Daily Republican., 1879-11-01
WILMINGTON, DEL, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER l. 1879
OUR STATES INCIPlENCY,
The First Formation Of * ent COun.
ty-The People 1OS years ago.

The First Formation Of X ent COun.
ty-The People lOs years ago.
! City Treasurer Francis Vincent has,
(tO make our citizens better acquainted
with the early history of our State)
published from time to time certain &C.
counts Of its early affairs. In his re-.
searches he has found out several er-
rors Of the early historians of the trans.
actions on the Delaware River, and
proved in some instances what was sup.
posed to bs mere tradition and doubt
ed by writers of history to be matters of
fact. And IN others, what was univer-
sally received as true to be incorrect.
For instance, he alledges and will here
after prove) that the massacre of the
first settlers in the Stats of Delaware
did not take place at Lewestown but Oh.
Murderkill Creek, and that from this
tragedy it derives its name, viz. Muir
der, murder, and kill, the dutch name
for creeks or rivers.
In other words, Murder River. Also
that the name of Whorskill was derived
as stated by tradition, from the bad
conduct Of the Indian women, viz !:
From whore Gan old common English
word formerly used to denote a prosti-
tute or lewd woman) and kill creek
or river. Also that the name Brandy
wine is derived from Andrew Brandy
wine, who received grant Of land at
the mouth OF that river, and not from
the wreck of a vessel loaded with
brandy and wine, as tradition relates.
Also that the Delaware was not peaos-
ably surrendered to the English by the
Dutch as stated by historians, but that
Fort New Amstel formerly called Fort
Casimir, was stormed and bombarded
by the soldiers and sailors of Sir Robert
Carr's fleet, and three Dutchmen killed
and ten wounded. These are a few of
the matters he has discovered in rela
tion to early Delaware history not pre-
viouslv known. In pursuance Of this
he has handed to us the following,
showing the first attempt at dividing
the State into three counties, which
till then was two, viz: New Castle and
Deal. He says:
"One hundred-and -ninty- eight years
ago, the citizens Of Delaware residing
between the North side of Cedar Creek
and the South side of Black bird creek,
petitioned Sir Edmund Andross to
have court for this section of Della
ware, held in some convenient place
on St. Jones' creek. They wound up
their petition in the following compli-
mentary language:
"And we as in duty shall ever pray
for your honor's health and happiness.
That ages may crown your snowy hairs
with Caesars honors, and with Nestor's
years."
Sir Edmund Andross was the Cover
nor of the Duke of York's Territories
in America,a portion Of which was Del
aware.
The New Englanders give him a
bad name. But Mr.. Vincent alledges
that for Delaware he was humane,
kind and generous governor, pardoniug
nearly every body that applied for it
from our territory. At times hs Sc
verely rebuked the Delaware magis-
trates where be thought they oppressed
the widow. At one time they ad-
dressed him in this style: "You must
not pardon so. II you do, we must re-
sign our Offices" He thinks the diff
ferent characters Andross bore in Della
ware from New England, originated in
this manner: The leading English in
Delaware were adherent and friends of
the King.
A regiment of royal soldiers raised
round the royal palace of Windsor.
stormed Fort Casimire, and killed
three and wounded ten of the Dutch
soldiers. From circumstances he be-
lieves they were composed Of the young
er sons of the nobility and gentry
who came here as settlers-the pay of
a soldier being merely to assist them
until they procured land. &c. These
men he'd the same political and relig.
ious sentiment as Andross, and did not
vex him by opposition. As they were
all Kings men and Episcopalians, the
faith of the English by law and also of
the King and Courts. Whilst the New
Enelanders were Puritans and Crom-
wallians, who were in sympathy with
those who cut off the head of the former
King (the father Of the then King Char
les the 2nd.) and gave protection aud
shelter to the Regicdes or judges who
him to death.
1t will be seen tina. the boundaries
applied tor the rev County Of st.
Iones were different from the existing
bounds of the present Kent County
which is divided from New Castle by
Duck Creek, and from Sussex by the