Lewes History Presbyterian church.

LEWES HISTORY

1925

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Wednesday morning, November 18^th, 1925 , were crowded in the Lewes Presbyterian church , more than 300 passengers and crew of the burned Clyde Line steamer, Lenape, awaiting the morning hours for relief trains. Some sleep from exhaustion, baby's cry, coffee and food is given to all.

The Rev. Leishman , pastor of the church, remarked “we had a lot of unexpected company, but everyone in Lewes gave their all to make the guest comfortable.

At 4 o'clock this morning the entire town was aroused by the fire whistle's long shrill blast, followed by three short blast, meaning something frightful was happening. Every available man and woman dressed hastily and rushed to the fire house. There, they learned a ship was on fire and was running into the Breakwater, ablaze from fore and aft. It was feared that the passengers and crew were still on board, but then came assuring news that all had been taken aboard the pilot boat Philadelphia and soon will be landed at the Lewes pier. Everyone who had a vehicle headed for the dock with dry clothing, blankets and food and water. It was a long wait for the Philadelphia to land and all that was seen was the burning Lenape.

The scene will never be forgot, there were many women and children among the throng, babies crying, children shrieked , and most women were terrified. Several had infants in their arms, several with just blankets for covering. No one had time to dress. Coffee, food and water, lots of dry clothing was prepared by the towns people and offered to the survivors.

Soon most were transported to the Presbyterian church, two miles away, some were walking there in groups also. Prayers of thanksgiving were offered at the alter rail. Within minutes wet clothing had been replaced with dry, some ill fitting , garments. Receivers were appreciative.

All passengers had lost their baggage, and most with out money. They were assured there was enough cash money in Lewes to send them all back to New York or on to Jacksonville and that railroad trains were due anytime now to do just that

By 9 o'clock everyone had been accounted for and made comfortable, some fell asleep from exhaustion, others huddled in the pews and aisles , chatting with one another. The ships Captain Devereaux was among the guest assuring that relief was on the way, not to worry.

SOURCE: , November 19, 1925, Wilmington Morning News . Abstract Harrison Howeth.

1937 MILTON HOMECOMING

1937 MILTON HOMECOMING EVENT

Milton, Delaware , Sunday , August 23, 1937: 3000 persons jammed the streets of Milton last night for the community parade , the highlight of the homecoming celebration which concluded today with special church services. The homecoming doubtless appealed to not just former residents, but also the descendents of the latter, as well as others who know how hospitable Milton folk are and what an interesting town it has always been.

The parade was headed by the band of the 198^th Coast Artillery under the direction of

Lieutenant J. Morris Robinson, next the Milton Fire Company with 50 members in line, the Ladies Auxiliary with 40 in line, made up the first division.

The second division was made up of floats of the WCTU with a plea for temperance, the old time banjo band, Broadkill Ramblers, receiving a large share of applause, and “Old School Days” float, depicting a one room school class. Many businesses also had floats. There followed a 'comic division' with clowns, then decorated automobiles and bicycles.

The parade moved through the downtown streets lined solid with spectators, to the old Chestnut street school grounds where the program was presented.

One of the features was the presentation of a Masters Chair to the Masonic Order. The donor was Mr. George Hughes, a former Miltonian. William H. Welch, Sr., made the presentation speech and the chair was accepted by Masonic Master, Ralph Snowberger. The chair is unique in the fact that it was carved from a walnut log and has no screws nor nails.

The invocation was given by Charles T. Vent, of Milton, the Rev Howard Mc Dade of Frankford, was principal speaker, and a recitation was by Mrs Bertha Jackson.

Many others spoke, including , Rev. Wells Wilson, John Walsh, Jr., Ralph Smith of Philadelphia, Charles Burros of Camden, New Jersey, the Rev. Richard Green of Christiana, Dr. Robert Hopkins of Milton, and Rev. William Ward of Philadelphia.

Today church services in Milton concluded events, Rev. Richard Green preached at Goshen Methodist Episcopal, the Rev. William Ward preached at the Methodist Protestant church.

Saturday evening the Goshen Church ladies served an old fashioned 'duck' dinner in the Fireman's Hall.

