The daily gazette., 1879-11-01
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER |. 1879.
State Hisft m.
MoRE ABOUT ANCIENT DELAWARE
THE FIRST FORMATION OF ST. JONES
(kENT) COUNTY.

MORE ABOUT ANCIENT DELAWARE
TIE FIRST FORMATION OF ST. JONES
tKENT) COUNTY.
City Treasurer Francis Vincent
mas (to make our citizens better ac-
4uainted with the early history of our
State) publ shed from time to time GER
tain accounts of its early affairs. In his
s s,arch,s he alleges he has found out
several errors of the early historians of
The transactions OIL the Delaware River,
and proved in some instances wha. was
supposed TO be mere traditions, and
doubted by writers Of history to be mere
matter of fact. And in others what was
uni. ersally received as true, TO be incor-
ret. For instance: He alleges, and
Will hereafter prove, that the massacre
OF the first settlers in the State of Della
ware did not take place at Lewistown
but OH the Murderkill Creek, and that
from this tragedy il derives its name,
VIZ: Murder, murder, and kill, the
Dutch name for creek or rive-. In other
words, Murder River. Also that the
name of Whorekill, was derived, as sta
ted by tradition, from the bad conduct
| " VIZ ihdidI WOlDCH, VIZ TOUl W WDOIc
Gan old common English word former
ly used to denote a prostitute or lewd
woman} and kill creek or river. Also
that tie name Brandywne is derived
from Andrew Bradwine who received a
grant of land at the mouth of that rive,
and not from a vessel loaded with BRAN
! dy and wine, as tradition relates. Also
that the Delaware was not pcaceably
surrendered TO the English by the Dutch,
as stat' d by historians. But that Fort
New Amstel, commonly called Fort
Casimir, was stormed and bombarded by
the soldiers of Sir Robert Cars sqlla-
dron, and three Dutchmen We're killed
aud ten wounded. These are a few OF
the mat ers he has discovered in relation
to early Delaware bis' Ory not previously
known. In pursuance TO this he has
hinded to us the blowing, showing the
first attempt at dividing tie State into
three counties, which until then was
o ly two, viz: New Castle and Deal.
He says:
One hundred and ninety eight years
ago, the citizens residing between the
north side Of Cedar Creek and the south
side Of BlacAbird Creek petitioned Sf
Edmund Andro.s to have Court fol
tbs section Of Delaware held in some
convenient place OH st. Jones' Creek.
They wound up their petition in the fol-
lowing complimentary language:
"And We as in duty bound shall ever
pray for your honoI's health and bappi-
ness. Thot age may crown your snowy
haiIs wi Ii Cpsar's honors and with Nes-
tors years."
Sir Edmund Andross was the Govern
or of the DuRe of York's Territories in
America, a portion of which was Della
ware. The New Englands give him a
bad name. But Mr.. Vincent allege:
kind Governor, who psrsoped nearl,
every body that applied for it from ou
territory. AT times he severely rebuke,
the Delaware Magistrates when he
thought they oppressed the widow. Al
one time they addressed him in this style
"You must not pardon so, if you do, We
must resign our Offices" He thinks the
different character Andross bore in Del
aware from New England originated in
this manner The leading English in
Delaware were adheronts and friends OF
the King. A regiment of young soldiers
raised round the Royal Palace of Wind
sor, who stormed Fort Ca,imir, and
kill, d three, and wounded ten of the
Dutch soldiers. From circumstances ht
believes they were composed Of the
younger sons of the nobili y and gentr,
who came here as settlers, the pay of {
soldier being merely to assist them un
til they procured lands. These mel
held the same political and religious sen
timonts as Andross, and did not vex hin
10y opposition. As they were all King
m II and scopalians, which was thel
the faith of the English by law, and ais,
OF the King and Court. Whilst the New
Englanders were Puitans, and Crom
wellians, who were in sympathy will
those who cut off the head of the forme
King Uhe father Of the then Kin
Charles lI.) and gave protection ant
shelter to the Regeide's Judge who con
demned him to death.
, 1t will be seen tha. the boundaries ap
, piled for the new county of st. Jones
, were different from the existing bound
, of The present Kent county, which is di
vided from New Castle by Duck creek
ard from Sussex by the Mispilion.