classes : — 1st, The Swedes. These seem
to have formed but a small portion of the earliest popula-
tion. The Petersons, the Andriessons, or Andersons, and
the Pipers belonged to this class. C. Piper was secretary
to Charles XI., King of Sweden; and in 1696, he wrote
a letter to the Swedes of Delaware, which was also signed
by the king, and accompanied it with a present from the
king of 1690 volumes of books, which were sent to them
free from charge. Count Piper, you will remember, was
secretary to Charles XII. of Sweden, and accompanied him
in his expedition against ancient Muscovy, in his attempt to
conquer Peter the Great. He was with him in all his re-
verses of fortune in the Ukraine, and in his flight to Bender.
—(See Life of Charles XII.) ,
19
2d. The Dutch. The residence of the Puritans who
landed on Plymouth Rock in 1620, for many years in Hol-
land, and the correspondence between those who came to
America and. that portion of the Pilgrims who remained
behind, laid open a field of enterprize to many of the Hol-
landers, who soon' embarked for America. The Dutch had
previously settled in New York and a part of New Jersey.
A portion of these emigrants located in Delaware. To
this class belonged the Alricks, the Hansons, the Vande-
grifts, the Van Dykes, the Vanzandts, the Vances, the Hyatts,
and the Kings.
The third class was composed of the French Hugue-
nots. After a most unrelenting persecution during the 26
years which succeeded the massacre on St. Bartholomew's
day, Henry IV. by the Edict of Nantes, adopted in 1598,
gave to the Protestants, the same rights and privileges and
immunities with the Roman Catholics. This was, in fact,
extending to them a full toleration of their religious princi-
pies.
But Louis XIV. deprived ihem of these rights in 1681,
and attempted by armed forces to compel them to renounce
their Protestant principles: and in 1685 he revoked the
Edict of Nantes and gave them up to the rage of persecu-
tion. These steps drove more than 500,000 Protestants to
Switzerland, Germany, Holland, and England. Of these
a portion settled, in this vicinity. To this class belonged
the Naudains, the Dushanes, the Gettons, Laforge, the Bay-
ards, the Larrouxs, and the Seays, or Sees, the Vigorues,
and Cannons, who settled here at an early period.
The fourth class was composed of the Irish, the Scotch,
and the English, with a few of the early settlers of New
England. The English and New England emigrants first
came to Delaware with Sir Robert Carr, in 1664.
20
During the reign of Charles I. in the year 1641, the mas-
sacre of the Irish Protestants occurred, in which fifty thou-
sand were inhumanly butchered ; and many fled to the North
of Scotland, from which country the North of Ireland had
been colonized bv Protestants.
The act of uniformity adopted in 1662, requiring all minis-
ters and churches rigidly to conform to the rites of the es-
tablished church, occasioned 2000 ministers to dissent and
leave their pulpits. In 1691, the act of toleration was pass-
ed, during the reign of William and Mary. The act of uni-
formity also affected Scotland with equal severity. But af-
ter a period of rest under the act of toleration, the effort was
made during the reign of Queen Anne, to repeal the act of
toleration. These difficulties and the unsettled state of af-
fairs in Europe drove many of the more quiet citizens from
their native land, to seek an asylum and to plant the banner
of the cross in this inhospitable wilderness. Such is the
outline of the oppressions which resulted in ihe formation of
this church. Some of the men who laid its foundations had
left the fields of suffering and privation and bloodshed in
Europe, to enjoy the privilege of worshipping God accord-
ing to the dictates of their conscience. Some of the no-
blest spirits of the age, the Christian heroes of their time,
laid the foundations of this community and of this church.
At what period a congregation was formed in this vicinity,
we are unable to decide. Dr. Read says, that it was about
the year 1700. The Swedes who settled here, and the ori-
ginal English inhabitants, began to locate their lands as early
as 1671. The Crawford family connected with this con-
gregation and with the Forest church, after its organiza-
tion, came to Delaware with Sir Robert Carr in 1664. The
Petersons and Hansons are known to have been land hold-
ers here since 1678. Henry Walraven, John Peterson,
21
of whom this lot was purchased, Hans Hanson, one
of the purchasers of this lot, Peter Alrichs and Judith
Crawford are known to have resided here in 1683. They
probably had some place of worship at an early period. At
that period, one of the first things, after the settlement of a
neighborhood, was the formation of a church. The
Swedes, the Dutch, the Friends, all established their
churches almost as soon as they arrived. x\nd it is reason-
able to suppose that while the Quakers, who fled from the
intolerance of Charles II., had their church at Hickory
Grove, and the Welsh Episcopalians their church at St.
George's, that the Presbyterians had their place of wor-
ship in this vicinity. This much is known, that in 1708
the Presbytery of Philadelphia received a letter from per-
sons residing here, respecting the ministrations of the Gos-
pel ; and they ordered the Rev. John Wilson, of New Cas-
tle to preach to this people " once a month on a week day."
In 1709 they ordered " Mr. Wilson to preach at Apoquin-
imy once a month till the next- meeting ; and one Sabbath a
quarter till the aforesaid meeting, provided always, that the
Sabbath day's sermon be taken from the White Clay Creek,
their time." — (Rec. p. 12.) Prior to 1708, the congrega-
tion at New Castle included White Clay Creek, and of course
all the intervening country. The people of White Clay
Creek during that year requested the Presbytery to grant
them a separate organization. This the people of New
Castle opposed, in order "that their meeting house and con-
gregation in New Castle may not be damaged by this rup-
ture of their fellow-members of White Clay Creek."
The Presbytery ordered Mr. Wilson to preach on the
Sabbath alternately at White Clay Creek and New Castle.
To this arrangement, the order of the Presbytery to Mr
Wilson to take the Sabbaths devoted to this congregation
^
22
from the White Clay Creek people, refers. Mr. Wilson
undoubtedly had the pastoral charge of all the Presbyterians
in this county in 1708.
This congregation may have been gathered by Rev. Na-
thaniel Taylor, long previous to 1700. This supposition is
rendered probable, by the fact that the Taylor family were
settled here in 1683, — and Mr. Taylor seems to have been
well acquainted with this section of the country.
This church is known to have sustained the preaching
and ordinances of the Gospel one hundred and thirty-four
years, including such periods of vacancy as usually occur ;
and to have employed fourteen ministers, ten of whom
are known to have been pastors ; and two others may have
been pastors.
On its original territory, three Presbyterian churches have
been formed by divisions of this congregation, and also three
Methodist churches have been gathered.
MINISTERS.
The first minister of this congregation, of whom we find
any account, was Rev. John Wilson, who was directed by
the Presbytery in 1708 to divide his labors between this
congregation. New Castle, and White Clay Creek. He was
one of the original members of the first Presbytery orga-
nized in the United States. He died in 1712. His family
were left in indigent circumstances, and were assisted by
the synod.
The second minister was Rev. Robert Wotherspoon, who
was ordained at Apoquinimy, May 13, 1714. He bought
the farm now owned by Mrs. Boyd, in 1715, and died in
Mav, 1718.
After the death of Mr. Wotherspoon, the Rev, Mr.
23
Young preached to this congregation ; but whether as a
stated supply or as a pastor is not known. He was ad-
mitted to the synod in 1718, having brought credentials
from the Presbytery of Armagh, in Ireland. He died in
1721.
Rev. Henry Hook is supposed to have taken charge of
this congregation in 1722. He purchased the farm on
which the Widow Hanson now resides, in 1724; and re-
sided in Mrs. Hanson's house, which he probably built,
one room in which was formerly called The Study. He died
in 1741, and was buried on his farm between his house and
the public road. This farm has remained in the possession
of his descendants to this day.
Rev. John Dick was ordained November 12, 1746, over
JVeiy Castle and Drawyers. He is supposed to have re-
sided on xMrs. Boyd's farm. He died in 1747, and is be-
lieved to have been buried on the farm.
Rev. Hector Allison was settled in 1753, and remained
until 1758. There is a regular account with him on the
Treasurer's book, from 1753 to 1758, when he removed.
The congregation seems to have had only occasional sup-
plies during the next ten years.
In 1768 Rev. Thomas Read, (afterwards Dr. Read,)
commenced supplying the congregation. In May, 1768,
Andrew Bryan was chosen " Treasurer for Rev. Thomas
Read's salary money." In 1772 " John Golden was chosen
trustee of Rev. Thomas Read's salary money, it being the
first year of his stated labor." Mr. Read was a popular
preacher, and the congregation was probably the largest in
Delaware during his minintry. Prior to 1772, he taught in
the Academy at Newark, and preached to this congrega-
tion as a stated supply. He received the degree of Doctor
24
in Divinity in 1796, and removed to Wilmington, vehere he
settled in the ministry in 1797, and died in 1823.
Rev. John Burton commenced his labors in this congre-
gation, in IVIay, 1804. He had previously been minister of
St. George's congregation. Thence he removed to Sussex
county and took charge of the Cool Spring congregation, in
1795, wlience he came to this congregation. He continued
as stated supply until 1822. He died in 1825, and was
buried in St. George's church yard. He owned the farm now
known as the Condon farm, south of Hickory Grove bury-
ing ground ; and while minister at Drawyers he bought the
house and farm, now owned by John Hays, near the Forest
church. During his ministry here he also supplied the For-
est church a portion of his time. He was a learned man,
well versed in theology, but exceedingly absent, and some-
times eccentric.
