The daily gazette., 1876-12-15
DeIascare Historical Sociefu.


On Biography-Hon. l.. f. Wales, Rev.
T. G. Littell, G. A. Rodney.
On Donations-Dr. l.. Z. Bush l.. i.
Watts, Thomas 7. Bellah.
On Finance-ElwOod Garrett, S. A.
McCallister, DIR. A. IL. Grimshaw.
Joseph II. Walter announced the death
of two distinguished members Of the So
ciety during the last year, DIR. Henry Il.
Askew, President of the Society, and DR..
II. X. Porter, an ex-President. Memo
rials had already been presented, but it
was but proper that their names should
be remembered at this meeting.
The reading of the annual record of
important events by Judge Wales was
postponed and Chief Justice Comegys
being introduced read his interesting pa
per.
Mr. Comegys by way of explanation
stated that the paper he was about to
read was one which he prepared and
read about two years ago before the
Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the
subject being one of equal importance to
Pennsylvania and Delaware.
Although the Judge was plain in his
articulation and read rapidly, it took him
| an hour and twenty-five minutes to read
his paper.
The first part of the papers reviewed
| the early settlement on the borders of
| Appoquinimink and at the Whorekilns,
a long time prior to the grant Of Charles
III. to William Penn.
| These settlements were made first by
the Swedes and Films with mixture of
the Dutch. The Dutch, by strengthening
| their strong colony at New Amster-
dam, now known as New York, had
made aggressive warfare upon more
peaceable and unresisting Swedes and
| Firms, and brought them under subiec-
ton. The articles of agreement, which
were made, showed the liberation of
civil and religious liberty in these times.
The rule of the Dutch was of short du-
ration, for, on the accession of King
James to the throne, they were declared
to be usurpers, and General Richard Carr
was sent to dispossess them, which he
shortly accomplished.
The only thing required by the English
in the treaty made at Fort Christiana,
now called the Crooks" at the foot of
Second street. on the Christiana River,
was q change of masters and surrender
Sir Robert Carr, the English General,
then welcomed them back to a true
monarchal government. These things
tosk place in 1864.
The Chief Justice from this point mi
nutely and carefully traced theprogress OF
the early settlement through all their va
rious changes down to the time OF the
Duke of Yorks grant to William Penn
Considerable space was devoted to re-
ferences of some of the old land grants
made to the early settlers, among which
appeared the names of Alrich, Vande
| we're ,Hermans and others the name Oftht
Vandeverapple being taken from the V an
deverefamily The first ofthese grants wa
made by Governor Keich in 1646, bu
about ten years afterwards about 80 other
were granted by Governor Stevenson q
New Castle then called New Amsterdam
but the most of them We're issued from
the courts ut the Whorekilns now Dover
and Deals now Lewes. In 1869 the Della
ware was called the South river of New
Netherlands, and Fort Christina wa
: called by the Dutch Altoona.
The Chief Justice then reviewed thu
claims of Lord Baltimore, which lee
back to the Cabot discoveries and th'
patents granted under that discover
/, The Dutch claimed that they had set
p tlement at Lewes and in battle with TIL
r Indians there they sealed their right 10th
country by spilling their blood in its de
fense long before the discoveries wer
made which gave Lord Baltimore an.
!. claim.
, IL would be impossible for us to follow
=! the narrator of these interesting earl.
settlements of the three lower countie
on the Delaware, SO called to distinguish
them from Chester, Philadelphia an
Bucks the three upper counties. IN
paper which showed great care in tn
collection of facts names and dates, is II
valuable, the reading ofwhich was lister
= ed to with great attentiveness, and at tn
close of the reading Judge Comegys wa
81 greeted with showers of applause.
Dr.L. r Bush being called upon for
report of donations to the Society durin
a the past year, first proposed a vote @
T. thanks to Chief Justice. Comegy'
=. which were heartily given, after which
~ list of the donations were read.
y Amongst the donations was yer
handsome portrait of Admiral Dupon
n made blythe artistD Darley ,andpresented
the widow of the deceased Admiral. IN
other donations have been principal
reported from time to time as the societ
= held its annual meetings.
DIR. Bush then announced that Juul
Houston was preparing an address on u
political history oftheRevolutlon,th ,thetin
n for the delivery of which would be a
l , nounced hereafter and that on Tuesda
evening January I'd, Caesar A. Rodnt
would read a paper on the battles
Trenton and Princeton that being the a
he niversary day succeeding the battle
Trenton, and proceeding that OF PRIME
ton. ,
W n donation of about 10 volumes of cat
logues of the different nations which too
'pt part in the Centennial Exposition that
England being accompanied with Il
autograph of the Duke of Richmond.
- The Society then at the suggestion,
Mr.. Walter agreed to meet next Iuesd
!. evening the 18th instant to consider q
!" propriety and eXpediency OF getung = =
other place for the headquarters OF U
Society, Mr.. Walter remarking that Tn
had boarded long enough, and now wal
ed to go to housekeeping.
The Society then adjourned, the me-
bers and invited guests repairing 10 I
nj Ladies Bazaar, where they partook
ur- their annual supper.
lue -.
and CHRISTMAS finlpt
ire, Bros, S12 Vine street, Philadelphia, ma
a ood a fine assortmedt of beautiful watch
lor, iewelry and silver plated goods, II,
which can be selected a present Tor