LOOKING AROUND DELAWARE
NOXONTOWN
On the banks of Noxontown
Lake of Appoquinimink Hundred in New Castle county, lies ancient
Noxontown, a site that first attracted the settlers from Finland who
came about 1669. In the pioneer days it was the seat of many fairs,
including the first annual Delaware fair. These fairs brought to
Delaware many thousands of visitors from the Mid Atlantic colonies.
Noxontown was where Caeser
Rodney's troops encamped in 1777 to hinder the British and Hessian
troops of General Howe on their march up the peninsula toward
Philadelphia. There is also a story that a plot to betray General
Washington was unraveled at this camp.
Near by this village was
born the Rev. Levi Scott, the first American Bishop of the Methodist
Episcopal Church who is buried at Union Chapel. The parents of
Bishop Scott emigrated to “Wooden Duck”, Appoquinimink , from
Ireland in 1772.
The home of Governor John
Hunn's father, who was a “chief” to the Maryland-Delaware
Underground Railroad was located near the village.
Early records dated 1669
show William Tom petitioned Governor Nicholas of New York for a
permit on behalf a group of Finnish settlers in 1671 when 400 acres
were patented to Abraham Coffin, called “Mountain Neck” .
Mountain Neck later became
a part of the estate of Johannes De Haes in New Castle county.
He and a partner, Ephraim
Herrman , held it and other holdings throughout New Castle county.
De Haes was French and an
ancestor on his mothers side of the Janiver family, later prominent
in Delaware affairs, and the original De Haes settler was a
magistrate in William Penns first assembly.
Thomas Noxon, founder of
the hamlet had built grist mills on the shore of the lake before 1740
and coastal vessels were once able to sail up Appoquinimink Creek to
these mills. Noxon also had a brew house, a malt house and a bake
house, which contributed a great deal to the gaiety of the local
fairs.
A hotel which had stood
there since early times was torn down in 1885. In 1935 there was
one of the old mills still is existence.
Today, the Protestant
Episcopal School of Saint Andrews for Boys sits at the site of the
once proud town.
Wilmington Morning News,
Wednesday, January 15, 1936 - Looking Around Delaware
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