Rev. Joseph Wilson, from Nottingham, Pennsylvania,
commenced his labors and was installed over Drawyers,
Smyrna, and Forest churches, in 1822. He afterwards re-
linquished the care of the church at Smyrna, which, since
that period, has become extinct.
So much had Drawyers church declined after the re-
moval of Dr. Read, and so rapid was the decline of Pres-
byterianism in this region, that Mr. Wilson received an in-
adequate support, and was under the necessity of teaching a
portion of his time. He removed in 1830.
On the 1st of July, 1832, Rev. Nicholas Patterson com-
menced preaching in this congregation as a stated supply,
and continued his labors, until November 25, 1832. During
the period of his labors, the first protracted series of reli-
gious exercises was held; and, as the result, 31 were added
on the 4th of November to the church. This was the
26
largest number which has been added to the church at one
time during the entire period of its existence.
On the 25th of November, 1832, Rev. David De Forest
Ely commenced liis labors here as a stated supply and con-
tinued 22 weeks.
August 11, 1833, Rev. Warren G. Jones commenced his
labors in this congregation, and was installed November 21,
1833. On the first Sabbath in September in that year,
eight persons were added to the church.
January 12, 1833, eleven were received to the com-
munion of the church ; and in March following four were
admitted. Mr. Jones closed his labors in the congregation
August 14, 1835, and removed to Connecticut.
In November following, Rev. Charles Brown, of Lewes
Presbytery was invhed to supply the pulpit. September
9, 1837, he received a unanimous call, and was installed
October 21, of the same year. On the 22d of May, 1839,
Mr. Brown resigned his charge. On the 23d of June fol-
lowing, the congregation unanimously resolved to call the
present pastor. Rev. George Foot, W'ho was installed on the
18th of November, 1839.
Of those who have labored here either as pastors or
stated supplies since 1822, Rev. Messrs. Wilson, Patterson,
Ely, Jones, and Brown are among the living. All the mi-
nisters previous to that date are numbered with the dead.
This church, like many others in this region, has neg-
lected almost entirely its ecclesiastical records. From its
foundation to 1832, there are but two items of ecclesiasti-
cal business on record. We are indebted to the Trea-
surer's book for a record of the ordination of Elders.
There was a catalogue of members belonging to the
church, made in 1807. It exhibits the state of religion at
that period as very low and unpromising. There were then
rt
O
26
but 39 members in communion, eight of whom were colored
persons. This church has never enjoyed those frequent
and copious showers of grace which have been poured on
some other portions of the country. This state of things
may be attributed perhaps, in part, to the practice of ad-
mitting persons who did not profess to have passed from
death to life, to sealing ordinances, which lon^ prevailed
here. These is no evidence that Whitefield ever preached
on this spot, nor that the revival, at that period, had any in-
fluence upon it. In 1746 this congregation, which had
sustained the ministry alone for 28 years previous, was
united with New Castle, under the care of Mr. Dick. This
fact shows that its interests had greatly declined. From
1747 to 1753, the pulpit was vacant. The youth and fer-
vid eloquence of Rodgers, made rapid inroads on the con-
gregation; the growth of the Forest congregation, five miles
distant from this spot, and the improved state of religious
feeling, under the labors of Rodgers, and Whitefield, and
Tennent, and Finley drew many of the younger members
of this congregation to St. George's and the Forest churches.
These considerations show why so many of the members
who belonged to this congregation in 1 746, were afterwards
found on the records of St. George's.
ELDERS.
With regard to the elders of this church we have not
been able to gain much definite information earlier than
the year 1732. From the records of the Presbytery, it
appears that Leonard Vandegrift was an elder in Presby-
tery in 1711. In 1708 the Vandegrift family bought land
here ; and none of the name are known to have resided in
any other part of the field of the Presbytery of Philadel-
27
phia, at that period. Leonard is a family name in the Van-
degrift family residing here, and can be traced on records
as far back as 1738. Leonard Vandegrift, then, was an
elder in this church. In 1712 we find Isaac Piper re-
corded as an elder in Presbytery. The Piper family long
resided here, and it is a reasonable supposition that Isaac
Piper was an elder in this church. In 1714, Hans Han-
son was an elder in Presbytery. There were two men of
this name at that date, probably the father and the son. —
The eldest of the two resided at New Castle. But no
elder of this name could have represented the church at
New Castle, in the Presbytery, at the meeting in 1714, be-
cause Segfrigus Alrichs was also an elder in Presbytery,
who is known to have resided in New Castle. Hans Han-
son, then, was an elder in this church in 1714. He was
one of the purchasers of this lot, in 1711.
At the first meeting of the Synod of Philadelphia, in 1717,
Elias Naudaiu, who is known to have resided within the
bounds of this congregation In 1717, was present as an
elder. In 1720, Isaac Piper was again an elder in the sy-
nod. In 1721, Johannes Vandegrift was an elder in synod.
In 1724, Abraham Golden, Sen. He owned the farm on
which Abraham Vandegrift now resides. In 1725, Thos.
Hyatt, whose name is on our records, in 1736, as belonging
to the congregation. In 1727, Jacob King was an elder in
synod. He owned the Dickinson farm, north west from
the Trap.
In 1731, Francis King was an elder in synod. He own-
ed Mr. Barney's farm in 1709, and bought a farm lying on
the south west side of 2d Drawyers Creek, now a part of
Gen. Mansfield's, on which the old stone house now stands,
in 1720.
In 1732, the elders were Francis King, Cornelius King,
28
who owned either a part of ]Vlr. Barney's farm, or that of
John M. Woods, Moses McKinley, who owned the farm
now owned by Isaac Vandegrift ; Charles Robinson, who
owned the Booth farm on Scoti's Run, and Christopher Van-
degrift.
• In 1746, Elias Naudain and Garrett Dushane, who lived
at the Trap, on John Janvier's farm, were elders in office.
On the 5th Sabbath of March, in the same year, David
Witherspoon, Esq., James McComb, Garrett Rothwell,
Cornelius King, Joseph Hill, James Anderson, and James
Vance were ordained. In 1778, John Taylor and Isaac
Moody were chosen in the place of Andrew Bryan, de-
ceased.
In 1788, Ehas Naudain and Joseph Aspril. In 1790,
John Hanson, in the place of John Crawford, deceased.
Between 1790 and 1794, though it is not certain in which
year, John Vance Hyatt was ordained in the place of John
Golden, deceased. In 1794, John Janvier and Elias Wal-
raven, in the place of Robert Meldrum, deceased. In
1796, Peter Bowman and John Moody, in the place of
Isaac Hyatt, deceased.
Thus it appears that between 1746 and 1776, Andrew
Bryan, John Crawford, John Golden, Robert Meldrum,
and Isaac Hyatt are incidentally mentioned as elders, de-
ceased, of whose ordination there is no record.
In 1801, Arnold Naudain and William Frazer, in place
of Elias Naudain and John Janvier, deceased ; William
Frazer was never ordained.
In 1805, James Vance, Joshua Toland, and Leonard K.
Vandegrift, in place of Joseph Aspril, John Hanson, and
Elias Walraven, deceased ; and Arnold Naudain, who join-
ed the Methodists ; 1806, David Sebo, in the place of John
V. Hyatt, deceased.
29
In 1790, John Janvier and John Vance Hyatt were elect-
ed deacons ; and in 1724, Joseph Vance. There is no evi-
dence that any other deacons have existed in this church.
In IS J 3, Mr. John Boyd was ordained an elder. He
was for several years the only elder in the church, and died
in 1837.
March 8, 1833, John M. Woods was ordained an elder.
November 21, 1833, Andrew S. Naudain and Samuel
Jefferson were ordained as Elders ; Mr. Jefferson after-
wards was elected an elder in Port Penn church.
TRUSTEES.
There is no record of the election of trustees earlier than
1746.
The following persons have been Trustees of this con-
gregation, viz : John Vandyke, went out of office as trustee,
in 1746. He w^as sheriff of this county.
In 1746, Hans Hanson, Elias Naudain, James Anderson,
Senr., and David Witherspoon. Elias Naudain was a na-
tive of France.
After the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, in 1685,
he fled to England. The certificate of his denization in
England w^as dated 1703, and recorded at New Castle, in
1720. He was on the grand jury at New Castle in 1718.
David Witherspoon, Esq. was a native of the county of
Londonderry, in Ireland. He resided in Middletown, where
he died in 1763, aged 58, and was buried in the rear of
the tavern in that place, which tavern he built. He was a
member of the Senate in Delaware, in 1762. It was in
his house that the scene described in the Life of Dr.
Rodgers occurred, which was the apparent means of bringing
Hugh Knox into the kingdom of God, and into the Chris-
3*
30
tian ministry. About the year 1754, Knox came to this
country from Ireland, and was recommended to Dr. Rodgers
by Dr. Francis Allison, ot. New London. Dr. Rodgers
succeeded in establishing for him a grammar school at the
head of the Bohemia, on the farm now in possession of the
Clayton family. In this school Knox continued about a
year, as a successful teacher. Here he attended the minis-
try of Dr. Rodgers, at the Forest church. On Saturdays
he was accustomed to spend the afternoons at the tavern
of Mr. Witherspoon, in company with some of his associ-
ates. Habits of intemperance, in this company, were rapid-
ly gaining strength. On one occasion the associates of
Knox said, " come parson, give us a sermon." He at first
declined, but at length excited by drink, said, " well, come,
I will give you the sermon which Mr. Rodgers preached
last Sunday." The text was, 2 Cor. v. 20. Knox had a
retentive memory and great powers of imitation. He re-
peated so much of the sermon, and imitated so closely the
delivery of Dr. Rodgers that Mr. Witherspoon, who heard
liim from the adjacent roonij said, that had he not known to
the contrary, he should have supposed that Dr. Rodgers
himself was preaching. This attempt at mimickry made
a deep impression on the mind of Knox. Filled with
shame, he fled from the place without waiting even to col-
lect the money due to him, and was not heard of for a num-
ber of months. The next autumn. Dr. Rodgers attended
the commencement at Princeton. At the house of President
Burr he met with Knox, who made to him a full confession
of the wickedness of his conduct, and of the impression
which the scene had made on his mind, which resulted in
his hopeful conversion, and begged the doctor to say nothing
to hinder his admission to college. He was admitted ; pur-
sued his classical and theological studies with entire credit
31
to himself; settled in the ministry in the island of St. Croix,
where he remained for many years, and eventually received
the degree of Doctor in Divinity from the university of Glas-
gow, in Scotland. He was an able writer.
