Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1880-06-14
TIE BAYARD FAMILY.
-FOUR GENERATIONS OF NATIONAL STATES
MEN.

FOUR GENERATIONS OF NATIONAL STATES
MEN.
| James Ashton Bayard was Of The
family Of the celebrated knight, Pierre
de Terrsil de Bayard, and was cclat-
eral descendant. The direct progeni.
tor Of the family in America escaped
from the Rochelle, during Richelieu'a q
persecution, IN the night time in a
hogsaead, 90 the old story runs, and
came to America. This man was Petrus
Bayard. The fugitive to the New
/ World bad three sous-B4lshazar,
Peter and Nicholas.
Peter Bayard came to Bombay Hook
in Delaware, and here, he purchased
from Musit,an Indian Saohem, thous.
and acres of land, extending over into
Maryland. Part Of this estate is Bohe-
mia Manor. This was In 1875.
Two JTothers John and James Ash.
on,--the latter being the first Bayard
| LAT ever bore that famous nams-held
possession Of Bombay Hook during the
Revolution. They were grandsons OF
Peter Bayard. In the dark hour Of the
American Independence these two men
as became true patriots, and as their an.
csstors would have done, stepped bold
ly to the front. John Bayard was a
colonel In the Revolution, and q rasm.
Der Of Congress,
! The oldest aon Of Jchp Dayara was
James Ashton Bsyard, who was born
In Philadelphia, July %, 1857. He
was the father OF the subject Of this
sketch. "jsmss Ashton Bayard, tbs
elder" as he is called, was ed ucated
at Princeton Csllege, having been
brought up in tha staid Presbyterian
faith. He graduated in 1854, studied
Law in Philadelphia, and commenced to
practice Law in Wilmington in l7S7'
Here he married Miss Annie Bassett.
She was daughter of Richard Bassett,
an eminent Dslawarean. He was Gov
ernor OF Delaware, United States Ssua
tor, and Judge Of the United States
Court.
The life Of James A. Bayard, th q
elder, was a most eventual one, and he
stands out prominently among the
great men Of his day. With him be-
gan the Senatorial career of the Bayards
in Delaware. He served in Congress
from 1897 to 1901, was then appointed
minister to France, and elected to the
Senate in 1904, Hs, represented his
State here with marked ability, and be-
came prominent. Vie took a leading
part in the election contest between
Burr and Jefferson, and distinguished
himself in conducting the impsach-
msnt for treason Of Senator B.Cuut of
Tennessee. Afterwards he was offered
the position Of Judge Of the United
States Supreme Court, bat declined,
and also declined the position Of Minis
ter to France, rendered by Nr. Adams.
President Madison afterwards appoint
cd him q member Of the commits
sion to negotiate peace with Eoglsnd.
This he accepted and assisted in franz
ing the celebrated treaty Of Ghent. 1t
was about the last public act Of James
A. Bayard the elder. Before leaving
Europe he was appointed Minister TO
Russia, but declined and died soon
after his return from France at his h0iae
in Wilmington, on August 6, 1915.
James A. Bayard, the elder, died aged
4S. The next Bayard in the Senate was
Richard H., a relative who was chosen
in 1886 and again in lS4l, and was
succeeded in the Senate IN 1850 by the
Ex- Senator, who has just died. The
father, Us is well-knoTn, was succeed.
ed by the son who now fila TINT posi-
tion, making four fasratio&s Bay
ards, who have been ationsN ,states-
| man of vida ranoWu.