Captain Thomas Hinds:
Capt. Hinds was one of Seaford's early citizens. He came from around Milton and married Miss Lavina Swigget from Kent county Delaware. They lived all their married life on Market street and he was engaged in the boating business until he became too infirm, but he lived to be an old man. He and Lavina had three children. William , the eldest, learned the tailoring trade of James Darby, became an earnest Christian when a boy and soon after reaching majority went to Baltimore to work at the business and expanded it into a large trade. As he grew old in years he held the confidence and high estimation of all who have known him, both secular and religious.
Other Citizens Who Shared In Starting the Town and Sshaping its Destiny:
Thomas Henderson, built the house known as the Edward Messick Home, he married a a Miss hinds and they had five or six children, Thomas was a cabinet maker and made many bedsteads, cupboards, chest, for the early Seaford citizens. He later moved to Indiana, catching what was called the 'Western Fever'.
John Windsor, an old fellow, the 'caulker' and his saintly wife; also Trueman Rose and Whitefield Hughes, the preacher at the Methodist Episcopal Church.
James Dutton in company with James Jacobs, went to Seaford in 1838 and remained there during his life, a good citizen and leaving one son. James Jacobs, after marring Jane Hazzard moved to Baltimore. There was John Tucker, a cooper by trade, Phillip Massey, carpenter, James Roach, whose children and grandchildren still live about town.
I am unwilling to close the record of the Seaford settlers without reference to Aunt Nellie Adams, a kind, highly esteemed and Christian. She being a widow was financially poor, but she contributed largely to the comfort of new mothers and the children as she was a excellent nurse. Her only descendant, a daughter, who married to George Brown. George, a son of William Brown, is said to be the oldest citizen at this time in Seaford. For the past seventy years he has worked with James Prettyman, fulling and finishing hats.
It was my purpose to notice by name and occupation the old settlers up to the close of the third decade and if I have missed any it is the fault of my memory.
Several things are worthy of note. One is the staunch integrity, moral and church members, and Christians. There were vices, drinking of liquor and gambling were predominating, but the Christian influence has triumphed.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
MORE OF CHAPTER III - HISTORY OF SEAFORD
The Blades Family:
The grandfather of the Blades Family came to Seaford very early in its history. Their old home was on the northeast corner of Market and Third Streets. He engaged in buying produce throughout the surrounding country. I remember his little iron grey horse and big Dearborn wagon in which he traveled for trade. He must have died comparatively a young man as his youngest son was but a boy at the time. His sons and daughters, William, James, Levina and Jane are well remembered by Seaford's oldest citizens, the name is perpetuated in the village contiguous to Seaford. Uncle Billy followed the boating business until he became too infirm. James Blades went to
work for the railroad company when it came to town and saved money to buy the land, now Bladesville, built upon it, and died there many years ago.
Cottingham Family:
The Cottingham family are the descendants of one of the oldest citizens of the village. Doctor Cottingham, who was among the first to build, built his house near the northwest corner of North and East street. The house is still standing. There were three sons, John, Alfred and Charles. John engaged in carpentering and continued to work at it all his life. He lived in the old house his father had built. Alfred engaged in the shoe making business. The sons and daughters of these two have remained in Seaford and are esteemed citizens. Charles moved to Maryland, one of his daughters, a LeCompt, lives in Cambridge.
The grandfather of the Blades Family came to Seaford very early in its history. Their old home was on the northeast corner of Market and Third Streets. He engaged in buying produce throughout the surrounding country. I remember his little iron grey horse and big Dearborn wagon in which he traveled for trade. He must have died comparatively a young man as his youngest son was but a boy at the time. His sons and daughters, William, James, Levina and Jane are well remembered by Seaford's oldest citizens, the name is perpetuated in the village contiguous to Seaford. Uncle Billy followed the boating business until he became too infirm. James Blades went to
work for the railroad company when it came to town and saved money to buy the land, now Bladesville, built upon it, and died there many years ago.
Cottingham Family:
The Cottingham family are the descendants of one of the oldest citizens of the village. Doctor Cottingham, who was among the first to build, built his house near the northwest corner of North and East street. The house is still standing. There were three sons, John, Alfred and Charles. John engaged in carpentering and continued to work at it all his life. He lived in the old house his father had built. Alfred engaged in the shoe making business. The sons and daughters of these two have remained in Seaford and are esteemed citizens. Charles moved to Maryland, one of his daughters, a LeCompt, lives in Cambridge.