Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-04-04

The original publication in this paper of |
some of the facts which constituted the basis |
of Bayard Taylor's story in the January |
number of the atlantic MonthIy-" The
Strange Friend" excited general attention,
and among other reviews of the matter a
friend at Kennett Square sends us the sub |
Joined communication on the subject. We
may add that in addition to the true charac-
ter and previous circumstances Of the
''Strange Friend" being known in the neigh
borhood of his residence, he was sometimes
even spoken of as I" Lord Cox" The lady
to whom the son was paying attention, ac-
cording to the story, rumor at this day con-
meets with the name of Miss Ross, whose
family afterward removed to Ohio, where
she became the wife of Governor and U. s.
Senator Tom Corwin, now deceased
Our friend at Kennett says:-
Henry Cox (for this was his real name)
was known in his native land under the title
of Lord Hamilton. He came to this coun
try some years prior to his settlement in
Chester county, and took up his residence in
or near the town of York, in York county,
Pa, The reasons assigned by himself and
older members of his family for leaving the
place of their nativity, were that his estate
in Ireland was encumbered by heavy life
annuity which rendered his nett income in
sufficient to support him under the title he
had inherited. He therefore concluded to
leave and settle in the United States, where
these distinguishing marks were unknown,
or if they were known it cost nothing to
wear them.
In his first settlement in York county he
MI hot diot ol,a
rank in Europe, and for a little time he con-
tinued the use of this costume. His wife
and her mother were reputed members of
the Episcopal Church, but it is not known to
the writer of this, that he was or had been a
member of that OF any other religious or
ganization. From motives however, best
known to himself, he suddenly changed his
apparel and put on the plain exterior of o
Friend. His location was amongst the
members of that sect, and there being
meeting for worship and discipline estab-
lished in the vicinity he became a regular at
tender of the former, and in process of time
he made the application for admission, and
upon investigation he was deemed sufficient
ly sincere to be admitted into membership
with the Society of Friends. Being thus
established in commission with them, he in
fluenced a portion of his children to make
similar application, and on behalf of those
!
ton, and thus, believe, they were all re-
J ceiyed into membership with Friends. In
the year eighteen hundred and thirteen the
family removed to the neighborhood of
Londongrove and settled on large farm
about one mile distant from Friends Meet
ing of that name, where they remained more
than six years. As was usual, soon afterbe-
, coming there settled, they brought certii
Gates of membership from York Monthly
| Maat;,,er and ,,raoont ad thprn n Tpnd urnya
Monthly Meeting, where they were received,
, in accordance with the usage of tine Society
During their stay within the limits of that
meeting, the father and a large number of
} the children were regular attenders Of it ON
g the first day of the week, and he, with
more or less of them, also in the middle OF
the week.
n Instead of having but two sons and TWO
1 daughters, as represented by the gifted au-
thor, he had seven sons and six daughters,
all residing together. During the entire
: period of their residence in that vicinity
: this "Strange Friend, when at meeting,
never took a seat in the gallery occupied by
the ministers and elders but always on the
e bench next under it nor did he, on any oc-
8 casion in public meeting for worship, ever
open his lips or give Inference to words In
the character of a minister. Occasionally
|. he did give a sentiment on some business
ions woro always estimated according to
their deserts. In connection with this part
$ of nv nbors, may inform the reader that
! the wife and mother uniformly remained at
home and it is doubtful whether she ever ac-
companied her husband to Friends Meeting,
Ii much less to hold forth also. The highly
a wrought history of a certain scene, repre-
sented to have taken place at the close o
J one of the religious meetings held at Lon.
dongrove, occasioned by the unlooked-fol
:, appearance of an old acquaintance (Jacli
= O'NieD, has no foundation in fact, and new
" er took place on the Meeting House grounds
in the presence of Friends just emerging
from the meeting The writer of this wal
member of that meeting during all thi
is period, and was in the habit of attending i
!, regularly twice every week when health per
:, miited, and he has consulted number o
% his contemporaries who were alike diligent il
attending meetings and there is but ON
n opinion among them ALL and that is, that n,
r. such scene ever took place on that ground
Some of us were intimate with the mem
> bers of the family, including the father, ant
found them kind and courteous and mostl,
y intellectual and intelligent but their earl
education and surroundings had been sue
IL as to cause many inconsistencies in thei
OF habits and practice in life, when compare
with their religious profession; and henc
they were soon estimated as members of tn
ae Society, according to their merits, and thu
5h the Friends of that meeting were not deceiy
as ed With regard to the Oldest son, name
~ "De Courcey,' and his love predilection
= and fatal end, need only say he was til
second son and not the first of their offspring
he and that he died of lock-jaw, resulting troi
:, a fall from his horse in extreme wintt
u weather Like too many of his cotempt
,ls raries and many of the youths of this day
l.. @t.l toly r,rf
per care of himself on some occasions; bl
IL he possessed talents of high order, whic
g under proper training and cultivation, migl
ID. have made him shining light in his day
am reminded of the remarks made by q
eminent writer and statesman on the chara
m ter of distinguished son of Chester count
rd many years ago, who had been removed
mo- death also, near the same period, and thin
them applicable to his afiianced personag
l will revive them g Tread lightly on b
lii ashes, We men of genius he was your kin
gor man." If my information be correct, and
~. have no reason to doubt it, the return of th
sht family to Ireland, in the year eighteen hul
to dred and nineteen, was induced by the ia
that his encumbered estate there had bee
relieved of the annuity by the death OF
N recipient, and thus he was enabled to enjt
ng his testimony unmolested by drawbacks upt
me his finances.
aid Since the essay in question has made
!, y appearance in public letters have been I
y ceived from various and distant parts of Il
in country desiring to know how far the tale
,,,s a verify and the question has been repeol
'ns edly asked what where the motives that
urs fluenced our Chester county author to ma
ers SO long story out of matter which Ii
ia laid dormant nearly fifty years Was it, th
ask, to interest certain class of readers WI
are more fond of Fiction than Truth, al
eye who will greet any tale, no matter how y
20 e, true it may be- in all its parts, or to pla
or'- the subject Of his theme, personally, in
ary unenviable light !-or was 1t for the purpc
- of undermining the Cardinal doctrine Of I
nh Society of Friends, and show the inefticie
uo u. cy of Divine Revelation as guide TO ma
the Whilst cannot think that any such feelin
influenced the writer, must be permitted
say that some of his readers are reluctant
at inclined to believe the latter interpretati
lille, was not altogether nullity. The effect pli
y;ve duced, in this instance serves to show u
~, caterers to public taste ought to rememl