1754, James Anderson, David Witherspoon, Joseph Hill,
Alexander Bryan, and William Whittit, — Whittit was a
merchant.
1766, James Anderson, Arnold Naudain, and Thomas
Witherspoon. James Anderson died in 1767, and in
1768, Andrew Naudain and Andrew Bryan were elect-
ed.
1772, Arnold Naudain, Thomas Witherspoon, Andrew
Bryan, Charles Robinson, John Crawford, Isaac Hyatt,
John Golden, and Robert Meldrum were trustees.
1778, John Crawford was chosen trustee of the glebe
money, in place of Andrew Bryan, deceased ; and William
Read for the money willed to Drawyers congregation, by
Mary Hill. He was a brother of Dr. Read.
1785, Elias Naudain was chosen Trustee of the glebe
money.
1787, John Crawford, John Golden, Joseph Aspril, Elias
Naudain, and John Vance Hyatt. Elias Naudain died in
1800.
1790, Robert Meldrum in the place of John Crawford,
Esq., deceased, and William McKennan in the place of
John Golden, deceased.
1794, John Congleton who removed from the place in
1794, and John Janvier, who died in 1801.
1798, William Frazer, who continued in office till 1800,
and Elias Walraven, who died 1803.
1802, William Bradford, who died in 1803. In 1802,
Joseph Aspril and John Vance Hyatt died.
32
1805, John Janvier and Christopher Vandegrift 3d were
elected.
J80G, Alban Roberts, who resigned in 1811.
1811, David Sebo, who died in 1815.
1819, John Janvier, Lawrence Aspril, Abraham Vande-
grift, and Peter Bowman.
1829, James Houston, John H. Cannon, and John M.
Woods.
1842, The Trustees of this congregation in office are
John Janvier, Esq., Christopher Vandegrift, John Janvier,
Abraham Vandegrift, James Houston, John M. Woods, and
John H. Cannon.
TREASURERS.
1731, Abraham Martin was in office.
1736, John Vandyke was elected.
1750, David Witherspoon.
From 1751 to 1754, Anthony Golden.
1764, Thomas Witherspoon.
1767, Arnold Naudain.
1773, Arnold Naudain.
1785, John Crawford.
1787, Arnold Naudain.
1807; John Moody, who continued in office till 1819,
From 1819 to 1822 John Janvier.
1822 to 1825, Christopher Vandegrift.
1825 to 1826, Peter Bowman.
1826 to 1829, Christopher Vandegrift.
1829 to 1842, John Janvier.
The following persons are known to have belonged to this
congregation, at the dates attached to their names. They
33
were probably all here at a period anterior to these dates,
as they are incidentally mentioned on the records. But we
are compelled to gather up the names as they stand re-
corded. From the records of the Synod of Philadelphia,
it appears that Andrew Vandyke was a member of this
church, in 1718. The Vandyke family emigrated to this
colony from Middlesex county, New Jersey. Andrew Van-
dyke made his will in 1730. He had a brother, Isaac Van-
dyke, whose will is dated 1727. This family resided in
Dutch Neck.
The bond of Garrett Dushane and Abraham Golden,
Senr., bears date Oct. 10, 1723. Abraham IMarteen, (Mar-
tin,) was here in 1731. John Vandyke, son of Andrew,
1733. Moses McKinley, Charles Robinson, Cornelius
King, Francis King, and Christopher Vandegrift, 1732. —
Thomas Hyatt, 1759.
The bonds of Henry Vandyke and Nicholas Vandyke,
are dated 1744.
Francis King and Francis Crussan's, 1746.
John Vanzandt and William Bennett's, 1747.
Peter Packard and Jared Rothwell's, 1746.
All the bonds mentioned probably belonged to the glebe.
Andrew Bryan, Henry Piper, James Anderson, Peter
Bellows, Jacob Hyatt, William Piper, David Steward,-
Thomas King, John Vandyke, son of Nicholas, whose will
is dated 1728. James Dery, William Patterson, James
Rogers, James Vance, Derick See, Peter Getton, Lewis
Getton, James Houston, James McComb, Matthew Steele,
Robert Young, William Bell, Henry Vanleud, Isaac Can-
non, who lived on the farm of Robert Ocheltree, John
Fermer, James Patterson, James Crawford, Anthony Du-
shane, James Beluerd, Garrett Vanzandt, David Hyatt,
Charles Perry, Peter Alrichs, Hugh Curry, Thomas Dare^
34
Valentine Dushane, John Anderson, Henry Peterson; were
all members of the congregation and held seats in the house
of worship in 1746.
John Culbertson, Andrew Vance, Samuel Moore,
Laforge, and Thomas Leach, in ]748. John Vance, and
James Peterson, in 1750. Anthony Golden, in 1751. —
Joseph Hill, in 1752. Joseph Hill was a native of Boston,
New England.
Thomas Steward and James Mahoe, William Piper,
John Anderson, James Hart, David Walker, George Pent-
land, William Wilson, Jacobus Hanson, Grace McComb,
Hugh McDowell, Andrew Naudain, 1753.
James Piper, Robert Watt, and Nicholas Bennett, 1754.
John Bryan and Alexander Bryan (were brothers) and John
Bumgarden, 1763. William Golden, James Anderson,
Abraham Golden, Abraham Williams, and Derick Williams,
John Hanson, William Hanson, Samuel Piper, and John
Martin, 1767.
Merinas Haughey, Thomas Packard, John Golden, and
Susanna Denny, " late widow of Andrew Naudain," 1771.
All these names, excepting one or two, are found on the re-
cords of the trustees.
With a commendable zeal the members of this congre-
gation, at an early period of its history, made liberal dona-
lions to establish a permanent fund for the support of the
ministry, the benefit of whose liberality we enjoy at the pre-
sent time ; and it becomes us to inquire whether the present
generation ought not to remember, in a similar manner, this
ancient congregation, and provide for its future necessities —
that while you enjoy the benefits of the liberality of your
ancestors, you may extend the same liberality to your suc-
cessors.
Mrs. Mary Hill, who has been mentioned as a benefac-
35
tor of this church, was the wife of Joseph Hill, an elder of
this church, and grand-daughter of Peter Alrichs, Governor
of Delaware. She contributed a hundred pounds to the
building of this church, and thirty pounds to purchase plate
for the communion table.
The first house of worship erected on this enclosure
stood on the south east corner of the grave yard, directly
in front of the grave of Joseph Hill. Tt was of wood.
What were its form and dimensions cannot now be ascer-
tained. It soon became too small to contain the congrega-
tion, and was enlarged in 1736. The name of the carpenter
was Alexander Hoage. But it seems to have been enlarg-
ed more than once. The preamble to the subscription for
the present house, says of the former house, " and at sundry
times" it "has been enlarged." But at what periods and
to what extent wc have no means of ascertaining.
In 1751, the "Study House" was either built or en-
larged. That "Study House" is remembered Sly many
now among us. It stood near the north east corner of this
house, where the ruins of its foundations are still visible.
In 1797, the congregation resolved to enclose the bury-
ing ground. Probably it had never been enclosed prior to
that date, and the ashes of the dead are reposing in the ad-
jacent fields, and in the grove in front of the present en-
closure.
In 1769, the house of worship having decayed and being
rendered " unfit to answer the purposes of a house of wor-
ship," a subscription was raised for the purpose of erecting
the present edifice, and Peter Alrichs, John Hanson, John
^Hyatt, Jr., James Moore, William Bradford, Duncan Beard,
Henry Packard, Jr., and Andrew Brown were appointed
a building committee. Peter Alrichs was appointed trea-
surer of the building committee. The house was not
36
erected till 1773. The bricks were burnt on the farm of
Robert Meldrum, now owned by Samuel Pennington. The
remains of the brick-kiln are still visible on the north east
corner of Mr. Pennington's field, lying on the north side of
the road lending from this church, to Middletown.
In 1772, Peter Alrichs and Mrs. Mary Hill were appoint-
ed " Treasurers of the money for building the new Meet-
ing House." Andrew Bryan, however, acted in their behalf.
During the same year, another building committee seems to
have been appointed, consisting of 2\ndrew Bryan, Tho-
mas AVithcrspoon, John Crawford, John Hyatt, and Arnold
Naudain,
Jacob McComb, Garrett Hart, Robert Meldrum, Isaac
Hyatt, and Thomas McKean were appointed a committee
to collect the subscription for the building of the church.
In 1 770, Duncan Beard, Isaac Moody, Joseph Aspril,
and William Read were chosen a committee to setde with
Andrew Bryan, Treasurer for building " Drawyers Brick
Meeting House."
