INTERESTING PLACES ON THE DELAWARE/CHALKLEY MANSION

Philadelphia Inquirer July 4th 1909
Chalkley Mansion was said to have been built by the Quaker Missionary by that name around 1701, when he first settled on the plantation of forty five hundred acres at Frankford on the Delaware. Chalkley was also master of his own sailing vessel with which he traded in the West Indies and used to spread the Quaker Religion throughout the early colonies from New England to the Carolina's. For many years past the John Wetherill family has owned the property since early in the 1800's. A son, Edward later had greatly improved the property and made a handsome country home until the Pennsylvania Railroad built a bridge across the Delaware and ran its tracks within yards of the mansion. Lately the property has been a delightful country home for children and their mothers when Edward Wetherill loaned the stately mansion to the College Settlement of Philadelphia. It will soon be closed and become a municipal improvement, an industrial park.

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT OF THE SWEDE, MARCUS JACOBSON, IN DELAWARE

It was near the middle of the year 1669 that the Swedish adventurer, one Marcus Jacobson, alias John Brickson, &c., but better known to the inhabitants of the Delaware Colony as "Long Finn" because of his lofty stature. Long Finn had succeeded in imposing himself on the Swedes as the son of Konnigsmark, a noted general of Sweden, and it was alleged , was inciting the settlers of that nationality to rebellion against the English authority. with the design of re-establishing the Swedish power to the province. With his was associated a wealthy Finn, Henry Coleman. The Rev. Lawrence Lock, former Swedish Chaplin , was said to have played the "Trumpeter" to the disorder, and Mrs Pappygoya, a daughter of Governor Printz, was charged with intermeddling " in so unworthy a design".
Governor Lovelace, of the New York Colony, issued an order for the arrest of Long Finn and his fellow conspirators on August 2, 1669. Along with the arrest order were instructions as to the manner in which a trial should be conducted and this trial became the first 'trial by jury' in Delaware..
A Captain Carry caused the arrest of the Long Finn, who was thrown into the fort at New Castle on Delaware in 'irons'. Henry Coleman \, learning of his intended apprehension , abandoned his property, fled to the Indians, with whom he seemed to have had a great influence, and is never more heard of. Dominic Lock and Mrs. Pappehoya gave security for their appearance to answer the charges against them when required.
The case was held at New Castle, December 6, 1669 and heard by the commission appointed by the governor and the jury. The jury, as was expected, found Jacobson guilty who was thereupon sentenced in accordance with the punishment prescribed by the Council, that Long Finn Maucus Jacobson, " shall be publicly and severely whipped and branded in the face with the letter "R" , with a larger inscription upon his breast, after which he be secured until he can be sent and sold to the Barbadoes or some other remote plantation".
On January 25, 1670, the "Long Finn" was put aboard the ship "Fort Albany" and transported and sold to the Barbadoes, after which date nothing further respecting him is known.
The accomplices were sentenced to forfeit to the King, one half of their goods and chattels, while a small fine was placed upon those of lesser note.
This case will always be an interesting one for it is the first recorded trial under the English on the Delaware in which a prisoner was formally indited, arraigned, and had a jury of twelve men impaneled, subject to challange of the prisoner, who are charged to render a verdict in accordance with the evidence.
Source: "History of Delaware Colony- Ashmead-Chapter XVIII"

Kboom

Mr. Grey, an ingenious gentleman of Sussex County, on the Delaware, invented a non-explosive burning fluid, and invited a few friends ro come witness a test of its qualities. He gathered a select circle around a barrel of the fluid in a garret and to prove how non-explosive it was, stirred it with a red hot poker. Within seconds, the inventor and his friends were seen to emerge through the roof, with pieces of wood, shingles and other 'things' on their heads, on the way northwest toward the river, all enjoying a birds eye view of Sussex county at some thousad feet above sea level. Mr. Grey observed to a friend nearest him that he thought he had made a mistake and mixed too much benzine in the fluid. Mr. Greys widow will sell the patent for the non-explosive fluid very cheap, she needing the money badly because Mr. Grey was scattered so much around Sussex County when he came down that she had to bury him gradually for the next three weeks.

Seaford Native Holds 90th Birthday Celebration in San Antonio Texas

Major Thomas Rhodes Hazzard celebrates his 90th birthday , ninty years old because he never let anything worry him. The celebrattion was at his son in laws home, Dr. A. L. Breeding, on Thursday at 5511 South Loop, where he had made his home the past few years.
Ever since he was born, October 16, 1834, he has never let misfortune get the best of his spirit and he is still here with the same sort of philosophy, ready to impart to the younger man who is wise enough to listen.
Major Hazzards birthplace was Seaford, Delaware, his parents were Rhodes and Nancy White Hazzard, Rhodes being the 1830's Seaford blacksmith at the northwest corner of Market and Second Street. He married Mary Jane Ellegood of Seaford, daughter of Joshua Atkinson Ellegood and his wife Ann Houston Griffith Ellegood. Mary Jane died in 1878 at St. Louis, after raising six children, four of which still are living.
A son, Seth Ellegood Hazzard, of New york and San Diego, California, is a distinguished traveler and was present at the openng of King Tut's tomb in Egypt. His other children are Edgar J. Hazzard and Mrs. Edward J. Miller of Oklahoma City, Mrs. Henry C. Hawkin of St. Louis and Mrs. A. L. Breeding of San Antonio.
Major Hazzard was in Minnesota at the time of the Indian massacre in the early 1860's and was given the rank of major in recognition of distinguished service. He was wounded and operated on by the father of the Mayo Brothers in Rochester, Minnesta.
His later years were spent with his children in Oklahoma City and California. He came alone from there to San Antonio four years ago.
He is an interesting conversationalist and remembers many notable events of his early years and is well read and traveled and has a remarkable memory. He sings the old songs and quotes poetry and the Bible, showing a general disregard of his ninty years.
Major Thomas Rhodes Hazzard, native of Seaford, Delaware, sailor, indian fighter, Major, Deputy U. S. Marshall, trader and farmer, died at his daughters home in San Antonio Texas on 17 November 1924 and was buried at Oklahoma City.