Milton has a honorable history, the Ponders, pioneers and a governor, Hazzards, a governor and a Revolutionary War member, John Hazzard, the Peery Family, pioneers, and Revolutionary War heroes , and many seafaring men and their descendents. Milton has just cause to revere the memory of the past and honor those of the present generation who are keeping alive traditions of worthy ancestors.

Abstract: Wilmington Mormimg News, Monday , August 23, 1937:

WW I SABOTAGE AT REHOBOTH

REHOBOTH'S ATLANTIC CANNING COMPANY

WW I SABOTAGE

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware : Thursday, September 20, 1917:

Incendiaries succeeded early today in destroying a major portion of the factory of the Atlantic Canning Company, owned by Governor John Gillis Townsend of Selbyville and Edmund Mitchell , Jr., of Wilmington. The plant was one of the largest establishments of it's kind in this section of the state.

A $200,000 loss is estimated, which includes a large quantity of canned products and raw crops for processing. This financial loss is said to be covered by insurance.

At the time of the fire there were ten railroad carloads of raw product tomatoes and at the wharf were four barge loads of raw product tomatoes. It has yet to be determined the amount of damage that may have been done to them. A company representative has said it may be possible for the factory to utilize this raw product for it is believed work can be resumed in a day or two in the small portion of the plant that is left standing. Temporarily, there are 350 workers left unemployed.

The fire was discovered this morning about one o'clock and was started in three areas, and had gotten such headway it was impossible to take it under control even though the fire department was on the scene at once and worked very hard to contain it. The building were principally wood frame and there was some flames still seen this morning, being allowed to burn themselves out.

The four year old canning factory was one of the chief successful industries here and it's products in such demand that the capacity had been doubled this year.

A German plot is suspected in view of the fact that two attempts had been made before, and, the Rehoboth Canning Company plant, near by, was burned six weeks ago. Today's blaze bears unmistakeable evidence of incendiaries.

The office of Attorney General Reinhardt had been notified and a official investigation is already under way.

The object of the firebugs was to destroy as much food and food processing machinery as possible and a part of a pro German effort. It is significant that it is known the company was working on a government contract which arranged for the delivery of 18% of the tomato pulp for soup product which no doubt would have found it's way to the Army's camps here and abroad

The week after the Rehoboth Packing Company fire was burned, piles of inflammable material were found by the Atlantic Company watchman but the miscreants were frightened away before they had a chance to apply the match.

Efforts to disable canning plants in lower Delaware are continuing , the latest, Tuesday last, someone with a good knowledge of the machinery, entered the Lewes Packing Plant, six miles from the Rehoboth factories, and put the largest most used equipment out of commission by removing the vital parts.

Abstract: Wilmington News Journal, September 2, 1917

BIOGRAPHY CAESAR RODNEY

CAESAR RODNEY

BIOGRAPHY

Caesar Rodney was the grandson of William Rodney who came to America from England

in 1681. His father was also named Caesar and had married Elizabeth Crawford, a daughter of the

Reverend Thomas Crawford, the Episcopal missionary sent to Dover, Delaware by the Society for

the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts.

Caesar and Elizabeth had eight children, five sons and three daughters, by this marriage.

Caesar, the first child, a son, was born October 7, 1728, East Dover Hundred, Kent county, known as St. Jones Neck. His father died in 1745, when Caesar was just 17 years old, and Nicholas Ridgely, a prominent citizen of Dover, was appointed his guardian.

Rodney entered the public political life in 1755, at the age 27, and for the next twenty years held several post in the “Government of the Three Lower Counties on the Delaware” . Between

1758 and 1776, Caesar Rodney, was was an elected delegate from Kent county to the colonial assembly in New Castle for 14 terms and was honored by this body as it's “speaker” for the last four terms. In 1778 the General Assembly elected Caesar Rodney as the second President or Governor of the state of Delaware and for three years he served as Delawares war executive . In 1783 he was elected to his last state office, when as a member of the upper house of the general assembly, was chosen it's 'speaker'.