The house was not finished, however, at that period. A
part of it was plastered in 1823.
Mrs. Sarah Hyatt, who died in 1820, left a legacy of
100 pounds for this purpose ; and David Vandyke be-
queaUied in his will made in 1798, twenty pounds to Draw-
yers church, " to finish the house of worship."
The dimensions of this church are 44 by 56 feet. Its
materials and workmanship were of the most substantial cha-
racter. It is a noble monument of the fidelity of the build-
ing committee, and of the affection of that generation for
the decency and order of divine worship. John Vance
Hyatt died in 1806, and left 100 pounds to put a new roof
on the church.
In 1811, a new roof was put upon this house and in
37
1833 the pulpit and seats were remodeled, and the interior
of the house otherwise improved and painted.
The names of those who contributed to the erection of
this house, with the several amounts of their subscriptions,
are as follows :
James Patterson,
John Edwards,
Henry Vanbebber,
■Daniel Bratton,
Abel Pitman,
William Gill,
Roger Casey,
Samuel Adair,
George McCoole,
William Stephenson,
Abel Miles,
Owen Owen,
Nicholas Vandyke,
Andrew^ Hendry,
Nicholas Hanson,
Joseph Aspril,
William Carpenter,
Henry Foster,
William Walker,
John Gray,
Jacob Vanlaven,
William Nielson,
George Norris,
Garrett Hart,
Jacob King,
John Adair,
Ephraim Hyatt,
£ s.
d.
1 10
1 10
1
1
1 10
1 10
1
3
1 10
1 10
1 10
2
6
1
1 10
3
2
6
3 10
2
3
3
3
10
2
2
3
38
John Taylor,
John Richardson,
•
£
- 5
1
5. d'
10
Hugh Eagleson,
Jean Butcher, - - -
- 1
1
Sarah Hambly,
Sarah McConnall and James Darrach,
- 3
11
Samuel Carpenter,
James Vanzandt,
- 6
6
Susannah Piper,
John Harrell, Jr.,
- 6
6
5
Abraham Rothwell,
- 10
George Armstrong,
Peter Packard,
2
- 5
-0
Arnold Naudain,
25
David Vandyke, Senr.,
Elias Naudain, - _ *
James Vance,
- 20
10
1
JO
Osborn Flisse, - _ -
1
John Hyatt, - - -
John Vail, Senr., - - .
William Clark,
- 10
6
- 7
1 6
10
John Golden,
7
John Hanson,
John Thomas, - - -
- 6
3
10 10
William Curry,
Samuel Smith, - - -
John McGoffin,
William Smith, - - _
Charles Bryan,
James Hanson, - - -
- 7
3
- 5
2
- 6
3
10
William Burgess,
John Burgess, - - -
- 6
1
10
39
£ s. d.
Cornelius Naudain, - - - 10
Charles Robinson, - - 10
John Martin, - - - 6
Edwin Webster, - - - 3
Abraham Vandegrift, - - 3
Sampson Atkinson, - - 6
Thomas Packard, - - • - 6
Richard See, - - - 12
Jared Rothwell, - - - 3
Benjamin Rothwell, - - 3
John Crawford, - - - 12
Adam Vance, - - - 6
Robert Meldrum, - - - 10
Garrett Packard, - - 10
William Hanson, - - - 10
Duncan Beard, - - - 6
John Vail, Jr., - - - 3
William King, - - - 6 6 6
John Hook, - - - - 10
Thomas Vail, - - - 3
James Moore, - - - 6
Mary Hill, - - - 100
Henry Packard, - - - 16
Thomas Rothwell, - - 15
William McKean, - - - 13
Jacob McComb, - - 20
Thomas Witherspoon, - - 25
James Moore, - - - 6
Isaac Hyatt, - - - 8
Peter Alrichs, - - - 15
Benjamin Armstrong, - - - 10
James McCoy. - - - 7
40
£ i
?. d.
James Vail, _ - -
- 6 10
William Read, ^
6 J
[0
Andrew Brown,
- 3
2 6
Joseph Anderson, -
20 ;
10 10
Susannah Gooding,
- 6
John Hanson, 2d, -
10
Isaac Moody,
- 6
James Moody,
o
O
William Roth well,
- 3
Joseph Evans,
-
9 6
Conderat Gray,
- G
5 9
Jacob Pugh,
15
15 4h
Samuel Allen,
-
5 8
James Vail,
1
10 10
William White,
-
9 4
Isaac Lewis,
1
1 1
Evan Morgan, (Pencader,)
-
13
Cornelius McNamer,
5
2
James Ruth, - - -
- 10 13 8
Jeremiah Ford,
4
1 5
William McColly,
1
1 6
Samuel Steward, -
-
5 1
John Robinson, - ' -
-
6 1
Robert Dorter,
—
— —
Inosus Scott,
-
14 6
Robert Watt,
1
4 5
Joseph Hains,
- 4
19 10
Valentine Dodd,
-
17 10
David Thomas, (Lewis county.)
-
1 9
Cornelius Truax,
1
4
John Bolton,
- 51
James David,
1
14 6
£
s.
d.
4
17
6
9
16
8
1
10
6
1
8
6
2
2
6
1
1
1
12
4
1
10
6
2
6
9
15
41
Alexander Ruth, _ - _
William Craighton,
Samuel Vance, - _ _
Thomas Hvatt, _ - -
Benjamin Noxen, - _ -
Thomas Wallace,
John Hambleton, - - -
Veronica Datterson,
Thomas McGravv, - - -
Andrew Bryan, - - -
A part of the original subscription list now in the hands
of the treasurer, has been lost, and with it the names of
forty contributors to this house have perished. The sums
which they contributed are preserved, and amount to £122
6^. \d.
The whole sum raised by subscription for the erection of
this house was
£985 13
Add to this 120 bequeathed to finish
the house, and the
Sum total is £1105 13
This sum was contributed by one hundred and eighty-
eight individuals.
The name of Mrs. Mary Hill is carved on a marble slab
in the wall of this house, on which she caused the following
inscription to be made, viz :
4*
42
''the church of the first PRESBYTERIAN
SOCIETY IN THIS HUNDRED.
BUILT A. D. 1773.
REV. THOMAS READ, A. M.
PASTOR.
THIS STONE THE GIFT OF MRS. MARY HILL.
Serve the Lord with gladness,
Ps. 100. 2(1."
Another Stone is about to be placed on the opposite side
of the pulpit with this inscription, viz :
THIS SITE PURCHASED MAY 10, 1711.
THE FIRST CHURCH BUILT 1711.
REV. JOHN WILSON, PASTOR, 1708.
" Your fathers^ where are theyV
This church, now commonly known as the Drawyers
church, seems to have derived its name from the creek, on
whose bank it stands. But whence the creek derived this
name it is not easy to determine. The original name of the
church was, "The Church of Apoquinimy." Its corporate
name is, "The 1st Presbyterian Church in St. George's Hun-
dred." Within the geographical limits of this congregation,
various other churches have been organized since this church
was founded.
There was a place of worship erected at an early period
by the Friends, near the road, leading from Port Penn to
the State road, called, " George's Creek Meeting House."
43
This site is now known as the Hickory Grove. Thence, the
place of worship was removed to Cantwell's Bridge, and the
present house was erected about the year 1780.
Dr. Read says, that "about the year 1742 the Draw^-
yers church divided. The party that withdrew, being call-
ed the JVew Side, were formed into a society and erected
a meeting house about six miles north east of Drawyers
meeting house, and formed a large and respectable congrega-
tion denominated, St. George's congregation ; and very
shortly after invited a Mr. Robinson to be their minister.
He accepted their invitation in 1743 or 1744, and from
his piety and zeal there was a prospect of a great harvest in
that part of the vineyard. But it pleased the Lord to
call him to a more exalted station in 1746." This was
Rev. William Robinson, the pioneer of Presbyterianism
in Virginia. He was the son of a wealthy Quaker in
England. In his youth he went to visit an aunt of his in
the city of London, where he became involved in dissi-
pation and in debt. He resolved at once to embark for
America, fearing to return to his father's house. After his
arrival in this country, he taught a school in New Jersey.
Here he became a Christian, pursued his academical and
theological studies while engaged in his school, and in
due time was licensed and ordained by the Presbytery
of New Brunswick. Soon after this he visited Virginia as a
missionary. In Hanover county, in that State, there were
a few individuals into whose hands " Boston's Fourfold
State," and some other religious books, had come. Samuel
Morris, a wealthy planter, had procured Luther's Commen-
tary on the Galatians. which led him to embrace the plan
of salvation. He invited his neighbors to meet at his house
and spend the Sabbaths in hearing religious books read. —
In 1743 a volume of Whitefield's Sermons was brought into
44
the neighborhood, and such deep interest was excited that
the people began to meet on week days. But, as yet, they
had no prayers, extemporaneous prayer being then unknown
in that region. Episcopacy being the religion established by
law in that colony. Mr. Morris' house was soon too small to
contain the people who resorted thither, and a building was
erected for their accommodation, which was called " Mor-
ris' Reading Room." In 1743, Mr. Robinson visited
the interior of Virginia, and preached at Cub Creek. —
While there, some young people from Mr. Morris' neigh-
borhood heard him, and carried back the intelligence. Two
messengers were immediately sent to invite Mr. Robinson to
Morris' Reading Room. They were obliged to follow him to
North Carolina, before they overtook him. He promised to
comply with their request at an appointed time. On Satur-
day previous to the Sabbath appointed, he rode until a late
hour of the night and lodged at a tavern eight or ten miles
distant from the Reading Room. While there, he rebuked
the landlord, who was a shrewd, boisterous man, for his
profanity. He replied, " Pray, who are you, Sir, to take
such authority upon yourself?" Mr. Robinson replied, "I
am a minister of the Gospel." " Then your looks belie you
very much," was the reply. Mr. Robinson, in addition to
features far from being prepossessing, had a countenance
much disfigured by the small pox, and had lost the use
of one of his eyes. " But," said Mr. Robinson, " If you
wish to know whether I am a minister or not, if you will ac-
company me, you may be convinced by hearing me preach."
