Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-03-28

The original deed from the Duke of
York TO William Penn of the territory
comprised in the famous, Twelve Mile
Circle is in the hanGsOf a Philadelphia
auctioneer and it is to be disposed of At
public sale, II is understood, in the first
week Of April approaching.
The document is the property of j.
Henry Rogers of New Castle, this
county, who has placed it in the auc-
tioneer's hands for peremptory sale. A
representative of THE GAZETTE was
in New Castle on Friday to ascertain
these facts. They were fully verified
from Mr.. Rogers own lips.
There is no more important historical
document, of whose genuineness there
exists no particle of doubt, existing,
that bears reference to this State.
That it should leave Delaware or be.
come the property of anyone but citi-
zen of this State is looked upon as
grave public calamity if not disgrace.
Colonel Henry b. Nones of this city,
who heard the story, Friday from the
representative of THE GAZETTE is
very much stirred up over the matter.
He realizes the necessity Of immediate
action. He considers the proper and
perhaps the best action to take would be
for the citizens generally to make such
representations to the Legislature now
sitting, through delegation appointed
or deputed so to act for them, as would
result in the General Assembly making
an appropriation to meet the emergency
thereby obtaining the valuable docu-
ment and retaining it always as
property of the State.
1t is suggested that the deed be pur-
chased by the State of Delaware and
then be deposited for safe-keeping with
the Historical Society OF Delaware.
Every leading citizen spoken to ex-
presses himself very keenly over the
matter. at should never be allowed
out of the State" is the universal and
most emphatic comment.
The deed in question is the document
granting the Twelve Mile Circle around
New Castle by James, Duke of York
afterwards King James ID, to William
Penn. 1t bears the signature flames"
in a style of chirography that would
nowadays be called schoolboy's
hand. 1t has the date August 21st,
1852 Gust 16 years before the erection of
Old Swedes' church,. There is but
little of the ducal seal left. The red
wax is all broken up. The signature
appears between two pieces of yellow
silk which are attached to the seal.
The deed is, of course, parchment
one. 1t was this important document
that was taken to London and used in
evidence before Chancellor Lord Hard
wicke in the suit between the Penns and
Lord Baltimore's heirs.
But perhaps its most significant value
at the present moment is that the clauses
of the deed finally dispose of the pre-
tensions of New Jersey authorities in
their claim to any water rights in front
of the shores of that State that happen
within the Twelve.Mile- Circle. tail be-
longs to Delaware. So true is this that not
only the water rights, but also the land
rights of that segment of the circle
covered within the chord described
covering that part of New Jersey also
belongs to Delaware. 1t is part of her
territorial manor. 1t is u matter of his
torical proof that the citizens in the
section referred to were always sum-
moned on the Delaware Jury panels.
And in addition, within the memory Of
citizens still living, these people rowell
a.
Castle.
A great number of other valuable
documents, all of them original and
properly belonging to Delaware and no
one else, are to be sold at the same time.
Among them are the three muster
rolls Of Delaware's Continental COM
panies. The first, that commanded by
Captain Richard McWillians, comes
first. 1t is dated 1857 and bears 1877
original signatures. The second is that
of Captain John Clarke's company,
headquarters in Wilmington, GA men,
dated June cath, 1777.
The third is Captain Samuel Pa.ter-
sons company.
TWO IMPORTANT POINTS.
Editor Gazette d. journal. In consider
| ing the list of documents to be disposed
of at the coming Rogers sale--an event
which now seems to be making some
| considerable stir in our community
there are two points that impress me
with especial force.
In the first place, it does not seem
to me TO be possible that the citizens
of this commonwealth can lend their
assent to the fact of these docu-
monts passing out of the possession
of the State. 1t seems to mo that some
very strenuous effort should be made to
retain them. Ii it be proven that tho
question of keeping them in our posses
sion is merely question of spending q
reasonable amount of money, it seems
| to me that we could not spend it upon a
better thing. This may not be practical
BILE, for, of course, in attempting to buy
| ia, . IL - A,
worldwide interest we should have per-
haps to bid against those with whom
money is practically not a matter OF
consideration. People of the ccmmu-
nifty do not, perhaps, know what enor.
nous prices are sometimes paid for such
papers. In attempting to buy such q
document as the York deed to Penn, we
should undoubtedly have the Historical
Society Of Pennsylvania as compete
tor. Maybe we should even have the
British museum and, in that event, we
should be, am afraid, like pigmy con
tending with two giSAts-or, at least
with . giant and very big man.
If money can buy, the British Museum
will obtain what it wants, and the
State of Delaware will not be in the
running.
This brings me to the second poini
that has occurred to me. l wonder how
and by what means such public docu'
ments should have come into the
possession of private individual
Many Of the papers seem to me TO be
State documents. How did the York
deed, for instance, come into the pos
session Of Mr.. Rogers? Did somebody
give il to him? If SO, how did tina
somebody get it? If these papers once