The military career of Caesar Rodney began during the Frenc & Indian War, when he was commissioned Captain of the militia company of East Dover Hundred, during the Revolution he rose from the Colonel of the “Upper Regiment” of Kent county, in 1775, until he was commissioned Major General in command of the State Militia In 1777. Washington entrusted him with the command of the American post of Trenton and later that year the British invaded Delaware to the north, on their march to Philadelphia, Rodney commanded the only Delaware Militia troops that assisted the American Commander in Chief.

Nationally his service was equally significant, in 1765, he with Thomas McKean , represented the “Three Lower Counties” on the Delaware, in the Stamp Act Congress in New York . In 1774 the colonial assembly sent him, McKean and George Reed to the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia in which he served to 1776. He was a member of that body when it passed the Lee Resolution which severed relations of the 13 Colonies with the mother country. He also voted for the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4^th.

Caesar Rodney died on his farm , “Popular Grove”, in Kent county June 26, 1784, buried in Christ Episcopal Churchyard, Dover. He never married and his surname is carried by descendents of a brother, Thomas, and a cousin, John Rodney, who lived in Lewes.

Source: Delaware Publication “Acceptance of the Statue of Caesear Rodney”, January 3, 1935..

Sussex County Short vs Cannon for overnor Nomination. 1936

THE DUCHY OF DELAWARE

THE du PONT EMPIRE

The Duchy of Delaware is the nicest, tightest little empire ever ruled by any monarch, aside of Monte Carlo, Luxemburg or Lichtenstein.

It's rulers, the du Ponts, manufacturers of gun powder, munitions, paint and the wealthiest family in the United States. The family members build highways, schools, and own the two daily newspapers that dominate the state, they elect the governor, usually from their family, They are definite, though kindly, despots.

But now, in 1936, their little duchy is torn with internal political dissension. What the du Ponts had done with the Democrats has come home to roost. du Pont spent more money to stir dissension within the Democratic Party with control of the Liberty League, and a long list of of sores, including Talmadge

The bitter feuding within the Republican Party of Delaware, unless peace is arranged, and quickly, will cause the three electoral votes of this traditional G.O.P. stronghold will bear the Democratic label.

The cause of the dissension is an alleged doublecross. The popular Sussex county leader , Adolphus Short, has laid claim that the du Pont machine promised him the Republican gubernatorial nomination which is backed by former congressman Robert G. Cannon that this assurance was given two years ago by Governor Douglas Buck, a du Pont so in law, at the G.O.P. Convention.

Buck, now looking toward senatorial ambitions, denied the statement, and had the convention nominate Shorts rival, Colonel Harry Cannon, whereas Short and his followers walked out of the convention, held a 'rump' meeting and formed an independent Republican Party which will hold a nominating convention this week where a rival G.O.P. Ticket, headed by Short , probably will be put into the field of play. The dukes of the duPont Duchy are bringing heavy pressure to bear on Short to return to the 'fold'. So far, Short has turned down all ovetures and has been in negotiation with the Townsendites for an alliance 'against' the duPont machine.

Source: Abstract Washington Merry Go Round, Drew Pearson, in the Sept. 8, 1936, Seattle Daily Times, Seattle, Washington.

Biography of John Middleton Clayton

JOHN MIDDLETON CLAYTON

BIOGRAPHY

John Midddleton Clayton was a great, great grandson of Joshua Clayton who came to America with William Penn, He was a son of James and Sarah Middleton Clayton, being born in Dagsboro, Sussex County, Delaware , July 24 1796.

He graduated from Yale College in 1815 and after the study of Law in the office of a cousin, Thomas Clayton, and the famous Law School at Litchfield in Connecticut, he was admitted to the Delaware State Bar in 1819, going in practice at Dover.

He married in 1822 to Sally Ann Fisher, daughter of Dr. James Fisher, Camden, Kent county, Delaware, but lost her through death in 1825. Although he was left with two infant sons, he never remarried.

Clayton soon rose to prominence in his chosen profession and became a leader in the Delaware Bar, serving the State as Secretary of State, a member of the House of Representatives and Auditor of Accounts.

He became associated with the Whig Party in Delaware and in 1829 was elected to the United States Senate. During his term in the Senate he was elected in 1831 as a Kent County Representative to the Delaware State Constitutional Convention, where he had his plan for the reorganization of the State Judiciary adopted. He resigned the Senate in 1836, after his reelection, to accept the Chief Justice of Delaware position in 1837. In 1836 Yale College conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws.