His reply was, " I will, if you will preach from a text
which I shall give you." Mr. Robinson promised to
do so provided there was nothing unsuitable in the text. —
The text was designedly applied sarcastically to Mr. Rob-
inson himself, by the landlord. It was this, — " I am fear-
45
fully and wonderfully made." The landlord accompanied
him. He preached from that text, and the landlord was
led to see that Ms own moral conformation 7 v as fearful
and wonderful, and he afterwards became a pious, devoted
member of the church. Mr. Robinson preached with great
success, and many were brought into the kingdom of God.
After Mr. Robinson left the neighborhood, a collection was
made, and messengers sent to give it to him. This he re-
fused ; but at length consented on condition that they should
grant him permission to appropriate it to the education of a
pious, indigent young man, who was then preparing for the
ministry.^ He, moreover, promised that that young man
should come and preach to them when he was prepared. The
money was thus applied. The young man visited Hanover,
and there settled in the ministry with that very people. —
That young man was Rev. Samuel Davies, who w^as born a
short distance from the Summit Bridge, on the farm now
occupied by INIr. Lum, about 12 miles from this spot. He
was afterwards President of Princeton College, visited
England and collected funds for its endowment. He was
one of the most talented and eloquent men of the age, of
Welch descent, and probably born in the Pencader congre-
gation.
The people of St. George's then called Rev. Samuel
Davies. He spent some time with them but not as a stated
Pastor; and removed thence to Hanover in Virginia. They
then united with the congregation of Middletown, which
was composed principally of the people that withdrew from
Drawyers, and a few of those that belonged to Back Creek
congregation, and invited a Mr. John Rodgers to be their
Pastor. He accepted their invitation, was installed March
16th, 1749, and spent sixteen years among them." So
popular was Dr. Rodgers that the adjacent congregations
46
found it difficult to sustain a Pastor, especially Drawyers
and Pencader.
The Presbyterian church at Pigeon Run, about five miles
distant, near the road to Wilmington, was dissolved and
united with St. George's, and the Welch Episcopal congre-
gation opposite the steam mill on the South side of the canal
in St. George's, rapidly declined and became extinct. Dr.
Rodgers removed to Wall Street church in New York in
1765, and died in 1811. In 1766, Rev. Elihu Spencer
was called and continued with lhem/oMr?/ear5.
After him Rev. Thomas Smyth was called, who accepted
their invitation. After about one year had elapsed^ difficulty
arose between the congregations of St» George's and Middle-
town, and they became separate charges. Mr. Smyth re-
tained the Middletown church, where he continued to labor
until his death in 1792. In 1776 the glebe of these congre-
gations was divided.
The church at St. George's remained vacant until
1781, when Rev. Daniel Jones took charge of the congre-
gation, and removed after one year. After this Rev. John
Burton took charge of it, and continued there till 1796.
Rev. John Collins was installed in 1798, and died in
1804.
He was succeeded by Rev. Samuel Bell in 1808. Under
Mr. Bell the congregation was united with Pencader. He
left in 1830. Their present Pastor, Rev. James C. How,
was installed in 1831.
Probably the people who withdrew from Drawyers in
1742, all attended the St. George's church for several years.
This is rendered probable by the fact that the Middletown,
or Forest church was not built till 1750.
It has been alleged that the St., George's church was
organized in 169.8. The evidence adduced is that this date
47
is found on a rafter in the roof of the present house. This
opinion we cannot adopt, because 1. No ministry, nor elder-
ship, nor date on a tombstone can be found prior to the date
of Mr. Robinson's settlement.
2. Because that in the year 1 709, the Presbytery refused
to organize a church at White Clay creek, lest a congregation
so near to New Castle should injure the church in that place.
The distance was twelve miles, whereas St. George's is but
eleven miles from New Castle. If St. George's congregation
is older than this, why did the Presbytery of New Castle in
1709 direct Mr. Wilson to preach to this church which was
only six miles distant from St. George's, when they had at
that very session refused an organization to White Clay creek,
twelve miles from New Castle.
3. The church at St. George's is never mentioned on the
records of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, nor of the synod,
prior to 1753, while this church was mentioned in 1708 and
1709, and a minister was ordained here by Presbytery in
1714, and supplies were often sent to this church during the
vacancies which occurred.
4. Because all the other churches which are known to
have existed prior to the organization of the Synod in 1717,
are mentioned on the Records of the Presbytery.
5. Because that prior to 1707, an Episcopal church i^
known to have existed in that place, to which Penn granted
25 acres of land. No instance can be found in which two
churches existed at that early period within one mile of each
other, as these two churches at St. George's must have done,
except in a large town.
6. Because the church at Pigeon Run, which was after-
wards united with St. George's, and stood only five miles
from it, was manifestly an older church. One tombstone in
48
the grave-yard being dated at least twenty years earlier than
the oldest tombstone at St. George's.
7. Because there is no evidence that Red Lion hundred
was sufficiently populous to become a distinct subdivision of
territory prior to 1718.
8. Because Dr. Reed, in a history of these churches now
in existence, says, that St. George's church was organized
by the New Side party, which went out from this church in
1742. Dr. Reed commenced preaching in this church in
1768, 26 years after the division occurred, of which he
speaks, and when many who were active in that division
were still alive.
9. Because that many who were evidently members of
that congregation in 1751, were members and held seats in
this congregation in 1746. Individuals who were brought
up here, and even two sons of one of the Elders of this
church, were afterwards members of that congregation.
These reasons we deem amply sufficient to outweigh any
mark on a rafter of a church, the author and history of which
are unknown.
The truth may be that the party who composed that
church knew the date of the organization oithis church, and
that when they left this church, they still claimed to be the
true and original church, and therefore fixed the date of our
organization on their church. We know that both parties
did make this claim during that division in the original Synod,
as has been done during the recent division, and that on this
field there were then two Presbyteries, both of which were
known as the Presbytery of New Castle. On this supposi-
tion, this date is the exact date of the organization of this
church and congregation.
There is still another difficulty which needs to be weighed.
49
The early congregations in this region are known to have
had glebes. The earliest bond belonging to the glebe in this
congregation is dated 1723. The effort to establish a glebe
in St. George's was made in 1751, and it was divided in
1776 with the Forest congregation, or between those above
the Drawyers creek and those below it. Thus they divided
between those congregations the entire field .of this congre-
gation. The Forest congregation is known to have parchased
the site of its place of worship in 1750. That new con-
gregation then, many of the members of which are known to
-iiave belonged previously to this congregation, aided St.
George's in purchasing its glebe, and shared in the partition
in proportion to their contributions. And their glebe was
purchased at least 28 years after that in Drawyers congrega-
tion was begun.
Our last reason is this : Christopher Vandegrift, an elder of
St. George's church was born in 1731, and died June 8th,
1816, aged 85. He, of course, was 11 years old in 1742,
the year in which Dr. Reed says St. George's church was
organized. Mr. Vandegrift stated to Rev. Mr. Latta in
1811, that Mr. Robinson, who was settled in 1743 or 1744,
was the first pastor. It is incredible that a church existed
there without a pastor for 46 years.
After the death of Mr. Smyth, the Middletown or Forest
congregation called Rev. Mr. Cheally^ who was exceedingly
popular in the pulpit, but a misguided and immoral man.
During his ministry the congregation declined, and its glebe
was lost, and the ruin of the congregation was soon com-
pleted.
Since that time, it was supplied by Mr. Burton and Mr.
Wilson, ministers of Drawyers. After the removal of Mr.
Wilson, they had no stated preaching, and the congregation
is now extinct.
5
50
The Forest church was composed of a portion of the
New side men, who withdrew from this church in 1742.
They seem to have worshipped at St. George's, and perhaps
some of th-em at Back Creek, until 1750. In that year
Robert Alexander deeded a lot to Peter Bayard, James
Bayard, Sluyter Bouchell, Benjamin Sluyter, Wm. Moore,
John Moody, James Shaw, Thomas Rothwell and John
Vandyke, Trustees of the Forest congregation, called the
Presbyterian congregation of Bohemia and Apoquinimy,
under the care of the Synod of New York.
In 1789, Peter Hyatt, Alexander McMurphy, John
Moody, Ephraim Logue, and Wm. Neilson were Trustees,
and in 1793, John Moody, John Vail, Alexander Stuart,
Isaac King and Jacob Cazier.
The Bayards resided on Bohemia Manor. The old
Mansion House stood near the Ferry, nearly East of the
house of Hon. Louis McLane. The family vault is in a
locust grove in the rear of the present Bayard mansion.
In that vault, are deposited also the remains of Richard
Bassettj a former govenor of Delaware. The door of the
vault is the tombstone of Herman. It has been removed
from the grave to which it belongs, and placed over others.
The inscription on it is as follows, viz :
AUGUSTINE HERMAN, BOHEMIAN,
THE FIRSF FOUNDER &,
SEATER OF BOHEMIA MANOR.
