The Morning herald., 1878-11-04
4 BACKWARD GLANcE.

SOME NOTES OF nLD-TIME wJLMfNGT0N--
WILLIAM sHIPLEY--THE GOVERNMENT
AsTT WAS IN GEORGE TEE sEcoNDsDAY.
The early history Of Wilmington and the
manners. government and pecularities or
eur fore fathers are in q measure unknown
to our citizens. The Obstruction OF Oil
documents and papers bearing upon this
have been destroyed and leave . blank thai
will never be filled. Hence; DO history yts
written has gone fully INFO this and If we
except those sketches written some time
ago by Francis Vincent ESQ. and published
in "Harkness' Magazine" the subject is
wholly unchronieled. ~ fff
The first government that Wilmington
ever had, that embraced any system was
contaised in q charter, transmitted from
George II, of England 10 shout 1889. The
decendents of Wm. Penn yet owned the ad-
iacent region and the governor of 1t at that
time was George Thomas. A copy of this
chart can be feen by any one who will
take the trouble to look in the fore part OF
the book Of city ordinances. In 1t ere given
the names of the officers of the Borough.
The Burgesses were William Shjpley and
Thomas West. The assistants were Tim>
othy Stidham, Joseph Hewes, Joshua Way,
Joseph Way, George Howell and Dayid
Ferris. Enoch Lewis was the high CoDsts>
BILE and Goldsmith L. Folwell, town clerk.
At that time these men with one or two
others were the leading men of the town
which was thriving and increasing in size
at that time. They have left many decen
dents behind them and today large nun
Der are prominent citizens. From The fami
| Iy of the Ways, decended Judge Way who
| became q prominent man 10 the Courts of
Justice along about the time OF the Revolu-
| tion.
VIM. Shipley who was the First Burgess,
still has decendents living and Shipley stres t
| was named after bin. He was fine old
Quaker gentleman, "all of the olden time"
and perhaps the people of Wilmington, of
that distant day as well as this, are indebt-
| ed TO dream on the part of his wife, for
his presence as well as that of his ancestors.
His wife was also firm Quaker lady and
| addicted to preaching, In the different
| churches aud rode about The country for
th at purpose. She dreamed of certain
| town, one night, that so took her fancy and
| favorably impressed her, thst she grew de-
| sirous OF finding it and felt that 1t would
become q reality .HNI0oF#
One day some time afterward, she came
riding down over the Brsndywine hills and
no sooner did she tehold the beautiful
county stretching before her, than she re-
ID ay,lo nj hpr Ry
this circumstance her husband was lead to
take up his residence here and soon became
leading citizen. The large building OF
old shape and ancient aspect, the stands at
Fourth and Sbipley streets, was bis res!-
dence for many years.
The government OF Bureesses and assis
tant Burgess or as they Were called; the
Borough Council, satisfied the people as
they pic ddvd on in ihG even tenor Of their
| ways Ill 1880 on there sbouts. At tn t
ime the city was divided into five wards
| with members of Council from each ward,
Before this but one voting place existed
| the town hall, and all the ofiieers of the
| b inlet were elected on general ticket.
The Mayor ard Alderman now succeed.
| ID the Burgesses aud we're elected by Coun.
ell urtiI about 1850 when this power was
placed in The hands Of the people. Joshua
e. Driver was the fir-t Ma Or re elec ed
nd Steph-n Boldly the first Alderman Mr.
Driver died he ore his 'erm expfr and he
"ss succrt ded, We believe by William
Henpbill Jones. This plan Of election did
50 will that it has exisr, d aid given sat
isfaction up to the prSset d.y
| Five y, ars after thi- smother change took
place AID he slectos OF the police force, by
IN sct o, be Legislature. was taken from
council and the Mayor was cmpoEered 10
,ppoint bis own police force. .e'%f&
! Afer This the Office of Alderman wae
a. tolishtd, the cout ell turned out and Let
Of new wards added which swelled thr
| number to niue Two Council members
we're electt from each ward instead of
three as formerly. The Mayor was elected
for thrse years md the President Of City
Council was made elective by the peoplo.
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