Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-11-21

The removal, on the 18th inst of the
remains of James Lntimer and his wife,
their son, DR.. Henry Latimer, their
two daughters and their son-in law,
Cant. Henry Geddes, from the First
Presbyterian churchyard at Tenth and
Market street, where they bad lain
since the earlyIpart of the last century,
Aewss noted in this paper, and nara.
: tive in brief, Of these old families, has
been obtained.
The early histor" OF the Latimers
shows them as uncompromising in their
adherence to certain religious views as
they were, later, in the cause Of Aineri-
can Independence. In the battles OF
Camden aud Eutaw Springs, no less than
four Latlmers were killed -nephews OF
James Latimer. The descendants of the
latter form the branch of the family
best known In Delaware. at least.
At the time OF the revocation OF the
Edict OF Nantes t16s5) members of the
Lstimer family fled from their native
France, and sought refuge In Ireland,
In l736 Arthur Latimer and his son,
James, above mentioned, then a lad Of
~ years, came to America from Ireland.
In 1749 James married Sarah Geddes.
Iler portrait, painted later in life, is
still treasured by the family. His own
portrait is still treasured. too; a fine
specimen OF old-time artistic skill, in q
severely plain frame, and portrsys him,
ut about 60 years OF age, strong in body
and mind, with countenance GENIAL
land loving enough and firm enough,
100 1t requires no second glnnoe to
know that the owner of that oourte-
nance meant whatever he said, and
would do 1t. For some reason best
known to himself, he chose to be repre-
sented IN this picture attired in home
spun: possibly no other could be had,
but English made cloth, and that he
would not have. Socially, or in bust
ness life, or in the public life of the
time, he was an acknowle lodged lender,
OF irreproachable integrity of word and
purpose.
In such an atmosphere. and with a
wife we'll able to second his own strong
will and directness of purpose, he
trained his children to rise and call
him blessed; SO that to this day his
descendants hold his memory in respect.
full affection.
He lived at Newport. an important
business centre then, much more 40
than was Wilmington. He dea t ex.
tensively in grain and flour, exporting
much OF such American products; ar,
occupation that required him to make
many voyages, ard he was often ip
Europe, after America had become his
permanent home. In the Revolutionary
War, he continually furnished the
American army with great quantities
OF supplies, disregarding the extreme
danger TO himself, of such a pro-
oedure IN defiance of frequent threats
by tht Tories.
Iha n1arlxal oot Af
life was his service as president OF the
Delaware convention OF 1887. That
was the lirst OF the State conventions
to ratify the Federal Constitution.
The honor due Delaware for its initia-
tive, In an act SO essential to our fern
.of national government apIea,s to he
,litte known; at least the facts ara
ignored IN many histories. Among tbe
deputies were such wel-known char
acters as Cunning pedford, Sr.. and
Cunning Bedford, Jr. Nicho as Ridgely,
Richard tasse,t Sc.
Dr. Henry Latimer, son of James,
was born IN l75.: commenced lhs
study of meuiciue in Philade nhia and
graduated at ths Med cal College Of
Edinburgh He was appointed an army
surgeon In lTI7, attached to what was
called the Flying Hospital, which
belonged I'll no particular regiment, and
ne was present ut every battle from
: Brsndywine to Yorktown.
= Although surgeon, and presumably
q non -combatant, Dr. Latimer was soon
a marked man in mis- bitter and unonm.
promising partisanship. The British
offered standing reward of $500 for
This head. and after that, when he visited
his home. it WIS with sentinel on
guard and horse ready saddled by his
window, for the British and treacherous
Tories, oil whom there were plenty, were
ever on the alert to waylay him.
Dr. Latlmer was eiecteu a mernber of
oelaware's Legislature; also to Con-
ress, 1893 to l795. He was twice a
United States Senator. His portrait
epresents him as q man of strikinely
ne appearance.
George latimer, another sun OF James,
was as obnoxious to the British as was
his brother Henry. He was thus spoken
OF in a letter from British spy SAT
New Port is the habitation and effects
OF one Of Mckinley Privy Council, a
vile rebel, we'll known by the naem OF
George Latimer-his father Judge Of
Common Pleas. ~
Capt. Henry Geddes was born in Ira.
land, 1749; was educated at Trinity
College, Dublin, and entered the Enc
lish navy, from which he resigned in
1775, and came to America. Intending
to make it his future home, having
friends and relatives In America. y
Family tradition has it that the besuti.
ful and charming Margaret Latimer,
escorted by her brother Henry, was
Htrolling along the Braudywine, as
picturesque then as now, when Cant.
Geddes, searching for Henry, frat mat
her: 1t proved an eyentful meeting 10
both.
Irishmen didn't love the British anv
hetter then than they do now. and az
times not half 81 we'll. 1t NAV he his
mind was already made to e1ter tbe
American service; or, IL anything lacked
lin his dislike to things Britaunic. the
young rebel. Margaret, soon had sway
enough to make good the deficit, Tine
. spirit of rs" possessed her, as IL did
! her father and brothers, and CARTRIDGE.
making became one of her daily dutles.
and nightly. too. by the light of
candle which, to reduce the danger Of
explosion by spark, stood IN a basin
of water.
The capital obtained command in
the American navy, serving with honor
then and In after years, She became