ANNO. 1669.
Herman was from Bohemia. He settled at New Castle.
Prior to 1 664, he had located in Maryland, and become
61
naturalized. To him the grant of Bohemia Manor was mad^..
This manor consisted of 18,000 acres.
Tradition says that he was once arrested and imprisoned
by the Dutch in New York, and condemned to die. Shortly
before the time of execution he seemed partially delirious,
and requested that his favori-te horse might be brought into
his prison. It was a large building with huge windows and
doors, and the windows were twenty feet from the ground.
He mounted his horse caparisoned in his- usual style and
pranced about within the prison. Watching his opportunity,
he leaped his horse from tlie window of the prison, swam
the Hudson River, ran across the State of New Jersey, and
dismounted on the bank of the Delaware opposite to New
Castle, and thus made his escape.
A painting, commemorative of this daring enterprize,
destroyed in the old mansion when it was consumed by fire,
represented him as standing by the side of his horse, still
panting and ejecting blood from his nostrils.
A copy of this painting, is said to be still in existence.
The horse he never suffered to be used afterwards, and
when he died, he caused him to be buried, and a tombstone
to be erected over his grave.
The Presbyterian church near Taylor's Bridge, was pro-
bably organized within this field. But when it was gathered,
or who were its ministers, or what is its history,, we can pro-
bably never ascertain. While Dr. Read was Pastor of this
people, he devoted some attention to that church. Its house
of worship w^as standing in a decayed condition, and Mr.
Burton preached in it occasionally, in 1809. No remnant
of it, except the tombstones, now remains. .^i^
The Presbyterian church in Port Penn was organized,
July 16th, 1837, and its house of worship was erected in
1835.. A part.of the members, w^io were originally organized
52
there as a church, were dismissed from this church for that
purpose. Its Elders are Samuel Jefferson and William
Cleaver, Jr., and it has hitherto been under the care of the
Pastor of Dravvyers. Eighteen members united in its or-
ganization. Its prosperity has been very gradual. There
are now 24 members. The lot on which its house of wor-
ship is located, was deeded to John M. Woods, John H.
Cannon and John Price, Trustees of the congregation, and
was presented to the congregation by Mrs. Margaret Darrach.
Whether St. Ann's church, or Apoquinimy, as it was
anciently called, was organized before this, or since, we are
unable to decide. That people were sometimes visited by
Rev. Mr. Sewell, from Maryland, and also by the Rev. Mr.
Crawford, who was appointed Missionary to Dover, in 1704.
Prior to 1705, they had erected a house of worship. In
1707, the Rev. Mr. Jenkins was located in that congregation.
He was a devoted Minister, and soon gathered around him
a promising church and congregation. But he died after a
few years. After this, that people were visited by Rev.
Messrs. Biorck, of th,e Swedes church an the Christina ;
Club, a Missionary, and Ross of New Castje. Mr. Ross
was the father of George Ross, one of the signers of the
declaration of Independence, and Judge of the Court; of Ad-
miralty in Pennsylvania. The society in London for propo-
gating the Gospel, then sent Rev. Mr. Merry to Apoquinimy,
who soon returned to England.
They then sent Rev. Mi:. Campbell, who, afterwards set-
tled at Brookhaven. After this, they sent Rev. Mr. Hackett.
He was buried at New Castle in 1734.
The inscription on his tombstone is so much defaced by
age, that it cannot be read. We have been able to decipher
but a part of it, viz :.
53
" Sub hoc cippo conduntur reliquae
Reverendi Uri Gualteri Hackett qui
Missionary insignitu^ Pastorium Munus
Apud Appoquenomen Quinquenium
feliciter exercuit."
" Under this monument are buried the remains of the Rev.
Uri Walter Hackett, who as an accredited Missionary, dis-
charged the pastoral office at Appoquenomen and Quinque-
niom." Quinquenium is supposed to be the original name
of St. George's, and of the Welch congregation there. We
infer this from the fact, that under Mr. Jenkins, this Welch
church was united with Apoquinimy as a part of his charge,
and probably the union continued under Mr. Hackett.
In 1754, Rev. John Pugh was Missionary at St. Ann's.
To this church Queen Ann presented a covering for the
communion-lable with the initials of her name, viz: A. R.
(Anna Regina,) upon it in silk embroidery. These letters
presented by Royal hands to that church, T here exhibit
before you.
In 1754, Rev. Philip Reading was also a Missionary to
that church. He died in 1778, aged 58 years.
I am in possession, and now exhibit to you, a certificate
of marriage, bearing his signature, viz : " These are to certify
to whom it may concern, that on Monday the ninth day of
December, in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand seven
hundred and fifty-four, Mr. Benjamin Noxen, of New Castle
County, on Delawar, and Miss Elizabeth Harrison Ward of
Cecil County, in the Province of Maryland, were joined
together in holy Matrimony; and that the said marriage was
rightly and duly solemnized according to the Institution of
the church of England.
Given under my hand the day and year above written.
Philip Reading, Missionary at Appoquiniminck.
f
6*
■"X:
54
The present house of worship was erected about the year
1776.
The Episcopal church at St. George's, or Quinquenium,- ^
stood on the spot now occupied by the lime-kiln. "When it
was founded we are unable to decide. The congregation
were Welch.
Rev. Evan Evans, in a letter dated in London in 1707,
says, *' there is a Welsh settlement between Apoquinimy and
New Castle, to which the Rev. Mr. George Ross has
preached frequently in the English tongue since his arrival ;
but that gentleman ^ot understanding their native language,
is not so capable to answer the end as the Rev. Mr. Jenkins
would be, who is going missionary to Apoquinimy, who has
a competent knowledge of the Welsh tongue." No other
Episcopal church is known to have existed between St. Ann's
and New Castle. Of course, this church had existence
prior to 1707. Twenty-five acres of land were given to it
by Penn.
Mr. Evans adds : " there is a large fine structure built for
divine service at New Castle, finished within and without.
Their Minister is Rev. George Ross." {Episcopal Maga-
zine, vol. i. p. 18.)
Three Methodist churches have been gathered within the
field of this congregation. One of these is the Asbury
chapel, on Pearce's Run, anciently called Canoe Branch,
another at Cantwell's Bridge, and a third at Middletown.
It is a fact which ought not to be forgotten, that the origi-
nal settlement at Cape May was made by a colony, who
located there for the purpose of catching whales in the Dela-
,,^ ware. The first Dutch settlement was. made in Sussex
i; ■ County, under the direction of David Pieterson De Vries,
in 1630, " for the purpose of cultivating grain and tobacco^
and to establish a Whale and Seal fishery ,^^
55
Originally the quit rents of the lands were paid to the
proprietors in grain and tobacco. To the culture of tobacco
undoubtedly, the exhaustion of the soil of Delaware may be
attributed.
Nor should it be forgotten, by those who enjoy the im-
provements of the present day, that some of your ancestors
here, were accustomed to grind their grain in mills turned
by the hand. Those of you who have curiosity enough to
examine, will find one of these stones lying at the West door
of Mr. James Houston's house, and another on Mr. Charles
Haughey's place.
The recollection that your ancestors endured all the hard-
ships of removing the forests from these lands ; that they
could grind their grain with their own hands, and having no
carriages, nor even waggons, could ride on horseback, or
walk to the house of God on the Sabbath in such numbers
that it became necessary, time after time, to enlarge the place
of worship, is adapted strongly to rebuke the indolent habits
of the present generation, in reference to public worship.
This house, in the time of Dr. Read's Ministry, was filled to
overflowing ; and the Forest, and St. George's churches
could not contain the people who resorted thither.
It may not be improper to subjoin here some notices of
the early inhabitants of this vicinity.
In 1696, Hans Hanson was a member of the Court of
Quarter Sessions.
In 16^7, Thomas Rothwell bought the farm on which
Mrs. Boyd now resides. This farm he sold in 1715 to
Rev. Robert Wotherspoon, then minister of this congregation,
and bought ^^ May field " probably where William Roth-
well now resides, in 1740. Rev. Timothy Grifiith resided
and died on Mrs. Boyd's farm, but where he preached is
unknown.
{^«
56
In 1718, John Peterson, Tsaac Vigorue, Elias Naudain,
and Thomas Hyatt, all members of this congregation, were
on the grand inquest, and Hans Hanson, a member of the
Court of Quarter Sessions.
1719, Garret Dushane, Valentine Dushane, Francis King,
and Thomas Rothvvell were on the grand inquest ; and An-
drew Peterson, a member of this congregation, was^a mem-
ber of the General Court.
1717, Jacob King was constable of St. George's Hun-
dred, and John Peterson was on the grand inquest. Both
of these belonged to this congregation.
1718, Andrew Vandyke, a member of this church, was
constable, and also John McCool. Francis King, an eider of
this church, was a juror in 1719.
Samuel Vance was here in 1717. Daniel Corbit in 1718,
Isaac Vandyke in 1720. Samuel Young bought Mr. Bar-
ney's farm in 1720. Christopher and John Wilson and Ed-
ward Jones in 1720. The Skare family were here in 1720.
Abraham Golden, Senr., was constable in 1721. Charles
Robinson, John Golden, Thos. Hyatt, Geffrey Martin, Wm.
Whittit, Alexander Moody, William Robinson, and Thos.
Williams were all here in 1721.
Thomas Janvier, .the ancestor of the families of this name
in this country, was a Huguenot, and was in this county
prior to 1719.
