Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-04-14
Legends OF the Past


GESEKAL DAGwoRTHY-THE oLp CHURCHES OF |
sussEX
sec by the public prints, one OF your towns |
men, who is engaged in wiring History Of
Delaware, " requests information, and contribu-
tions to his object,
In Dagsbofoueh. an obscure village Of Sussex
county, (albeit tile birth place of John NJ. Clay
ton.) resides widow lady, Mis-. NAPLES, who
has in her possession some valuable records,
am informed, Of events during and succeeding
the Revolutionary war. Among these she had
some letters from General Washington to General
| Dagworthy, which would be an Invaluable add
ton 10 the papers of the State Historical Society
| Whether she yet retains these am not sure, but
1t would be worth the while Of any one particu-
larly concerned TO ascertain.
General Dagworthy, though scarcely face to
face with the fierce struggle OF The war, yet by
his influence and vigilance and the authority vest
ed in him, did much efficient service to the Con-
tiuental Government ut the time. After tue final
| triumph Of the Federal Army, he entertained the
cxtravngant desire of having the Capital Of his
country located upon lands be was willing and
anxious TO donate for that purpose. He was
inrgc property owner, and on one part of his
wide domains had liked tue boundaries OF a city.
The forests was elled In long avenues opening TO
the sen and in his day dreams and nightly visions
| me- saw spfls uUu uoultN ilsluB utANcuNuut iih'f
tue tabled palaces Of Aladdin but the dream was
, neyci realized.
A history Of Delaware frGin lis earliest settle
ment 10 the present is sadly needed anu there
are, doubtless, many aged persons in the towns
z and lonely farm HOUSES of the State, To whom
traditions Al muuldy records have descended,
: who might give valuable Information TO the gen
! tlenal in question.
4 The clergy of the Protestant Episcopal church,
as Il body, are Jealous antlquarlans, and have
collected aud fallen heir to many precious man
: | uscfpts stained and worm eaten, that have out
n lasted the bones OF several generations, and are
the records Of much that is known OF the early
:, history OF the State.
X 81, Matthew's Z. E. Church OF Cedar Greek
8 Sussex county, whereof only the grave yard now
II remains was the scene OF romance and heroisln
us well as devotion, in the troubled years tina
e are gone 1t was to this church that gallan
j. steed painting and iecked with foam, bore lady
d who had ridden hard all night along solitary
h roads and dangerous forest paths with nobl,
courage that never hlnched-bore her with dus
in and cater to the very door, where allghting sht
or staggered into the aisle, and conveyed to thu
IN startled priest and congregation the alarmin.
ct news Of uprising of Inc Tories, for 1t was IL
the days OF the Revolution. All men went arme
to church then, and those who went in to pra
st and TO listen, came ont soldiers, and TO fight.
r. In this same church, Il brother Of Gov Ballet
y crazed and melancholy with disappointed love
y, shot himself dead with pistol, and lay for man
=. hours cold and weltering in his blood, before
/
lie upon the floor, long marked the spot where loy
IL and lite went out together.
ed Here, too,a nephew of the suicide used TO ste,
in away to meet the lady of his heart, the ga
cd daughter Of ncighboIiug farmer; and the
=, secret and forbidden meetings were often PR
y Iracted till the long shadows OF the tees minge,
N, and the night slow paced aud solemn, drapt
Sc the aiscs iu gloom, and the melancholy ghost
wo the uncle stared at them through the windows.
Is. Upon the opposite side of the creek, from Il
sci church. white shaft Of marble marks the s I.
10 where the dust OF the Governor lies damp ~
Va dakly beneath. Around the monument tt
,h cedars wave their funeral plumes.
MI The village of Saint Johnstown, in this san
ere county, it has been conjectured, took its nan
The from d Catholic mission 10 the neghborhoo
ut. though when or where is wrapped in doubt, Il
10, tradition Is so dim. The dillpidated remains
ar, Protestant Episcopal chapel might have be-
81 seen near there very carly in this century, but
IN records speak OF it as 81. Mary's
u.s. The g Milford Bard" has woven into one of /
to fctions tradition OF the indians and the eat
nd, settlers Of the lower county.
OF There is a sprinkle of Indian blood yet renal
,;st ing. to give fire aud animation to some of /
's' darker hued Inhabitants along The course of I
a.. Irdiau River; aud some old stories are preserv
ilst for the long winter evenings, OF the wolf I
u forest aud The savage. ScRiBLERus.
wn HARRISGroS, April 0, 1870.