Smyrna times., 1876-05-03
Sudden Death of Judga Csi1r;,,

Hon. Edward Woodward Gilpin. Ch;at
justice OF the Courts of this State. died
Suodenly at Dover, on Saturday evenino. NJ
HFe minutes after SIX o'clock. His remains
were taken to his late residence, in vii.
nlngton, on Sunday morning. and tho
funeral took place this morning at II
o'clock. "'
he Wilmington Commercial pives tho
following sketch of his life: Judge Cilnin
was born III Wilmington, July 13. lSO3
lie was, III the proper sense of the term a
selt-made man, for the circumstances of bis
parents were narrow, and, as one of q lorgo
family, he received very limited educo.
uon His father died while he was vo,
young, and he became the virtual head of
hls family. Then, as in later wears Lo
look the leading position among his iins.
iolk, and it is remarked that throuoLont
ms llte he never turned his back on orc
VINO by consanguinity had a claim unon
hlm' 'lle flrst learned the trade of n chr.
fieF OF leather, then became clerk and
salesman IN store, and finally studied law
ms preceptor being Hon. John Wales
iather Ia, OF the present Judge Leonard F.
wales. The study for his profession was
MS real education: and he fortified and
developed 1t by subsequent researches
GIligently pursued throughout his long life
hatever the deficiency of his early in.
efficiency. P"''''
Having been admitted to the bar in 1907
on February 18th, 1910, Governor ComeGrI
appointed Mr.. Gilpin Attorney .GnnoSS.!I
and, being re-appointed in IS45, hv c.
ernor Stockton, he held the place fen
years. lie had now acquired n LARGO onJ
profitable practice. About 1853. however
circumstances occurred which to some nv'
tent slackencd his labors in the law. and
he gave, until 1887, considerable attention
10 other business. In that year, upon the
death OF Chancellor Johns, the voupoor
ana the appointment Of Judge Harrinrton
10 succeed hlm, the position of Chief Jus.
Ice became vacant, and Governor Co,sa,,
recognizing the eminent fitness of Mr. G;l'
pm, dlsregarded political consideration ond
May e, 1857 gave him the place--on o,,'
ample which seems to have fallen into
dlsrepute in the later history of the State
Mr.. Gilpin had voted for Mr.. Buchanan i,
lS06-a vote which he subsequently, 20. |
gretted deeply, as he did, likewise. his vote
Tor Breckrldge, four years later-and in |
1885, was regarded as Democrat. while |
Governor Causey was Wing. That the |
latter should select him, therefore. beconso |
he was tit and qualified, was an act emf.
nently creditable to both.
Judge Gilpin's family were ORIGINALLY,
Quakers' but, when young man, he ideH.
titled himself with the Episcopal Cbnrcb
Later, after his marriage, he adopted The
faith of his wife and Joined the Naw
Church. (Swedenborgian, to which he re.
named earnestly devoted. Only the niobt
before his death he was explaining with
great earnestness and animation 10 n con,
pany OF friends, including Judges Houston
ana Wales, Mr.. Smithers, Mr.. Massey. and
others, his religious convictions. and his
expectations concerning the future stota
,hese conforming to the views held by tn, tbe,
New Church. ''''" oJ 'he
Judge Gllpin married, in lS4I. Eleanoro
a aIadelalde, daughter of Daniel LoMotto
ESQ., and sister to Mrs. Alfred dnPont
after married life of more than usnal ban'
plness, she died in November, 1874, Tbapy
Iao ! TWO children, one of whom only. Mrs
Ieofge Churchman, survives.
during the war, from the time that
'etlye hostilities began, he was a devo'
ed friend of the Union, and he rerdoroJ
Iaiuaole service, with Gen. Henry din npont
u u 1901, in exercising an influence over
GOVERNOR Burton, and preventing the
secession element from using Delawere Co
heir disunion schemes. ""'e 'or