Elias Walraven settled in Apoquinimy Hundred, and died*
previous to 1745, leaving four children, John, Elias, Su-
sannah Barnet, and Elizabeth Sigmund. This was the an-
cestor of the Walravens, who have been connected with this
congregation.
Isaac Gooding, one of the- proprietors of land in Long
Neck, was a member of the legislature from the territories
57
in 1704. Long Neck is the region around Geo. Vande-
grift's farm.
Few of the sons of this congregation have received a
liberal education. Yet within this field, some have arisen
who have been placed high in office.
Nicholas Vandyke^ Esq., Governor of Delaware in 1783,
was born in this congregation in 1740, and died in 1789. —
He was one of the signers of the Confederation of the
States.
Hon. Nicholas Vandyke, son of Gov. Vandyke, was born
at " Berwick^" in Dutch Neck, in 1770. He graduated at
Princeton colege, and was admitted to the bar, and soon
acquired an enviable reputation as a lawyer, and a man of
strict integrity* In 1799, he was elected to the Legislature
of Delaware, and to the House of Representatives of the
United States in 1809. In 1815, he was elected a mem-
ber of the Senate of the United States, in which he conti-
nued till his death, in 1826.
Henry Vandyke, son of Gov. Vandyke,, was also born
at Berwick, and was a Lieutenant in the Navy. He fell in
a duel, and was buried at Gibraltar. Gov. Vandyke's family
attended the church at St. George's, and also at Drawyers.
Rev. James McCoy was raised on Skee Merritt's farm,
within the bounds of this congregation, and graduated at
Princeton in 1785. His father was a contributor to this
church. He taught in the academy and preached to the
congregation in Church Hill, Queen Ann's county, Mary-
land, and was elected professor of languages in Princeton
college. This appointment he declined, and died at an
early age. He is said to have been an elegant scholar.
Hon. Arnold Naudain, though a native of Kent county,
resided here, and while a member of this church, was elect-
ed to the United States Senate. He was a graduate of
t
58
Princeton college, and physician. His ancestors have been
connected with this church since 1717.
Col. Thomas McDonough was a physician. He held a
major's commission in the army, in the American Revolu-
tion, but soon returned to his medical profession. At the
close of the war, he was appointed judge of the court, and
continued in this office till his death, in 1795. He was bu-
ried on the farm of Mr. John Janvier, at the Trap, where he
also lived.
Commodore Thomas McDonough, son of Major McDo-
nough, was born near the Trap. His name will long be
cherished by his countrymen, as the hero of Champlain,
immortalized by the capture of the entire British fleet on
that lake, in 1814, — -the second event of the kind, record-
ed in history.— The McDonoughs generally attended the
Episcopal church.
James McDonough, also a son of Major McDonough, was
a midshipman in the Navy under Commodore Truxton. In
the action which resulted in the capture of the frigate L'ln-
surgent, he was wounded, and suffered the amputation of a
leg. He soon after left the Navy
William C. Frazer was the son of a member of this
church, and a trustee of this congregation. He graduated
at Princeton college in 1797, and was afterwards Judge of
the District Court of the United States in Wisconsin, where
he recently died.
Robert Haughey was a member of the convention which
adopted the constitution of Delaware.
Rev. George Janvier, Pastor of the Presbyterian church
in Pittsgrove, New Jersey, was the son of an elder of this
church.
Dr. Thomas Boyd, a surgeon in the United States Navy,
was the son of an elder of this church, and grandson of one
59
of Its pastors. He was eminent in his profession, and died
much lamented by the officers in the Navy.
Dr. James S. Naudain, a practitioner of medicine and a
member of this church, was graduated at the Military Aca-
demy at West Point.
John Janvier. Jr., now a member of the Theological Se-
minary at Princeton, graduated at Princeton in 1840.
This congregation also furnished its portion of talent and
of effort in securing our Independence.
Col. Henry Foster had a commission In the army. His
wife was Rachel Vandyke. He was a contributor to the
building of this house. He resided in Port Penn, in the
house now occupied by William Cleaver, Senr., which is said
to have been built by Count Pulaski.
Capt. Smith also held a commission in the army. He
lived on the farm now owned by John Dale. John Vance
Hyatt also held a Lieutenant's commission. He was after-
wards an elder of this church.
He was captured by the British on his father's farm,
now in the possession of Jacob Vandegrift, Jr., and car-
ried to New York. While a prisoner, he was kept on Long
Island, and was accustomed to do various kinds of labor to
supply himself with pocket money. He purchased a suit
of small clothes of white casslmere, which, though no tail-
or, he cut and made himself. At his death in 1806, he was
laid out In that very suit which he had thus made. He was
a magistrate In 1785 and 1786.
Lieutenant Richard Wilds, resided in the brick-house
now owned by Mrs. Darrach, in Port Penn. He was
wounded in the battle of Germantown, In October, 1777,
and was carried home on a litter. He died in Port Penn,
in 1786, in consequence of the wound which he had re-
ceived. He was buried in St. George's church-yard.
A L) C) i\ i\ r\
60
Captain Kirkwood was a veteran of the Revolution. He
early entered the service, and remained in it till the close
of the war. The Delaware regiment was raised, and mus-
tered at Dover before the Declai^ation of Independence was
made, and was put under the command of Col. Haslet. In
this regiment, Kirkwood held a Captain's commission.
Within three weeks after the declaration, this Regiment was
in the battle at Trenton, on the 25th December, 1776.
January 3d, 1777, they were in the battle at Princeton,
where Haslet was killed.
The command of the Delaware Regiment, then devolved
on Lieutenant-Colonel Vaughan. On the 11th of Septem-
ber, 1777, the Delaware troops were engaged in the disas-
trous battle of Brandy wine, and in October following, in the
battle of German town. In 1778 and 1779,,they were actively
engaged in the middle states. In 1780, they were ordered to
Charleston. In the battle at Camden, they were in the
front division, under the command of Baron DeKalb. The
Marylanders and the Delaware regiment, maintained their
position with noble intrepidity until the retreat was ordered,
undismayed by the conduct of the panick-stricken militia of
Virginia, and North Carolina. Col. Vaughan, and Major
Patton were killed, and the Delaware regiment reduced to
less than two companies. This shattered remnant was put
under the command of Captain Kirkwood, who commanded
it till the close of the war. He was also in the battle at
Guilford Court House, at Waxhaw, and also at the Fort of
'' Ninety Six." Wherever dangers thickened, or bravery
invincible was demanded, there Kirkwood and his Delawares
were always stationed. At the battle of Monmouth, Capt*
Wm. Clark, father of the late Governor Clark, commanded
a company of 75 men, raised principally between Smyrna
61
and Cantwell's Bridge. At the close of the battle, 45 of
these brave men were among the slain.
Captain Clark resided in Apoquinimy hundred, and was
the great grand-father of Mrs. A. Snow Naudain, and
Mrs. Anthony Higgins.
Kirkwood was engaged in thirty-two battles during the
Revolution. At the close of the war, he returned and
established himself in mercantile business, at Cantwell's
Bridge, and occupied the house now standing east of the old
Tavern House. In 1785, he removed and established a
store at St. George's. Afterwards, he removed his family
to Ohio. When the army was organized under General St.
Clair, to march against the North western Indians, he
volunteered his services, and Gen. Washington gave him a
Captain's commission, expressing at the same time his regret
that he could not promote him, because all the higher offices
were already filled.
The army marched to Ohio, and cut their way through
the swamps and woods along the course of the great Miami.
They encamped at Ludlow's Station for two weeks. This
station is six miles from Cincinnati. There was a tree on
that spot, with the fact and date of this encampment carved
on the bark, which the writer saw standing in 1837. After
marching ninety-eight miles into the wilderness, they were
attacked on the morning of the 4th of November, 179J, by
the Indians, and that dreadful battle, which resulted in St.
Clair's defeat, was fought. Of the distressing scenes in
this defeat, Lieutenant iVIichael McDonough in an original
letter now before me says, " We left every thing behind ;
eight pieces of cannon, cattle, horses, flour, officers and
soldiers, baggage, officers' private property in cash, supposed
to be ten thousand pounds, besides all their clothing. We
retreated day and night for this place, without provision,
6
62
which is ninety-eight miles, and arrived at this place on the
8th instant. The number of non-commissioned officers,
musicians, and privates that fell in the field is upwards of six
hundred. More than sixty women were killed, and I saw
some of them cut in tw^o, their breasts cut off and burning,
with a number of officers, on our own fires, before I left the
field of action. I saw Captain Smith sitting just after he
was scalped, his head smoking like a chimney. Some
soldiers have come in with all the skin and hair taken clean
off their heads." The regiment to which Kirkwood and
McDonough belonged, consisted of two hundred and fifty-
eight commissioned, non-commissioned officers, and privates,
one hundred and eleven only of whom were left after the
batde, and forty-two of these were wounded. But two offi-
cers, McDonough and Bissell, survived. " Out of 1,200,
near SOO officers, men, and women were killed and wound-
ed." In this terrible battle Kirkwood fell. This was the
thirty-third, in which he was engaged. Yet from the or-
ganization of the army, he could not be promoted, because
he had the remnant of the entire regiment under his com-
mand. He lived and died the brave, unrewarded Captain
Kirkwoofl. Lieutenant Michael ^McDonough, was born in
St. George's Hundred.
Mrs. Read of Port Penn, now ninety-two years old, re-
sides in the house which she occupied in 1776. Through
her house the British ship Roe-buck threw a twelve
pound ball, which passed through the chimney. The ball
is still in her possession. Her first husband. Dr. Stanley,
was a surgeon in the army, and brother to Mrs. Dr. Read,
and to the wife of Gov. Vandyke.