1845 – 1849 he was again a Senator from Delaware and in 1850 was President Taylor's Secretary of State and negotiated with Sir Henry Lytton Bulwer, the Clayton – Bulwer treaty in an attempt to build a canal in Nicaragua to connect the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. He served as United States Senator from Delaware until 1856 when he died on the 9^th of November in Dover.

John M. Clayton is buried at Dover, in the Old Presbyterian Cemetery.

His two sons were James Fisher Clayton and Charles McClyment Clayton who both died before they reached the age of 30 .

Publication of State of Delaware. 'Acceptance of John M. Clayton' Statue, Thursday, January 3, 1935

DE LA WARR

DE LA WARR

Captain Samuel Argall, renowned English mariner , sailed into the Cape Henlopen capes in 1610, a year after Captain Henry Hudson. Hudson had named the bay before him the ”South River” since he had named the Hudson River of New York the “North River”. Argall named the river at Cape Henlopen , De La Warr, after the ailing Thomas West, a leader of the Jamestown, Virginia, colony.

Thomas West was born July 9 1576, in Hampshire, England to a well to do and politically active family, had studied at Oxford, briefly a member of Parliament , and an investor in British efforts to establish settlements in the new world of America. In 1610 he was appointed governor of Jamestown, then a failing colony, where the settlers there were in preparation to return to England on the first boat available. These settlers had enough of America, out of 500 only 59 survived the “Starving Time”.

West arrived on Captain Argall's ship with supplies, took control of the colony, ordered the settlers who had already boarded a ship to leave, back to the colony and their huts, and sent the Argall ship out to find additional food stuff.

It was on this voyage that Argall found European fishermen near Cape Cod, procured cured fish, plus finding the Cape Henlopen capes and the bay and river behind them, and after a brief stay and naming the estuary De La Warr, returning to Jamestown with enough food to survive the up coming winter.

West had taken sick with with scurvy , soon left Jamestown to go to the Azores where he found fresh fruits to eat and regaining his health, only to die a few year later without recognition for saving the Jamestown settlement, nor the introduction of the cure for scurvy by consumption of fresh citrus.

Thomas West was quickly relegated to history’s bottom drawer and had it not been for Captain Argall calling the new South River, the De La Warr, West would have been completely forgotten today.

Abstract Michael Morgan, Delaware Diary, Delaware Coast Press, April 19, 2017.

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1875 REHOBOTH BRIGHT HOUSE HOTEL

THE 1875 BRIGHT HOUSE HOTEL

REHOBOTH

William Bright of Wilmington has definitely decided to erect a new hotel at Rehoboth, is now collecting the materials for the contractor, Jacob Webb, to commence work.

The hotel will be three stories high with a mansard type roof virtually making it a four story structure. The upper floor will be arranged in all respects like the second and third.

It will be located at Surf and Wilmington avenues, on the opposite side of Rehoboth Avenue from the Surf House, some 300 feet from that hotel. Fronting 80 feet on the ocean front and extend 80 feet on Wilmington Avenue. The main building will be 36 feet in depth. In the south end of this portion will be a parlor, 36 x 21, with a wash room and a private department , each 14 x 10, between it and the main hall, separated by a five foot hall which intersects the main hall at right angles and traverses the first floor in the main building, except that portion occupied by the parlor. The main hall is 10 feet wide and from it raises the main stairway. On the right hand side upon entering is the office and back of this in the north end a private parlor. Across the hall in the center of the building, in the L, is the dinning room. 36 x 58 , and one of the finest halls in the state. In the rear of the L is the kitchen, 25 x29, and an ironing room 10 x 20 adjoining. Under thes and a section of the dinning hall will be a cellar. A porch , 11 foot wide will extend along the front of the hotel, down the south end and along the L, forming a promenade 180 feet in length. The Second, third and fourth flloors are devoted to 80 sleeping rooms, wide and well ventilated , opening into a hallway.

