BOOKHAMMERS OF LEWES

BOOKHAMMERS OF LEWES

ACCORDING TO RICHARD B. CARTER.

AN ABSTRACT OF CARTERS BOOK

“GENE BOOKAMMER & HIS WORLD”

Among many newcomers to the seaport town of Lewes after the end of the Civil War,

came a war veteran, Sylvester Seymour Bookhammer and his second wife, Mary Elizabeth

Frymier Bookhammer, somewhat younger than Sylvester.

The Bookhammer family, of German descent, came to America in 1700 thereabouts, settled

in the Pennsylvania area of Hayfield , somewhat north of Philadelphia in Montgomery county,

North Penn Valley, near Lansdale. The township was founded in 1742, either named for a

Welsh village of Hertfordshire, England, or, an early settler, with no records, by name of John

Hatfield. The main roads of the time that intersected at Hatfield were 40 Foot Road and

Cowpath Road. There was a hotel and tavern built at this intersection.

Our veteran, Sylvester was born in this village in 1830, the son of Jacob Bookhammer, also

born at Hatfield in 1803. His mother, Elizabeth Zane Bookhammer, was born in Montgomery

in 1812.

The name Bookhammer had various early spellings such as Buchammer and Buchheimer.

After spending his youth in Hatfield he moved into Philadelphia where he was a barber and

a dry goods merchant. It was now when he married his first wife, Mary Louise Elbert, and

prior to the Civil Was she born two daughter, Amanda, 1853 and Laura 1858.

As the Civil War came about Sylvester Seymour Bookhammer joined the the Army and was

a soldier in 1861 , of the 88^th Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment under the command of

Colonel George McLean . He was commissioned 1^st Lieutenant in Company K, commanded

by Captain William Powell, October 5^th, 1861 and was to serve three years. This regiment

was assigned to Washington , D. C. October 1861 as 'provost duty' in Alexandria, Virginia.

In 1862. after several others assignments, Sylvester was promoted to Captain, the K Co.

Commander. After several major battles, in one he was wounded, and found to be unfit for

duty, resigned November 1862 for medical reason and returned to home in Philadelphia.

The wound he received in battle plagued him the rest of hiss life.

His return home was all the more necessary as his wife fell ill and died in October 1862

leaving daughters, age 4 and 9, motherless.

After five years back in Philadelphia at his old jobs and female help of relatives in the raising

of his daughters, at age 35 he remarried an eighteen year old Mary Elizabeth Frymier,

daughter of Abraham and Anna Elizabeth Long Frymier. Anna Elizabeth Long was born and raised in Baltimore Hundred, Sussex, Delaware, daughterof William Benjamin and Nancy Wharton Long, probably of Frankford. Other families connected to the Longs were Hocker, Dukes and Tunnells. Anna maintained strong ties to her Sussex county home but took on the role of raising the two stepdaughters and was an important part of their lives., however, when Sylvester and Mary Elizabeth moved to Lewes,they now nearly grown, remained in Philadelphia with grandparents.

Mary Elizabeth, still in Philadelphia gave birth to a daughter 1868 which only lived a few

months. Five years later she gave birth, May 14, 1873 , to Sylvester Allen Bookhammer.

two more sons were born, Heisler Jacob in September 14, 1874 and William Hayes, October

26, 1876. Hayes came from GOP presidential nominee at that time, Rutherford B. Hayes.

When Sylvester and Mary Elizabeth moved to Lewes with their new son in the autumn 1873,

their barber shop on Second Street was opened and they lived next door. The Masonic Lodge

was across the street.

Sylvester was active in the Republican Party and in 1889 was appointed postmaster

which he occupied until 1893 when he died at age 63. After his death Mary Elizabeth

opened a 'notion' shop where the barber shop had been. She also was 'postmistress' a few

months. Remember, she was younger, now only mid forties.

The three Bookhammer boys left few records, they were educated in local schools, helped

with the family business and post office. Fished, hunted rabbits, birds and such in the area.

8 year old 'Billy' worked the barber shop, shoe shine boy, and at 14 was a big help to father in

the post office. Saving his pay and ernings he purchased and raised livestock, pigs, cows and

such.

Sylvester, eldest boy, attended Delaware College, was a member of the football team, and

earned a two year associate degree, then returned to Lewes to become what was said to be

at “loose ends” along with his brother Heisler, Uncle Hi as he was better known.

Being at “loose ends” all three brother decided to 'hit the road' and become railroad bums,

jumped a empty freight car at Lewes at left town. William, got as far as Nassau and changed

his mind and jumped off and returned home. Uncle Syl and Uncle Hi went on. Heisler got

to Paducah Kentucky, he married Lena Negal , had a daughter, Harriett, was a barber, died

young at 33 in1907. Sylvester made it to Atlanta, Georgia, entered an apprenticeship with

a podiatrist and became an eminent foot doctor.

William returned to Lewes and was of great importance to his mother. The main reason why

William did not follow his brothers to 'loose ends' was because he was much in love with

Winifred Jenkins, from another newcomers family, very atractive teenager, born in Somerset

Maryland to Charles Alonzo Jenkins who came with his father, Levin to find work on the

wooden harbor pier and the Iron pier.

Winifred Jankins and William Hayes Bookhammer became man and wife in due course. They

were the ancestors of 'The Bookhammers of Lewes' .

These then were the people from whom William Hayes and Winifred Jenkins Bookhammer

and “The Bookhammers of Lewes” were descended. On one side a age old maritime U. S.

Life Saving Service family, the other side a disabled Civil War Vet , town postmaster and

barber. Good, hard working, middle class, people.

Abstract: Harrison H, of Dick Clarks Gene Bookhammers World publication .