Commodore Thomas Brown,was a son of Alex. Brown,
and nephew of Andrew Brown, who was one of the build-
ing committee of this church. He was born in the stone
house, at Cantwell's Bridge, was great grandson of Peter
63 ,
Chevalier, who was a Huguenot, and a nephew of Dr.
Read, pastor of this church. He was early in the service
of his country. He was at the siege of Tripoli, where
he was wounded; was a Lieutenant, and commanded the
Gov. Tompkins, and afterwards the Oneida, in the fleet un-
der Com. Chauncey, on Lake Ontario, during the late
war ; and made a Post Captain at the close of the war.
He was left in command of the fleet in the Mediterranean,
The last time he wore his uniform was in New York, as
pall bearer at the interment of Commodore McDonough,*
who was born about two miles distant from the birth-place of
Conamodore Brown.
William McKennan, a trustee of this congregation in
1790, held a Captain's commission in the Delaware regi-
gent. From Kirkwood's letter to his father, it appears that
Capt. McKennan, was with Kirkwood and the Delaware regi-
ment, in New Jersey, in 1777.
His wife was Elizabeth Thompson, daughter of John
Thompson, Esq., of New Castle, first Judge of the Court
of Common Pleas. Judge Thompson married a sister of
Gov. McKean, of Pennsylvania.
Thomas McKean McKennan, son of Capt. Wm. McKen-
nan, formerly a representative in Congress, and recently
elected again to the same office, was born on the farm now
owned by Lewis Vandegrift.
Rev. James McKennan, son of Capt. McKennan, is also
supposed to have been born on the same spot. Thomas B.
McKean, a merchant, of Bordentown, New Jersey, was a
son of William McKean, and born in this vicinity.
John McKinley, Esq., Governor of Delaware, who was
captured by the British, in his own house, in Wilmington, in
* I have lately conversed with the Chaplain of the United States
Navy, who attended Commodore McDonough in his last moments, who
assured me that he died a Christian.
64
1777, Is believed to have been the son of an elder of this
church. He seems to have been connected with the McKen-
nan family, as he willed property to Rev. William McKen-
nan, who occasionally supplied this congregation.
The name of Thomas McKean, Esq., Governor of Penn-
sylvania, is found on our records, in the year 1772. Whe-
ther he resided here in that year, it is impossible to decide.
He was connected with many of the families in this congre-
gation, and he also owned land in the vicinity of Cantwell's
Bridge. He was one of the committee to collect the sub-
scription for the erection of this house of worship. He
was the son of W^illiam McKean, of New London Cross
Roads, who removed from Pennsylvania after the death of
his wife, in 1742, and resided in the family of Mr. Samuel
Young, who owned the farm on which Mr. Barney now re-
sides. He died in 1769, and was buried at New London
Cross Roads.
William McKean, the brother of Governor McKean, re-
sided here. He married Mrs. O'Hara.
Mary O'Hara, a daughter of Mrs. O'Hara, married Capt.
Wm. Frazer, and lies in the family burying-place at the north
east corner of this house. She was the step-mother of
Judge Frazer, and the mother of Mrs. Wilson, wife of Rev.
■ James P. Wilson, of Neshamony, Pennsylvania, who is
said to have been exceedingly intelligent, beautiful and lovely.
Lgetltia McKean, daughter of William McKean, married
Rev. John Thompson, son of Judge Thompson, who died
in New Casde, at the age of 27. She afterwards married
a Mr. Clark, a limner, and lived on the farm of Robert
Cochran. Thomas McKean Thompson, a nephew of Gov.
McKean, and of William McKean, was Secretary of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and now resides in Gran-
ville, Ohio.
The ancient field of this congregation, however, is not
65
entitled to claim all the heroes and worthies of this region.
Commodore Porter was educated in this State. His fa-
ther's residence was near Pencader, a few miles beyond
the boundaries of this congregation. He was born in Bos-
ton, while his mother was in that city on a visit to his father,
Capt. Porter, who had entered that port on his return from
a cruise on the ocean.
Commodore Jacob Jones, was born at Smyrna, a few
miles below the southern boundary of this congregation.-^
No State in the Union has produced as many eminent pa-
triots and statesmen, in proportion to its population, as Dela-
ware ; and a large proportion of its clergymen have risen
to eminence. Delaware furnished 5000 officers and soldiers
during the American Revolution, of w^hom but one out of a
hundred ever returned. — " The Blue Hen's Chickens,"
as the Delaware regiment were called, bravely met danger
and death, in defence of their country.
During the administration of Andrew Jackson, five of the
sons of Delaware were foreign ministers, viz : McLane,
Moore, E. P. West, J. Ham, and Commodore Porter, the
latter of whom, is still minister to Constantinople.
During the winter past, God has poured his spirit on this
congregation, and led some to hope that they have been re-
conciled to him. Twelve of these have already united
with this church.
The number of communicants now in this church is
EIGHTY-TWO. May it be our constant prayer that this an-
cient congregation may enjoy the favor of God, and that this
field may blossom as the rose, and flourish as the cedars of
Lebanon.
It was my original design to trace out the location of the
famihes belonging to this congregation, with the entire gene-
alogy of this people. But the changes which have occurred
66
and the imperfection of the records, render it impracticable.
Many families of substantial worth in every community hold
no real estate, and the records of the county afford us no
notice of such. I have done what I could, to embody and
preserve your history.
From this review of the history of this congregation, it
is manifest that great changes have occurred. The forests
have disappeared ; the wildness of an unsubdued country
no longer meets the eye ; but fields clothed with beauty un-
surpassed by any portion of country, surround you. The
spirit of improvement has gathered around you the institu-
tions and comforts and even the luxuries of society. The
waves of intemperance, which had swept over this region,
withering as the gales of the desert, have almost ceased to
flow, and the spirit of industry is rapidly making it the very
garden of America.
We also find that many families have abandoned the
sanctuary, the institutions and the faith of their forefathers,
and even the principles of the Reformation, on which the
liberties of our country and the world are based. Did time
permit, we might show that the principles embraced by this
church, in common with others, then on this field, have led
their sons to endure toil and privation, and even to shed
their blood in defence of our liberties, and in the establish-
ment of our independence, while in another quarter the cause
of liberty w^as basely deserted.
Would those whose views and sympathies are with this
congregation, make it a matter of conscience to be found in
their place in the Sanctuary on the Sabbath-day, the former
prosperity of this congregation in its best days would be
realized in a solitary month.
To God, and to society around shall we be held respon-
sible, if we neglect to do this.
67
How solemn and affecting the lesson which these limited
details of your history afford! How much effort has been
made, and how many toils and trials have been endured in
order to perpetuate the church of God with its privileges on
this spot! And how will those fathers who bequeathed tous
this edifice, these funds, and these fields cry out against us
at the final day, if we fail to improve the means of life
afforded us? As you look back and see how death has tra-
versed this field and consigned its former inhabitants to the
silent tomb : as you see how the grave has spread the waves
of oblivion over their memory and their very names, how
worthless does this world appear ! You may live now in ease
and in pleasure. You may gratify your love of wealth, of
equipage, and your pride, for a short period. But ah!
how silent and unknown hereafter.
In making these investigations, I had occasion to visit the
grave of a former Governor of this State. The family
grave-yard lay unenclosed in the field, and overgrown with
briars. The tombstone erected by a surviving daughter as
a token of affectionate remembrance of her father, the
governor of this State, of her mother, and of a brother who
died far hence a Lieutenant in the Navy, had fallen from
the mouldered pillars of masonry on which it rested. I in-
quired of the occupant of the spot whether there was any
other burying-place in the vicinity. He told me that in dig-
ging to set posts in his barn-yard a few rods distant from the
family ground above described, he discovered human bones.
This, ah this, is the end of man's career! His possessions
will pass to others. His pride will be extinguished ; his
equipage will all vanish away; his very name will perish ; and
the brambles will flourish, and the reptiles will crawl over
him; the oxen of the stall will feed and lie down upon his
grave, and will know just as much of his history, after a few
6S
years are gone, as the living of the hunnan family to which he
belonged.
I visited the site of an ancient church in this vicinity for a
similar purpose. Not a stone, nor mound remained. The
jiving had removed the earth from a portion of the grave-
yard. Glowing lime kilns stand where once the afflicted
father, the heart-broken mother, the affectionate child, com-
mitted their dead to the dust, as a sure retreat from the mo-
lestations of earth. I lingered on this field of desolation in
search of some memorial of the dead. At length I discovered
a skull, and other bones which had fallen from their resting
place; while from the earth above me a bone here protruded
from its grave, and another there.
Ah ! this is all for which man can hope : the grave, the
coffin, and the winding-sheet, while those who succeed you
plow your bones from your graves, and leave them to bleach
amidst the heat and storms of heaven. Oh ! if there is not
an hereafter, then men were made in vain. " Like brutes
they live : like brutes they die."
While, therefore, God permits us to enjoy this sanctuary
and its privileges, let us remember that,
<' Man wants but little here below,
Nor wants that little long,"
and strive to improve the privileges allotted us, in such a
manner, that whether our names be blazoned on the historic
page, or carved on the marble, or utterly perish, our influ-
ence may long survive us, and our record may be on high:
and that when the great arbiter of human affairs shall come,
we may hear him say to us, " come ye blessed of my Father.,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of
the world."
A^
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