The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-11-29
NEW CASTLE

ANo" SaHbio 10 al huCl6uL bOWnt ~
having originally been taken posses
sion OF July 10. 1851. by Governor
IPetrus Stuyvesant, who purchased
from the Indians, In the name OF the
West India Company, all the land ly-
Ing between the Christiana creek and
the mouth OF Dutch Creek. Shortly
afterwards a trading post and fort
was erected between what is now
Harmony and Chestnut streets below
Front street. On November 20. 1855.
jean Paul Jacquette was appointed
ruler of New Castle with civil ami
military powers. He appointed a
council. who with him governed the
town. In tL9 succeeding years a
number OF houses were built, pianta-
ltlons for raising tobacco laid out and
the colony became very prosperous.
Through the too strict administra.
tlon OF the laws by the rulers there
was considerable dissatisfaction
among the people, and In 1864 the
dutch capitula to the English and
New Castle became the seat Of gov.
ernment with Sir Robert Carr in com
mund. He was succeeded in October
"a, 1854, by Colonel Richard Nichols,
and in 1868, in accordance with in
lstructions received from England,
courts were established with five
Judges, who, with the high sheriff, were
empowered to hear and determine all
cases.
In 1870 the first market and block
house or Jail was built. After this
roads were laid out. ferries establish
ed, and other improvements made. In
1876 an order was issued which re.
CURED all vessels passing up Or down
tho river to load and discharge their
cargoes at New Castle. Bricks for
building houses were originally
brought from England, but in the fail
of 1851, James Plerson, brlck-maker
and brlck-layer, was given double
lot on which he established a brick
yard.
New Castle was Incorporated as a
town May II, 1872, and Captain John
Carr was chosen bailifrand high sheriff.
The Dutch again resumed power about
the middle OF 1873. and held 1t about
one year, whom the place was recap
tured by the English.
! New Castle was incorporated as
city. under an act of the General As
sembly. February IS, 1875. aud Thos.
IGiliin was elected mayor. The place
was the scene OF a disastrous fire on
April 25, 1924 which resulted In the
loss of over 100000 worth of prop
erty. After that the Good Will" fire
lengine was purchased and used until
steam lire engines came in use.
The first steam engine was the "Hu-
maue,n purchased by the trustees OF
tho common in 1885. who at tho same
time bought good hook and ladder
truck from the Moyamensing Com
pany of Philadelphia.
! In 1871 the authorities OF New Cas-
tie, by virtue OF an act of General As.
sembly, borrowed 5000, and with
.IS3. 400 of this amount purchased fine
lSilsby team fire engine, which Is now
housed in new house. 1t In charge
OF volunteer company, and ready to
respond to any call.
The town is also supplied with gas
and water works. and has daily pa
per known as the "Daily Herald pub
Ilished by Charles II. Seminar. There
are also number of industries, promi-
nent among them being the Iasker
Iron Works the flour mill of William
Lea and Sons Company and Knowles
woolen mills.
But few of the old buildings remain,
and it is thought that the hack build
ling OF the Gilpin House is as old as
any IN tho city. The first courts were
held in this place. and it was also used
az place for public entertainments
Near here Is brick building erected
In 1881. where William Penn was en-
tertained when he visited the town in
1852.
The John Bird house was built near
ny one hundred years ago, and lie still
standing. part of the old Court
House was erected about 1873, and
two years later William Penn met
with the court in this building. When
the building was enlarged some very
large timbers were used in construct
linu thA M E,,
rested on Two pillars opposite the
doors.
1t was customary in olden time to
place the hands of criminals convicted
OF manslaughter on these pillars, and
brand them with the letters NJ. s. A.
The red hot Iron was applied until the
fumes from the burning II ssh filed
the room. The last person branded
was Jacob Battle, coiored, who killed
stricken from the statutes many years
ago on account OF its being Jo5 bar
barouS.
THE POST AND PIILoRY.
The first whipping of which there is
any record. took place in 1917, the VIC
tim being the keeper OF an inn or tay-
ern named Robberd Hutchinson. A
sailor named Adam Wolles stopped at
tho place for day or two. during
which time his chest was robbed of q
number OF articles. As suspicion
pointed to Hutchinson. he was arrest
ed, after which he confessed.
He begged for the mercy of the
Court, and was sentenced to be whip.
ped with thlrty-nine lashes ut tho gate
OF the fort, and be- forever banished
from the "Rivsr of Delaware and parts
udiacent thereto" The Court allowed
him three days in which to leave and
directed him to appoint an attorney
ito collect any money due him, to pay
his debts and settle up mis- business.
There were several other whippings
after this, which, however. seem tn
IhaVe been inflicted at the pleasure of
the colonial authorities In the year
llTl7, the General Assembly of the
counties OF New Castle. Kent and Sus-
sex on the Delaware, and the Province
of Pennsylvania met in Philadelphia.
! In that time William Keith was Gov
iernor. having assumed the Office May
l3l, l7l7. At that time the whipping
post and pillory were established and
have been continued ever since. The
stocks and cropping were also intro.
duced and continued for some years
! In 1880 colOred man, committed of
felonious assault, was sentenced to
stand In the pillory four hours with
both ears nailed to tho pIllory, and
l''before he be taken down from tho
same he shall have both ears cut off
close to the head"
In 1879 colorsd women convicted
of larceny wus whipped with twenty
lashes on her bare back, and after
wards sold as slare for seven years.
The sentence was carried out, and she
WIS sold January l, 1880, to Henry
File for 80 cents. The ptilory and post
were something different in those
days to what they now are, as when
victim was placed in the pillory the
crowd We're permitted to pelt him with
ancient eggs, decayed vegetables. etc.
while ths sheriff always applied tho
lash IN = manner that was not forgot
ton by The victims.
THEJAII.
The present Jail was built in 1857,
under the supervision of the late
thomas 0gle. 1t has IS cells, includ-
ling n large one known rs the buns
cell, In which ordinary drunks and va.
lgrant5 are confined In default OF the
payment, of fine and costs. There
lure now lib prisoners in the jail. cen.
lseauently 1t Is somewhat crowded.
Within the past year bath-tuhs have
yeen introdu 3ed, and tue prisoners are
Eow obliged to battle and keep them
selves clean.
The Institution Is In first class con-
dltion, and will, no doubt, lie kept SO
" sheriff Gould. All the cells are
CLEAN and there ia an alSeuce of that