Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-10-06

SO --- st1s
The Bayards have hourished in this
country with honor for more than two
centuries. They are descended from, the
family of the Chevalier Bayard. Pierre
du Terrail de Bayard, the knight without
fear and without reproach, died on the
field of honor at Biagrassa, unmarried,
but his collateral kinsmen inherited the
estate in Dauphiny from which he took
his name and as lords of Bayard adopted
his arms and bore his surname. The
authentic direct ancestor of the American
Bayards was a French Huguenot miilis-
ter and professor of languages, named
Balthazar Bayard, who is said to have
escaped from La Rochelle to Holland IN
hogshead from the religious prosecutions
of Richelieu, and who gathrel about hun
in that country a congregation of his
fellow-countrymen in exile and served as
their pastor until his dath.
According to one account, Balthazar
Bayard married the sister of hard-headed
Peter Stuyvesant. Hardkoppig Pete, the
famous Dutch Governor of New Yorh.
According to another the connection with
the Stuyvesants was through the Cover
nors marriage with Bayard's daughter.
At any rate, Balthazar Bayards widow
with her three sons, accompanied Stuy-
vesant to America, arriving at New
York May IL. 164T. 1t would carry one
through the most curious ways of Amer
lean local romance in at least four colon
les to trace the history of the descend
ants of these three brothers
Peter and Nicholas--but it is sufficient
now to say that they were all three not
able persons, and that their descendants
have made their name respected over the
country.
Peter Bayard purchased some 10000
acres in Maryland, with four thousand
in Delaware, to which their original set
tier, Augustus Herman, had given the
name of Bohemia Manor. The greater
part Of these lands had been granted to
Herman, by Cecil, first Lord Baltimore.
Two brothers, twins. John and james
Ashton Bayard, grandsons of Peter, held
Bohemia Manor during the era of the
Revolution. They came of revolution
nary race, and, as became their ances-
try, stepped manfully to the. front in the
times that tried mems souls.
John Bayard, as John Adams tells us
was one of the committee which urged
upon Northern Congressman in 1TT5 the
appointment Of George Washington to the
command of the Continental army and h,
presided as Chairman of the Inspection
Committee of Pennsylvania at mass
meeting in Philadelphia, May "a, 1776
TO arouse the people into confronting
the declaration of the Assembly agains
independence with a vote denouncinl
the exercise of any kind of authority I'm
der the British Grown. Even Bancroft
calls him patriot of singular purity o
character and disinterestedness. He be
came colonel of cavalry and serve,
throughout the war distinguishing hinsel
in the battles of Brandywine, German
town and Trenton. In 1855 he was chose
member of the Continental Congress
His twin brother, James, served as
surgeon in the American army, and die
of fever at Charleston, s. O., 1881.
John Bayard's oldest son, James Ash
ton Bayard, who was born at Phil;
delphia, July %, 1867, was the grant
father of the subject of this sketcl
He was graduated at Princeton Co
lege in 1884, studied law at Philade
phia and began its practice in this cit
in 1887. He married Annie Basset
daughter of the Governor of Delawar
who was also United States Senator an
Judge of the Supreme Court.
With James Ashton Bayard began IL
Senatorial line of his family. He WI
chosen to Congress in 1916 and serve
until 1903 as an acknowledged leader
the old Federal party. He was sent to Il
United States Senate in 1906 and serve
there until 1913. He distinguished hir
self in conducting the Impeachment Fl
treason of Senator Blount, of Tennessee
and was active in the great contest,
election'between jefferson and Burr T
declined the mission TO France offer
to- him by Mr.. Adams in 1901 and co
firmed to MN by the Senate, but serv,
as a joint commissioner with Adam
Clay, Gallatin and Russell in negotiate
the treaty of Client, which was conc,ud
In December, 1914. He was then O
pointed Minister to Russia but decin
that office also. and while busy with I
details of a commercial treaty with Gre
Britain was taken sick. He was broue
up the Delaware on a national vessel, a
because the draught of the vessel was I
great to permit it to enter the Christian
Mr. Bayard was placed aboard SIN
boat and rowed by, sailors to the ro
on the property of the Mccullough Ii
Co. Thence he was tenderly carried
street near Ninth, where he fingered
few days and then passed away.
He was conspicuous, even among
generation of giants with whom he Ii,
as a statesman and as an orator. I
public place held by James Ashton b
ard was next filed by his son, Richard
Bayard, who was chosen Senator in 1S
and again in 1874. and who was sent
Minister to Belgium in 1850, and "
died in Philadelphia in 1868. The tn
Senator in the line was Richards brot
James Ashton Bayard, who represen
Delaware in the Senate from 1891
1864 when he resigned although he
nbout year previously been elected
serve for a third term. His resignat
grew out of lie adoption by the Senate
the ''iron clad oath" required of ev
Senator in the Senate before enter
upon his duties. When this oath ,
offered to Mr.. Bayard, who had gro
gray In his country's service, he fel
as an insult and an outrage. After
adoption of the regulation requiring
''iron clad OATH" Mr., Bayard took
oath and then resigned his seat. l
powerful speech to explain his act
he referred to his earlier contention
opposition to the Civil War, belle,
that 1t meant disunion and setting +,
clearly his preference for peaceful
aration rather than to have war;
uttered, in this connection, the follow
significant words: Il have also
fixed opinion and belief that the life
nation depends upon the preservation
IFS Ehnrtias and NOT itnnn Tho avian