The new hotel will be built neatly and substantially by contract with Mr. Jacob Z Webb. with much ornamentation and have a capacity of 200 guest and be open for the first of May next year.

Abstract of article in the December 4, 1875, Wilmington Daily Commercial.

JUDGE JOHN HENRY PAYNTER OF SUSSEX DELAWARE

JUDGE JOHN H. PAYNTER

FEBRUARY 26 1838 – JUNE 21 1890

Judge John Henry. Paynter quietly passes away after a long illness and the past several days in a coma, at three fifty o'clock , Saturday afternoon, June 21, 1890. A noble and useful life ended.

His life went out like the flame of a candle and was sudden, earlier than had been expected.

Around his bed were his family, friends and physicians who never left him unattended. His wife was devoted, administrated his medications, and since the first of the year has hardly slept a full night. She recently had also been watching at the bed side of her mother, Mrs Charles C. Stockley, ill with the fever, in a room next to her husband.

The funeral was at one o'clock Tuesday , June 24, at St. Paul Protestant Episcopal Church, Georgetown, where the Judge was a communicant. Interment was in the church yard cemetery.

John Henry Paynter was born in New York City where his father was a resident temporally , February 26, 1838. His father was a successful Sussex county merchant and the son of Governor Samuel Paynter. His mother, Sally A. Ross Paynter, daughter of Callb Ross, and sister to Governor William Ross.

The parents of John Paynter move first to Laurel in 1842, then two years later to Drawbridge where the father established a large mercantile business. John received his early education in Laurel, Georgetown and Milton. When the father died in 1851 his mother sent John to Newark Academy and in 1854 he was admitted to the freshman class of Delaware College and became one of the most promising students. 1855 he entered the sophomore class of Union College in Schenectady from where he graduated in 1858 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. That same year in the spring he registered as a law student with Hon. Edward Wooten, an Associate Judge of the State of Delaware, and admitted to the Delaware Bar, April in 1861, at Sussex county . He was appointed a deputy attorney general by Attorney General Wooten, a position he held until 1864 when Wooten died.

John Paynter allied himself with the Democratic Party and his voice was frequently heard in forwarding its interest. He elected and took his seat in the senate in 1867 as its youngest member. He served his constituents well and in 1869 was appointed attorney general and was forced to resign as a senator. As Chairman of the Sussex County Democratic Central Committee he was appointed Secretary of State by Governor Ponder in 1870 . While here he and James Wooten drafted the tax statutes for Delaware which were so thoroughly done no errors were ever found.

John Henry Paynter married Sally Custis Wright of Georgetown, daughter of Colonel Gardner Wright on June 18, 1872 and she died giving birth to a son, Rowland U. Paynter, on 18, January, 1876.

June 19, 1885, he married Hannah E. Stockley, daughter of Governor Charles Stockley.

1885 saw him again appointed Attorney General in July which he carried until he resigned in 1887, on March 26, to accept the position of Associate Judge of the State of Delaware, offered him by Governor Biggs to fill the vacancy left by the death of Judge Wooten.

Needless to say, he was a staunch Democrat, and between 1881 and 1887 worked hard for the party, holding many important positions.

The son, Rowland Gardner Paynter , became a Georgetown medical doctor who made a run against Simon Pennywill in 1909 for Delaware governor, married on 6 November 1920, to Leah Anderson Burton, daughter of Dr. Hiram Rodney Burton of Lewes, in the St. Peters Protestant Episcopal Church at Lewes. He was senior warden of the St. Pauls Protestant Episcopal Church, Georgetown, and is buried in that church grave yard.

Wilmington Evening Journal, Monday, June 23, 1890

FENWICK NARROWS JINX

FENWICK ISLAND

&

FENWICK NARROWS

A jinx at Fenwick Narrows? The little salt bays just inside the surf near Fenwick Island Lighthouse, on the Maryland line, are very shallow, maybe averaging three yo four feet deep. The only place of more depth is the Fenwick Island Narrows that connects the bays.

There is a legend that it was not always and island, that a man named Fenwick escaped frm a pirate ship ans swam to shore, landing where he settled. It is said he dug across the narrow isthmus and disconnected the new island from the mainland so that his cattle did nor stray from home too far.

