Smyrna times., 1865-08-30
History of the State of Delaware.


History of the State of Delaware.
The undersigned proposes to write history
OF the State of Delaware, from its first discov-
cry to the end of the present year. In it in
tend, after giving description of it's aborig-
nal inhabitants, plainly and succinctly, to chron-
lcle every matter of interest that has occurred
since its first settlement; such as who, at diff
ferent times, became it's Governors, who COM
posed its Legislatures, and held it's principal
public Offices, and the majOrities by which it's
various elections have been decided, together
with synopsis of the different laws passed
from the first settlement of the State until now
the different censuses taken of it at it's various
decades; the principles of the different parties
into which its people have from time to time
been divided what regiments it has sent forth
and in what battles they have been engaged,
together with the changes that at different pc
RODS have taken place in it's political, social
and physical condition-in fact everything as
Tar as 1t can be obtained, necessary to make
plain its past history.
The difficulty of writing a correct history of
Delaware can hardly be conceived by any one
who has not undertaken it. In addition to the
extreme lack of historical interest manifested
even by the majority Of our most intelligent
citizens no care has been taken Of our records
In 1917, the Clerk of the Court at New Castle,
whose business it was to keep them, went into
evil courses and neglected them. In 1922 they
were all destroyed by the burning of COL John
French S house at New Castle In III they
were captured and taken to New York by the
British after the battle of Brandywine; many
OF them were never returned, and what were
returned, being stored away in an clubhouse at
New Castle, were nearly all afterwards dcs-
trOyed by gentleman's servants (tor Lighting
fires) who were ignorant of their value. 9th
ers have been lost by the carelessness of some
Of our State and County officers In one in
stance cart loads of letters (amongst which
were many Of those of General Washington
giving an account of the movements of our re-
giments during the Revolution, together with
other material which would have done much
to elucldate our past history, was carted from
the public offices and thrown out as rubbish.
a number of letters and papers Of the celebra-
ted CeSer A. Rodney, treating of our Revolu-
tionary affairs, belonging to Thomas NJ. Rod
ney, Esq, the Collector of the Port, were a
few years since stolen from the Custom House.
Many of our former distinguished families have
now no representatives left in Delaware, and
their papers, which would have thrown light
on our local history, are not to be found. The
descendants of others residing here have part
cd with every manuscript and letter. having in
many cases presented them to New England
autograph collectors, amongst whom such
things are preserved and valued. No care has
been taken ill our public libraries to preserve
any works i'll relation to this State, and every
rare work not purchasable the writer has been
compelled to procure from the libraries of Phil
adelphia and New York. From this can BE-
Imagined the difficulties to be encountered in
writing correct history of our State, especial
ly after Its grant TO William Penn; few years
after which We first had an independent gov
eminent, and our affairs ceased to be registered
any where out of our own limits. Thus a.
time elapses, records, documents letters and
everything that could throw light upon oui
history, are .strOyed, lost or scattered, and
the names of the men who fought our battles
and guided our public councils, as well as oul
former laws, policy and past acts, are unknown
to our citizens, and knowledge of them can
only be acquired by referring to many docu-
mentS mainly IN other States-and to some
works, few if any of which are to be found in
the Libraries of this State, and are rare in those
of Others
The undersigned has no other apology to of:
fer tor undertaking this work, than that fol
the two hundred and fifty-six years since the
territory which comprises the State has been
known to civilized man, no one has thought
proper to do it before him; and having some
SIX years since spent nearly eight months in
searching for matters relating to its history
both here and in other States, he thinks, what
ever may be its defects, it will be more accent
able to our citizens than none at all There
has indeed been useful and valuable works
written on Delaware, such as Ferris Original
Settlements" and Miss Montgomery Rem
inlscences of Wilmington bit no history Of
the State, which this work purports to be. All
he promises therefore is that it shall be well
printed, and everything in relation to our past
affairs plainly and honestly related.
! from the extreme dearth of interest felt in
relation to our past history, so many not con-
ceiving the necessity of such a work, and the
smallness of the State, which of course must
make the circulation extremely limited, he has
been compelled to issue it in numbers of thirty
two pages, at thirty cents each, SO as to make
it suit the convenience of all who may wish to
subscribe Those desiring to encourage the
work will please send their names BY letter to
him, or TO some of the bookstores in Whining
ton. The amount of numbers it will make the
author cannot at present tell, but he will trv to
cOndense it if possible, in twelve. The first
volume is now written, and the first number
will be issued Immediately As only few
more will be printed than those subscribed for,
be hopes those desiring it will at once send in
their names
tie would respectfully request any that have
letters, or documents, or rare works relating to
our past history, to lend them to him. Care
VIII be taken of them, and they will be prompt
ly returned FRANCIs VINCENT
Wilmington, August 81, 1865.
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