Evening journal., 1892-03-04
A CLAIMANT OUT OF SITE.
TIE Springer Claimant on a Wild
Goose Chase.

Several days ago the EVENING JOURNAL /
published a letter sent to Recorder OF |
Deeds James I. Shallcross by Mrs. |
Martha 1. Belt OF Colo. story county, |
Iowa
In this letter the woma an set up claim
that she, as an heir OF O. @. Springer
was entitled TO the land upon which the
city OF Wilmington now stands. Since
that time the reporter has been prosecut-
ing a search for some man who could
throw some light on the matter AT last
he has succeeded.
An aged and well known Wilmington /
ian furnishes the fol lowing particulars
srRDHAM MADE GRAB.
'Tn the early settlement of Whining
ton BY the Swedes, two Of them, Tymon
Stedham aud John Stslcope, got nearly
], 300 acres of land.
.'Steiham's lands lay between the Rat
tlesnRke's Path and the Brandywine
They extended aloug the Brandywine on
the west eide, from near the old church
up to Rattleenake's run. The west
boundary Of the land was the Rattle
snakes Path, from the run down to near
the old Lutheran church This line is
what now is part Of Delaware avenue.
extended down to near Eighth and Church
streets. The inside bounds contained
294 acres, which he left to his five sons
and four daughters.
WHAT sTALCoPE OWNED.
'stslcope owned all the land to the west
OF Stedham 1t amounted to over l.OOO
acres. 1t extended along the Christiana
river from near the old Lutheran Church,
up TO Deer creek, In the present Harlan
and Hollingsworth's yards. The west
boundary Of Stalcope's land was the west
naap araaH n icf q n
then the line crossed TO tne west of the
residence of Hon. Thomas r. Bsyard, and
on In a northerly direction to what Is
now known as Union street, and near the
line of Union street 70 the north end of
Stedham's land. Within this boundary
were Stalcope's 1 600 acres of land he
purchased 1t from the Indians.
sTALCoPR THINKS OF MOVING.
''In 1874 he felt age coming on him
and thought it was about time to make
his will He did So de left his land in
four parcels, but they we're not laid out
and surveyed until 1885, when Thomas
Pierson, Penn's surveyor of Delaware,
marked out the four shares The sh are
east and next to Stedham's lands was left
to Christina Stalcope; the share next to
1t was allotted to Pickering at first. but
afterwards became the 'Glebe' lands of
the Swedish Lutheran Church. The tract
contained 226 acres
after the new church was built in
1893 the title of this land was more fully
confirmed for the benefit Of the Lutheran
Church in 1901.
After Wilmington began to grow
into prominence the lands we're surveyed
and marked out again in 1887.
THE PRESENT BOUNDARY LINES.
T. 4. Il 81 l. 81
derstand the lay Of the land let me bound
It by lines now known We begin at the
stalcope run that empties into the
Ohristiona river between ths p, w. & B
railroad depot and the works of the Pusey
and Jones Company. Following up that
run to the spring near Seventh street,
between Walnut and Popular streets, 1913
perches from the Christina Then we
take a northerly course from the
spring and go direct AGO perches,
which makes the line end near
Fourteenth street and the Baltimore
and Philadelphia railroad From that
point take westerly course twenty.
seven perches. and from there a south
erly course. That lands us on French
street Just above Third. Then down
French street hfty-six perches. TO the
Chrstiana river; thence along the river
bank to the place OF beginning. The
river front is twenty-nine perches and
the tract contains 226 acres
NV ABOUT THE CLAIM.
Now about the Springer claim. This
II the only land on which the Springers
can have any claim, but it is very doubt
full, indeed, IL they have any claim to
the 'Glebe' lands.
LEASED FOR TWO THOUSAND YEARS.
vi.
prominent and trusted member Of the
Swedish Lutheran Church He was ap-
pointed, at different times, agent to sell
or lease the Glebe' lands for the benefit
Of the church l fnd that in some in
stances these lands were leased for term
OF 2 600 years. the rent to be paid on the
Both day OF March in each year
the proceeds to be applied for the
benefit of Trinity Swedish Lutheran
Church, up to the time that Sweden
ceased to send ministers TO America
which was about 100 years ago
WAS IT AN ENGLISH eRAB2
''By what right OF title the Episco-
palians came in and took possession Of
the Swedish Lutheran Church and its
'Glebe' lands have never, as yet, ssser
tanned
1.-THE vestry has. to my recollection
sold part Of the 'Glebe lands. One piece
Is where Heald & Cos, Office stands
at the northeast corner of Seventh and
Market streets.
Just where the Springer claim comes
In Is matter difficult Of conjecture
John Gordon married into the family
Of Charles Christopher Springer and had
the old Springer mansion, which stood on
the south side Of Frensh street, between
Spring alley and Third street The situs-
tion can be readily seen, as the front wall
OF the house is further out In the street
than the building line
about City yesrs ago the lot bounded
by French and Walnut, and Fifth and
Sixth streets, was fenced In and known
as Gordon was part Of the
'Glebe' lRnos, an0 Madame Rumor said
at that time that Gordon claimed the
lot as Springer land.
DO NOT LOSE SLEEP
Therefore II anyone is losing sleep
about the Springer heirs stepping in now
and taking any land in Wilmington, I
will say to them, 60 to sleep and dc not
be bothered about the wildcat .'claims
that spring up periodically.
''Lf it were not for consuming so much
Of your valuable space might give you
a much more detailed account OF Charles
Christopher Springers dealings in Glebe
lands.