Another story like this came from a bit farther down the coast at Sineepuxent Neck where ole folk will tell you it was a man named Fassitt who pleaded to the pirates to “please do not throw me overboard as I cannot swim”, but that is what they did, and he swam to shore, as he was as much at home in the water and a rabbit in briar patch.

Anyway, Fenwick Narrows is kept at least 15 feet deep but tidal action scouring through this bottleneck. There is a narrow timber bridge across the Narrows which is appropriate for the light amount of traffic. There was never any news of anyone having trouble crossing the bridge.

Now, within the past twelve hours, three cars have plunged off the bridge. The first one the car goes clear under water and the driver is rescued. A few hours late, another car goes through the warning flags and piles on the other car under water, the third car manages to stop with just its front wheels over the water. All of these cars were going too fast to take the curve.

State Troopers left the scene talking to themselves and shaking their heads, was it coincidence, fate or what? Did old Fenwick or Fassett put a jinx on it? It 'is' a place to be careful of.

Wilmington Morning News, Thursday , November 23, 1950

1951 BETHANY BEACH FIRING RANGES TO OPEN.

1951 BETHANY BEACH FIRING RANGE

ACTIVITIES

Approximately 600 Regular Army troops of the 19^th AAA Group from Fort George Meade ,

Maryland, are scheduled to arrive between January 10^th and 12^th for two weeks of anti aircraft practice on the Bethany Beach ranges, starting January 15^th. This was announced by Colonel Osgood McIntyre, commanding officer at Fort Miles, Lewes. Other groups are expected in February and on progressively in 1951 maneuvers because of the war emergency.

All of the firing for the first two weeks will be on the Bethany Beach range says Lt. Col. Walter Abrams, Fort Miles executive officer. Practice hours are 8 am to 5 pm during the winter and from 1 pm to 7 pm in the summer maneuvers.

These troops, all new recruits, will be billeted at the Bethany barracks and not at Fort Miles.

Anti aircraft practices in the northern most ranges above Indian River Inlet will be held in February.

Wilmington Morning News, Saturday, December 30, 1950.

1957 SHRINERS PARADE AT REHOBOTH BEACH

1957 SHRINERS PARADE

REHOBOTH BEACH

The colorful pageantry of a Shriners parade attracted an estimated 10,000 more visitors here yesterday to swell the usual influx of week end vacationers. The unofficial estimate placed the crowd

in excess of 30,000 , the largest week end of the season.

The line of march for the gala spectacle was up Rehoboth Avenue, ending at the boardwalk where the Nur Temple, Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, put on an elaborate show.

To the huge throng the brilliant costumes of the Shriners were like a page from the Arabian Nights.

By 3:15 the parade was underway, lead by Illustrious Potentate, C. B. Harris of Wilmington. Seven horsemen on prancing steeds, bedecked in gay trapings, gave a demonstration near the boardwalk, after which drills on the boardwalk were entertained. Music was by the Evergreen Forest Band, Tall Cedars of Lebanon , that later played for a dance in the evening on the concrete section of the boardwalk.

Mayor Clarence Lynch and City Manager Turner welcomed the visitors and thanked the Shriners for choosing Rehoboth for the gala event.

Belhaven Hotel was the headquarters for the 2000 Shriners and families. The 'Wrecking Crew' showered thousands of youngsters with colored lollypops.

Weather conditions were ideal with a southeasterly breeze, 92 degree with high humidity and a brief storm that dropped the temperature to a comfortable 82.

Source: Virginia F. Cullen, Wilmington Morning News, Monday, August 5, 1957.

1950 Inlet Bridge Closure

INDIAN RIVER INLET BRIDGE

TO CLOSE

Major Justus B. Naylor of Lewes, Sussex county highway division engineer, gave notification that the Charles W. Cullen Bridge at Indian river will be closed to all traffic , Wednesday, May 24, 1950, but would open May 27 to June 1, temporarily , for Memorial Day traffic, then be closed again for many months.

The bridge, 10 miles south of Rehoboth, was damaged in February 1948 by ice flows. Repairs were made then to allow one way traffic to cross with the aid of a traffic light.

