The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-11-04

Since PeIrce Gould's friends have
taken such an interest In him as to
nominate him for the office OF sheriff
IL will not be amiss TO toll who his mn
cestors were. He Is q great-great-
great grandson OF the frat burgess of
Wilmington. Captain Joseph Bennett
was shipping merchant, who for n
number OF years owned and sailed n
merchant vessel TO India; he brought
the heaviest and finest cargo OF silk
and Canton grapes that WAS brought
to America in those days he brought
on one of his vhyages, II green silk UNI
brella to Miss Lydia FERRIS the first
one that ever was seen In Wilmington,
and on his next trip he brought one to
his daughter Mary. History remem-
bers her US the most talented woman
to be found. and was always called
lawyer Mary johnson. At tho same
time he brought one to Captain Mont
gomery's daughter Betsey. Miss Mont
gomery said, when she carried her UNI
brella on Sunday to Old Swedes
Church, people looked with wonder at
what was coming.
Captain Bennett moved from Chester
county, Pa, near Wilmington, and
came into possession OF the West
property at Filth and West, on the It'll
with his family. The property came
to his mother. Mary Gilpln, which was
her maiden name. She was descend
ant OF the first French family that set
tied on the Brandywine. They were
called, In those days duGilpin. Cap
tain Bennett married Mary Boone, a
sister of Col. Daniel and John Boone.
one OF the Baptist ministers OF KEN
lucky; he was father OF Caleb Z. BEN
nett, Governor OF the State of Della
ware for eight years. The last one OF
Captain Benefits great grand
daughter, Mrs. Phebe Sharpe was buried
few months ago, at tho advance aye
OF "a. Mrs. Margaret kerns, Mrs.
Ann Hutton, Peirce Gould's grant
mother Mrs. Hester Temple and Mrs.
Margaret IIenois. having past away
within few years. Colonel Jesse
Sharpe was "a great great-grand- son.
Pelrce Gould is a descendant also from
George Pelrce. who came to this coun-
try with his family from England, for
religious freedom, in 1852, in the YES
sci with William Penn. and settled un-
der him and took up ll00acr OF land
In Chester county, Pa, five miles from
West Chester, on the street road, the
place being called "Peirces Park" and
is still in possession of the family. the
last one being Mrs. DIR. Stebbins. He
is also u descendant OF George and
Jane Chandler. Il very pious woman
who came to this country in 1887, tho
Chandler bi.centennial having been
celebrated about five years ago. In
l775 on the breaking out OF hostillties
with Great Britain, Governor Bennett,
at the age OF IL, was placed by his
father in the ranks as private soldier.
In the following year he was promoted
to the station Of first sergeant and
with the Delaware regiment Joined the
main army in New York. In 1771 he
received his first com mission rs ensign
and with his company formed part OF
The detachment under General Sulli.
VEN In the attack On Staten Island. On
tho 18th OF September in Rrandywine
and oil the Ith Of October following
was engaged in the battle of German
town, when the Delaware regiment
lost in killed and wounded seven out
| of thirteen officers and about one-third
OF the privates. Captain Holland, who
commanded his company, was killed
and ensign Bennett himself was
wounded. In May. ITS, he joined
General Washington at Valley Forge
and was present at the battle OF Mon
mouthsin April, 1850 nving previously
| DtcD DiODlDIel W lIlo INilh VI llESJ
| lieutenant; the company formed part
| of the detachment under Baron De.
| kalb and was ordered south where on
! the 10Th OF August, was fought the
memorable battle of Camden, and
where we find Northumberland with
| his company In the warmest part of
| the engagement. Baron Delkalb after
| being MORALLY wounded dictated let
Ter expressive of the gallant conduct OF
the troops Immediately under his COM
mand and particularly the Delaware
regiment, which was in the thickest
| light and entirely cut to pieces, losing
officers and seven companies out of
the nine which it was composed, Lieut..
Bennett was then sent to Delaware to
raise recruits, and in 1881 with 100 men
| he Joined the French troops at Annap-
| oils and proceeded TO Yorktown, which
was seized In this last browning sue
| cess OF the American Army. Lieut..
| Bennett bore a conspicuous part and
commanded the left battery of the
| American force on the day Lord Corn.
wallis surrendered. He then Joined
General Green In South Carolina and
remained in active service OF his coun.
try until the army was dlsbanded.
They left in October, l7T3, At this pc
Rod when the war was terminated
| Lieut.. Bennett was only 25 years oil
age. and had devoted eight years to
the service OF his country enduring
| the severest hardshlps and with q com.
pensation hardly adequate to meet his
expenses. After tho declaration OF
war in 1912 we find him again in the
service OF his country promoted to
the rank OF major; he was appointed
to the command OF the forces station
| ed at New Castle and remained in &C.
tive service till the treaty of peace.
Few men have been more actively en-.
| gagged or rendered moro important SER
vice to his country; he was present at
the battles of Brandywine, Germantown
Monmouth, Yorktown aud the evncua,
ton Of Charlestown. Hu Was thrice
wounded In these engagements. In 1897
no WAS appointed treasurer of New
Castle county, the duties of which
Office he discharged with promptness
and fidelity till the fall of 1882. when
he was nominated as n candidate fol
tho chief magstracy OF the State, and
on the 18th of November was tri
umphantly elected the first jackson
Governor of Delaware. This import
ant office he continued to I'LL with
honor to himself and credit to the
State till the time of his death.