Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-04-16
OLD SWEDES' CHURCH LAND
TRISSCRJPT o r. 7HE IGREEM
0FS4LE M.fDE IN 1929.
Charles Springer's Name Appears
Only in His Capacity as a church,
Warden Full rext of "a Historical
Document.

Only in His Capacity as "a Church
Warden-FuII Text of "a Historical
Document.
May 81, 1G9s.-A general meeting of
| the congregation was holden at which we
had some talk with Church Warden John
| Stalcop about the church farm. Nothing
definite was concluded mt that time but
the matter was mentioned that, he might
be considering it.
Nov. 19th.-It became necessary to
have another meeting on account of
the small attendance ut the former, and
especially on account of the talk that
Whole Dalboe of the upper congregation
had proposed TO purchase the land of
John Stalcop (Gamba land, so-called),
which land lay especially convenient for
glebe and the people were very much in
earnest that it should be bought at once
free of all incumbrance and with sure
title; but John Stalcop would SOW it
another year and pay the interest or else
half of it another year and pay but half
the interest.
AS it did not seem possible to come to
satisfactory agreement in the whole congre-
cation it was left with the church wardens
to arrange the matter in the best way they
could and so, ON November 21st, Charles
Springer, Brewer Sencke and myself hadsa
conference with John Stalcop aud agreed
us follows That we would pay two notes
of ESQ each which John Hance Stellman
held against him, and pay him f20 in
money, when the land should be de-
livered over to us entirely free of all
claim or incumbrance mp to the day of
InlsY
ward, but without interest, and should
SOW half the land next year and he the
other half.
And it was the understanding when we
parted that he should have his money as
above and that he should certainly let us
have the land without any more sowing
than as above mentioned and should
make us clear and sure deed, and that
the above bargain should be made known
to the congregation the next Sunday.
The next Sunday stated the terms of
the agreement to the whole assembly and
urged them to see to it that nothing
should prevent the purchase, and that
this undertaking would not only be q
strong proof of their affection aud good
will towards me, but would be greatly to
their credit and honor in coming years.
But if they neglected this opportunity of
securing so convenient and in every way
desirable property for the use of their
ministers | could see no prospect of
another, and that after-coming generations
would blame them severely and bewail
their folly.
April %, 1699.-A general meeting was
held about the glebe and to make sure
thing of it with n written agreement for
fear that the congregation might fall back
or John Stalcop might sell it to Dalboe or
some one; and felt that if this should
slip nothing like it could be had, When
we began to recite our bargain of
November 21st, 1893, John Stalcop would
not admit that we were to SOW half the
land and be free from half the interest,
but that he had said that either he should
SOW the whole of the land and assume
the whole interest, or half and only pay
half the interest and we the other if we
should SOW the half Of it.
We three, who were present ON that
day, knew not of any such agreement; it
was talked Of hut not agreed to. But it
must be as he said, and we will let it go
that we did not understand him correctly,
and that we now would make new bar
gain, which Immediately wrote out, and
the terms were these:
1. When the land is made over we will
pay him f20. 2. Two years after pay
f40, which should stand without interest
for the two years, hut if longer unpaid
he should have interest thereon. 8. Pay
the e100 due John Stellman. A. John
Stalcop to SOW all the land this year and
pay all the interest. S. He promised
piece of marsh that did not properly
belong to the property, which had also
been promised before.
All this | wrote down and read care
fully and plainly, and it was firmly
agreed to on both sides, and those who
were present Immediately subscribed the
greater part of the G20 for the first pay
ment.
June oath, or midsummer day.-We
held general meeting and proposed
that we should finish the business of the
church farm and have the writings drawn
and everything made sure. But now what
happened Since the last meeting of the
22d of April, John Stalcop had taken it in
his mind that he will not stand to his bar
gain, notwithstanding it was so firmly
made, and now said that we must take the
whole 500 acres and that it should he
keHt aa y parsonage foreyer-ng the Eng
lish say-that is, that we must never sell
any of it.
This is unreasonable and contrary to
our agreement, as the old land, so-called,
is all that we need and part of the 800
acres does not lie convenient; that is, the
woodland; md we can by no means bind
ourselves so that neither we nor those
who come after us can dispose of the land,
whatever the circumstances may be.
So we had talk with John Stalcop
again, and asked him if he had decided
thus to go back on his agreement; and all
the answer he would giye.us was that we
must take the whole and agree never to
sell it. And So Notwithstanding the
people were willing to buy glehe and
thus could have convenient road to
the church &C., has John Stalcop by so
going back ON his word, upset it MI and
our posterity will severely blame him for
| the course he has taken.
On August 4th went to John Stalcop's,
when he, to my surprise, invited me to ride
with him around the land and see the ar
rangement he would make with regard to
the glebe. told him that would go for
| the pleasure of it, but did not see much
chance for Mn arrangement. He said he
Thought it could lie brought about somes
how, hut replied not unless he put that
forever entirely out of his mind
He proposed that We should change the
wood lot that belonged to the old land
for his wood lot ut Christina which lay
adjoining it. l said 10 him that this
would be II new bargain and that must
consult the congregation but if there was
about the same quantity of land ii seemed
to me TINT it would be n good thing. He
replied that he thought there could not
be much difference in quality anS # there
was in acres he would make il up. We
parted without my coming to any agree.
ment but it happened that about week
after | me. Church Wardens Charles
Springer and John Stalcop together on
the other side of the river with Church
Warden Ole Stobey and among
other things I introduced the subject oi
the priest land. Then Charles Springer
Immediately made mn engagement witt
John Stalcop to 60 over the next day ant
with some Others to 60 around both woot
lots and see if there was much difference
betwiXt them.
! On August 18th came Church Wardei
, Brewer Sencke with Ole Thomas an
Peter Stalcop and after the two church
/ wardens, Charles Springer and Brewe
Sencke, met they all rode through bot
wood lots and concluded that the eN
change should be made and that if ther
was any difference in acres John Stalco
should make it up. So nothing NOR
!, was head of the ''forever,n and the bal
/ gain was made sure. On Sunday, th
g 18th, had Charles Springer and Jespe
o Walraven again ask John Stalcop if
d stood to his bargain and Mr., Stobe
9 promised the $40 that were to be paid Q
I delivery of the land until the congreg