The closure will necessitate a 32 mile detour from Rehoboth by route 24 to Millsboro, 113 to Dagsboro, then east on route 26 to Bethany Beach. The miles increase for the 12 mile trip by 20 miles.

The most seriously effected are the Army Artillery troops stationed at Fort Miles who are in the midst of spring and summer anti aircraft practice at Bethany Beach. 

Dr Messick.

DOCTOR WILLIAM RODNEY MESSICK

Born 1873 in Pennsylvania to John William Messick and Margaret J. Baker Messick he lived

until age 83 in 1956 when he had a stroke and died in the Beebe Hospital, Lewes, Delaware

He had a sister Mary, who married in the Wilgus family, who died in 1948 and a brother

George Edwin Messick who died in 1937. A younger sister, Julie lived but two years and died, a

younger brother, J. Grove Messick, born 1899 but lived only a year.

Dr. Messick was a republican and prominent in politics of Sussex county, was Rehoboth Beach

mayor 1914 and 1915, the state cannery health inspector.

He married in Lewes 1898 to Margaret West Lyons, age 16daughter of Joseph B. and Margaret

C. Lyons, and after their marriage she was postmaster at Rehoboth during 1912..

Dr. Messick and Margaret had two children, Dorothy who married Lt. Commander, U.S. Navy,

William Teal, a Delaware River Pilot, Mary Kollock who married Lt. Col., Ralph Rust.

Dr, Messick owned the 35 acre farm where the Lewes High School was built in 1922.

Dr, William Rodney Messick is buried in St. Pauls Episcopal Cemetery, Georgetown.

CAPTAIN BLIZZARD OF LEWES

CAPTAIN WILLIAM H BLIZZARD

NATIVE OF LEWES

1865 - 1922

Capt. William H. Blizzard, a well known Atlantic coast pilot and master mariner, died in the U. S. Marine hospital, Staten Island on Friday last.

He was born in Lewes, Delaware in 1865 to David and Margaret Blizzard, of Lewes. His father was also a sailor of the seas. He had an older sister, Anna.

In 1900 he and Annie, his wife, married in 1898, were living in Baltimore Hundred of Sussex county, Delaware, with one daughter Martha.

During the Spanish American War Capt Blizzard served as the commander of the navy tug Gypsum King.

Source: Saturday, October 7, 1922, Kalamazoo Gazette, Kalamazoo, Michigan

LEWES OLD FORT TO BE HISTORICAL SITE

OLD FORT PARK AT LEWES

TO BE HISTORIC SITE

The Old Fort Park, across the street from the post office is to be a historical spot, The fort dates

back to early history of Delaware, with a number of iron cannon of the past laying there,

without the attention they deserve, for years.

More visitors are more impressed by the magnificent old oak tree that stands in the quaint

church yard, yards away, and instantly recognize its antiquity as one of the oldest trees in the state.

The canon will be rehabilitated, mounted on concrete forms, ready to repel any intrusion in the

Delaware Bay for centuries to come, with an appropriation of the State Historical Museum

Association. Reconstruction of the old fort into a park can be expected within the next year.

Then Lewes will have someplace to direct its visitors attention and become a favorite

breathing space for all Lewes residents.

ABSTRACT: Sunday, July 18, 1920, Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Delaware & New Jersey Boundary Dispute 1872

DELAWARE & NEW JERSEY BOUNDARY DISPUTE

DELAWARE RIVER NEW JERSEY SHORE 1872 SUIT

The Delaware River boundary suit between New Jersey and Delaware has been at the Supreme court in Washington for 25 years with no action. Recently, authorities of both states have been notified arguments must be made during the next term or the suit will be dismissed.

The suit was initiated a quarter of a century ago by New Jersey, to secure an order prohibiting

Delaware exercising jurisdiction over the New Jersey shore of the Delaware River.

New Jersey Governor John W. Griggs last week said he did not know what action the state would take and Attorney-General Gray was unable to answer questions, pending information from past Attorney-General Stockton in the matter.

The dispute arose in May 1872 when twenty two New Jersey fishermen were arrested by Delaware officers while fishing off the shore of Jersey for not having licenses.

New Jersey traces her title to half of the Delaware River from 1663 when the territory was granted by King Charles II to the Duke of York.

