Delaware gazette and state journal., 1897-06-03
SOCIETY of THE COLONIAL WARS.

| III Lut kothNT lJtIuNdFd III tllJ
| Delaware Historical Society's building
for tho purpuss of organizing tho
society. Members from avery county
are Thomas It.. lluyard, John II. Rod.
nay, Henry Ridgeiy, DR.. Hiram Il.
Burton. Victor du Pont, Jr., IgnRtius
G. Grubb. Frapris N. buck, John Il.
Nicholson, Edward q. Bradford, George
| Gray, Milliun A. LaMoiie, Muinr John
X. Brinckle, William. ii. Swift, Dr.
| Thomas Robinson, Andrew Gray Nil
sen. Thomas Clayton Frame. Jr., J.
wilkins Cooch. Andrew G. Gray,
George W. Bush, Jr., Joseph Swift
Christopher l.. Ward, Willard Hall
| Porter, Alexis Irepee du Pont aud
| Preston Lea.
The meeting was opeued by Judge
Ignatius Q. Grub, Deputy Governor
General for Delaware Of the General Tor
nationall Society OF Colonial Wars. The
Hon. Edward Shipper of Philadelphia.
| treasurer general uf the General
Society, was also present to assist in
etecting the organization. John ii.
Rodney was mado chairman and Will
lard Hall Porter secretary. The consti-
tuition and bylaws as reported by the
committee thereon, composed OF Chan
ceilor Nicholson, Judge Grubb and
Judge Bradford, were adopted.
The following officers were chosen
The Hon. Thomas Y. Bayard. Cover
nor; the lioE. John Il. Nicholson.
Deputy Governor; John II. Rodney,
Lieutenant Governor: the Hon. George
Gray. Chancellor; the Hon. Edward
9. Bradford, Historian; Major John
Il. Brinckle, Registrar; William II.
Swift, Treasurer: DR.. Hiram II. Bur-
ton. Surgeon; Willard Hall Porter, Sec.
retary; and Christopher L. Ward,
Deputy Secretary. Also the following
Gentlemen OF tho Council:' Col.
William a. LaMotte, Henry Ridgely,
Pont. Jr., Francis N. Buck, j. Wilkins
Couch, joseph Swift, Preston Lea and
Andrew G. Wilson.
The following committees we're also
elected: COMMITTEES on membership:
Judge !. G. Grubb, Chairman; Col
William A. LaMotte. Deputy Chair
man; William u. Swift. Francis N.
Buck, Andrew g. Gray. Henry Ridgaiy,
Jr, and DIR. Thomas Robinson.
Committee on, Historical Documents
.-Judge Bradford, Chairman; the Hon.
George Gray. DR.. Hiram X. Burton,
Major John r. Brincke and j. Wilkins
| Gonch. bl
Committee on lnstalation- Preston
Lea, Chairmen; Alexia /. du Pont,
Andrew G. Gray, Thomas Clayton
Frame, Jr., and George W. Bush, Jr.
The purposes of tho society are set
forth in the charter OF the General
Society OF the Colonial Wars as well as
in the State charter rs psrpetuating
the memory OF colonial events and Of
the brave and worthy men who IN mill.
tary, naval and civil positions of trust
and responsibility who by their acts or
counsel, assisted in the establishment,
defence and maintenance of the Ameri-
can colonies and in the founding of the
nation; collecting and preserving col
onial relics, records, manuscripts, rolls
or other Documents; providing suitable
commemorations or memorials relating
to the American colonial period, and
inspiring in it's members the fraternal
and patriotic spirit of their foreiathers.
and in thu community regard and roy.
erence for those whose public services
made our freedom and unity possible. -
A special and diligent effort of the
society will be, as explained at the
meeting, TO collect and preserve records,
original documents or other papers ard
articles connected with our colonial
history; and all persons having any
knowledge of the existence and either
private or public possession of such,
will render valuable aid to the society
by informing Judge Bradford. the his.
torian OF the society, OF either their
nature and contents or their present
custody.
Delaware has been unfortunate in
the destruction or loss Of her colonial
records and documents. In 1922 or 1894
many were destroyed by fire 10 New
Castle, whilst Mt the time of the battle
Of Brandywne in 177l, many more were
carried away by the British, which are
now lost TO our State. Our colonial and
other records have also been very care
lessly kept by some OF our Stats officials
inlthe past. Among our State archives
few public records ami papers of the
revolutionary era are now to bo found,
and none OF iinportanGe relating 10 our
colonia! period.
From Tho date of our separation in
l1tl4 from Pennsylvania, TO lT74. there ia
no printed, written or other evidence,
In Delaware of those who we're elected
to our Legislature between those dates.
Judge Gruhb states that he has sue.
ceeded in finding a list outside of Del
aware, and which Ia chiefly in private
possession, of the members of our As.
semhly from 1875 to 177i Since the
latter date said members are all given
in ScharPs history of Delaware.
To have accomplished this much for
the society is an encouraging begin.
ming, and il those who have informa
tion 10 respect TO colonial documents
aud relics will inform Judge Bradford,
the newly .organized society of Colonial
Wars In Delaware, by means of such
aid and their own earnest endeayors,
will doubtless prove one OF our States d
useful and vauled historical institu.
! tons.
A General Society OF Colonial Wars
was organized in New York 10 1881
which hears the same relation to the
State societies as the general govern
nent dues to the respective States. 1t
now numbers as members more than
half the Statesof the Union. and Della
ware, Georgia. WISCONSIN and Michi.
gan were admitted as members at the
last annual meeting.
n. s. d. Surgeons.