Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1881-02-17
TRE LOST srAEE D0UUnENrs.


/
qUcss the hsass q" Secure ThSna.
= The following description OF the lost
Delaware documents was sent TO Fran
els Vim ant by She late DR.. William
hsAE Gilbert, Of Philadelphia:
PHlLADErPHlA, Feb. 10, 1875.
FRANCIS VIEcaT, DEAR sR:--The
following collection, In excellent con-
dition, ia in ihe original manuscript,
car ,iully bound IN four volumes ie!io.
Besides the large collection OF deeds.
ETC., there is enough material for en-
ether volume. Tho documents consist
of the colonial and revolutionary docu-
monts Of the Stale Of Delaware the
original messages Of the different Pres.
idents Cor Governors) OF The State frsm
about ITO to 1900; the original com.
municatious from Congress to the
States original documents relating to
the Delaware regiments and navy :;
lists of the soldiers of different oompa-
nies instructions from the State TO its
congressman; minutes OF the Privy
C0ancil; original commission 10 various
state oitlsials; votes and proceedings OF
the House OF Representatives, written
aud signed by the Clerk aud Speaker
also some cf those seized by the British
and taken TO New York; minutes OF
the meetings Of the committee appoint
ed in lT9i to amend the constitution OF
the State; deeds OF land from the
Dutch Governors In 1850; translation
Of q deed by John b. MAwregdault In
Philadelphia in 1894; numerous old
deeds signed by Francis Love!ace, ].
Alrich and others State letters and
documents signed by John Fred, PaEyis,
CRsar Rodney, George Reed, Cunning
Bedford, John Diokerson, ChSs. Thomp-
son, IA. Kesn, Stephen Hopkins, David
Flrney, Thomas Collins, Nicholas Van
dyke, JACOB Broom, George Latimsr,
Patrick Henry Lee, Robert Morris,
Bi6hop White, Benjamin Vining, josh.
ua Clayton, Walter Livingston, Lamb
and Cadwslder, Timothy Pickering,
Samuel A. Otis, James A. BsyRrd,
Nicholas Ridsley, James Sykes, Thos.
Jefferson and John Penn.
The charters Of Masonic lodges,
which were procured upon the follow
Ing dates, | intend to present 10 the
Grand Lodge OF the State of Delaware
Lodge 81 Dover, August 20, l775; at
Wilmington, January %, 1878; at New
Castle, March /, 1890; at Newark, De.
cember 8, 1902; at Lewiston, jane 3,
1900. The charters are on parchment!
and are in good condition. The Stats
documents are intensely interesting.
Yours Respectfully,
WILLIAM kgET dTLBRRr.
Besides the above are barrels Of old
Delaware deeds and also hsnd-bills OF,
terlng rewards for old Delaware bandits
Who roamed in the fOrests of Kent and
Susss X Counties about the time of our
revolution. Amongst these there Ia q
reward for Bill May, a noted marauder
who robbed Vincent Lockermsn and
John Hllyard. Vincent Lookerman,
had a great deal Of gold and silver
plate, which this Bill May took. Years
after some Of it uas found in q cave
dug underground in Kent Forest, near ,
Dover. Al the Legislature Of 1875, an
understanding was had with Mr.. VIM
sent that the btAte would pursh ase tn ese ,
documents for the sum OF $500, and j
Messrs. Riddle and Shakespeare were .
appointed committee by the Senate
10 negotiate the matter with him.
But the committee were informed
that DR.. Gilbert weuld not take that 4;
som aud when asked what he would !
take their informant stated he did not ,
know. He intimated not less than ,
$4,000. This information was conveyed 4
10 Mr.. Vincent who as once saw DR.. :
Gilbert, and was informed by him that A
he would take $500. This the State :
would have paid, but before Mr.. Vim :
cant could get the information to the =
the Legislature was about
Now Ar. Vincent has in .
iuced Mr.. Gilbert's widow to agree W :,
sell at that price If the State desires to !
purchase. ,
The Historical Society will meet on !
Monday evening next whom q series Of ,
Will bs offered requesting !
'he State to purchase the documents. /;
N NkE