MARIE THOMAS

The February 24, 1911 issue of the Philadelphia Inquirer in the Sussex County Snapshots section states “ after an unsuccessful attempt to raise the sunken wreck of the steamer Marie Thomas, at Milton, the wreckers have postponed and other attempts until better weather. The machinery has all been removed by divers and nothing but the hull remains”.

The 1911 Annual Report of U. S. Army Chief of Engineers, under the date of November 9, 1911, mentioned that “ the wreck of the steamer Marie Thomas, lying sunk in Broadkill River, Delaware, was found to be a wooden vessel, 96 feet long, 24 foot beam, 6-1/2 feet depth of hold and of 187 gross tonnage , lying opposite side of channel from wharves of Milton. Additional to the $25 allotted for 'examination' , $500 had been allotted for removal , was advertised and a contract made with Richards Dredging Company of Philadelphia”. Their winning bid was $295.00. The 1912 Annual Report of U.S. Army Chief of Engineers list “work began February 19 and completed February 29, 1912, that the wreck was broken up and parts placed ashore above high water line”. The total cost was $496.12 which included supervision, tariff, etc.

1906 was the official building date of the Marie Thomas, being built at Milton by Master Carpenter James P. Davidson on an order of Captain George Edward MeGee who was a retired Coastal Trade Schooner Master. MeGee had her built to ship products of his timber business from Milton to Philadelphia. The Marie Thomas was the first documented ship built at Milton to have auxiliary mechanical power, in the form of a 60 HP 'diesel' engine.

Captain MeGee was registered as sole owner and master was Andrew J. Davidson, with home port being Milton. Captain MeGee later sold shares and one of the owners, W. H. Thomas , whose wife the ship was named after. 1908 the Thomas was converted to a 'steamer' , and had two of her three mast removed and a 'freight house' was built on deck to carry packaged cargo.

Some time before the night of December 3, 1910 the Thomas arrived at her Milton wharf and during that night the town fire bell was sounded, the Marie Thomas was on fire. In spite of the efforts of fire fighters, she burned to the water edge and drifted to the channel and settled.

Description: Places of Interest Upon the Delaware River and Bay.
The Lazaretto

Date: May 7 2011

Newspaper published in: Philadelphia

Source: U Penn collection

The Lazaretto, Americas Oldest Quarantine Station:

Hidden away along the riverfront banks of the Delaware River just a stone's throw from I-95 and west of the Philadelphia International Airport stands the oldest surviving quarantine facility, 1643 to 1893, in the Western Hemisphere, and the sixth oldest in the world.
The Lazaretto Quarantine Station served as the gateway to Philadelphia in a crucial period of the Nations growth during 1801 to 1895. During the warm weather months, when the traffic was heaviest and imported epidemics threatened, all arriving ships, passengers and cargo were inspected there and quarantined if necessary. Vessels and cargo were disinfected and sick passengers and crew members were treated in the Lazaretto Hospital.
The name Lazaretto derives from St. Lazarus, Patron Saint of the Lepers. Maritime quarantine stations were known as lazaeetto's and were established in European port cities beginning in the late 14th centuries.
The Lazaretto site spans the area from the Delaware River to Second Street and consiste of an 18th century building and a historic burial grounds at the northeast corner. It has been called the "Ellis Island" or Philadelphia but from a historical standpoint it is much more precious and even rarer, being a century older, the origional 1799 Lazareyyo structure still stands as a silent monument to the first hundred years of our nations history of immigration and public health. In 1799 this station was established in response to the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1793, it included a large main building, several out buildings and a burial ground.
Before there was a quarantine station this site, also known as Point-no-point and Tinicum, was part of the 1643 Swedish settlement and before that known to have been the home of Lenni Lenape Native Americans.
The early part of the 20th Century, this location took om a new life as the first seaplane base in Pennsylvania, also one of the first in the United States, for an early chapter in aviation history.
Source: David Barnes, University of Pennsylvania

1720's Quakertown in Sussex on the Delaware.

Outside of Lewes there are but few business places established in the Lewes-Rehoboth Hundred, except some transacted at Quakertown, two miles west of Lewes, which was a hamlet of fifteen families up until 1725. A Public House was kept there, the Militia did their training at that place and elections were also held there. Near where was built the residence of Gideon Prettyman stood the pillory and whipping post which were used as long as the courts were held in Lewes. In latter years this place became known as Prettymanville. In 1887 stores there were kept by William Prettyman and A. Cord. There were also a few mechanics shops.

The growth and improvement of Lewes had not been very eventful and in 1721 it was reported as a large and handsome town on the banks of the Delaware. Five years later there wrre fifty eight families at this place and fifteen at Quakertown. 1807 Lewes had about eighty buildings and that number was not increased much until after the Civil War. Twelve years after that event, in which period the railroads were built, 150 new homes had been added and the population was estimated at eighteen hundred.

In 1887 there were within the corporate limits about two thousand souls, five churches, a fine union school, a hotel and at least thirty places of business, including a telegraph office established in 1852.