Delaware's claim were based on a grant of Pennsylvania to William Penn , which gave him “all land bounded on the east by the Delaware River from twelve miles north of New Castle, on the south by a circle drawn twelve miles northward from New Castle, and, westward to the beginning of the 40th degree of north latitude, then, by a straight line westward, etc”.

The twelve mile circle described in the grant not only takes in all the lower water of the Delaware, but a good portion of the New Jersey Coast and the contention of old south jerseymen was that the Duke of York , who made the grant, had no rights to include crown lands nor public rivers.

The fishing matter first got into the courts in 1836 when Delaware ceded Pea Patch Island , in the Delaware River, to the United States Government and New Jersey claimed that Delaware exceeded authority. Since then Delaware and New Jersey fishermen have been at odds almost every year. Lives have been lost during fierce battles between the two sides of the river.

When the case was taken to court in 1873, New Jersey was represented by lawyers E. L. Stanton, Jacob Vanetta and F. T. Frelinghuysen and Delaware lawyers were Thomas F. Bayard, G. H. Bates and George Grey.

Abstract: Trenton Evening Times, Trenton, NJ Sunday, June 6, 1897; Genealogy Bank. com

1962 Rehoboth Memorial Day

MARCH 1962 STORM

SUNDAY , JUNE 3, 1962

MEMORIAL DAY

The Washington Evening Star printed this newspaper article telling about the Memorial Day Service and Rehoboth Beach in general, two months following the ' great Atlantic storm of '62' , by newspaper reporter Davis S. Hugg.

Cloudy skies and a few drops of rain in the morning hours failed to dampen the enthusiasm of a estimated 15,000 persons who descended upon Rehoboth Beach on Memorial Day for the traditional opening of the 1962 season.

By 11 am a large crowd had gathered at the Memorial on the Green near the eastern end of Rehoboth Avenue for traditional memorial exercises.

Following a medley of military airs by the Rehoboth High School Band, Mayor Julian C.

Stamper extended an official welcome to the thousands of visitors and Ralph B Pierson, Commander of Rehoboth American Legion Post 5, gave a memorial address.

Afternoon, Rehoboth's 'new' beach , completed with the land fill just last week, was well covered with swimmers and sun bathers.

Silent today, the near by bulldozers and graders engaged in the land fill project, served as a reminder of the badly battered beach by the ' Great March Storm of '62 ' , announcing it was once again ready for business as usual.

Visitors noted that the beach had been completely restored, the board walk had been replace to the south from Rehoboth Avenue, and the pilings for the north section were in place. Mayor Stamper had assured Memorial Day visitors that the boardwalk would be completed by June 15^th.

Sunday, June 3 1962 Washington, D. C. Evening Star: David S. Hugg, Contributing Writer.

PUSEY HOMESTEAD ALONG THE DELAWARE RIVER

INTERESTING PLACES ALONG THE DELAWARE RIVER

PUSEY HOMESTEAD

AT UPLANDS, PENNSYLVANIA

November 15, 1930 it was announced that the Delaware County Historical Society had purchased the historic landmark, the Pusey Homestead, at the 100 acre , Landing Ford Estate, along Chester Creek, Uplands Boro, Chester County, which was owned by Caleb Pusey in 1863.

Wilmington folk are interested in this little old house because from here came the prominent Wilmington Pusey family.

The ancient structure was a 'public house' prior to 1682 where William Penn found comfort, provisions and entertainment within it's doors. It is known that William Penn preferred the hospitality of the original emigree to that extended by any other public house of his province.

Calbeb Pusey, Quaker, lastmaker, and William Penn were friends, Caleb being the manager of Penns Grist Mill of Chester.

The quaint old stone structure, with two small rooms and low attic has well withstood the ware of 250 years or more. With the change of ownership it will be restored and maintained as history of Delaware county.

From nearby, the Shipleys, from the hills along the Delaware, established a Quaker settlement on the western side of Wilmington.

The Pusey homestead antedates the Naamens Creek Mansion and the New Castle Dutch house.

SOURCE: Monday, November 17, 1930, Wilmington News Journal . Historic Landmarks Spared.