Evening journal., 1901-07-06

| ldSe thc pump was IdFOrIte trySting
place for the bashful country lads and
blushing village maidens. the former
in cotton jeans and the latter in their
simple homemade frOcks.
| Many first kiss has been given
near the old pump and VOWS have been
MADE there while getting water for
mother or father that have been
broken only by death.
1t was within twelve miles Of this
old pump that Lafayette, that brave
and rich French nobleman, cast aside
all thoughts of self, high birth and
riches, and cast his lot with the great
and glorious George Washington. He
began his noble military career in aid
Of the oppressed Americans in the bat
tie of the Brandywine, in 1777, and in
1924, while riding through Brandywine
village, dismounted at the old pump
and after drinking deeply of the cool
and pure water, said: Can anyone tell
me where my old friend Edward Tat
nall, lives?" Mr. Tatnalls home.
about a square below the pump. was
pointed out to him, and the brave
Frenchman is said to have ridden to it
and spent the night with his old
friend.
Mr.. Tatnall ground the -four that
made the bread for the revolutionary
forces, under Washington. which were
encamped at Chadd's Ford
Anxious TO learn more about the
old pump the Wayfarer recently Wis
ited Brandywine village. 1t was a
seething hot night and the pump
seemed to be doing a big business at
the old stand There was a crowd
about it all the time. Pitchers and
buckets were filled from the well and
carried to homes both far and near
Fashionably dressed men and women
patiently awaited their turns to have
a cooling draft from the old wells
depths. Crews OF trolleys deserted
their cars long enough to wet their
parched lips and throats from the old
iron ladle.
The water supply at the pump seems
to be ineXhaustible, and it has been
known to have been dry but twice
and beth times this was caused by
great quantities Of its water being
used 20 put out fires in the village. a
Years ago it was the delight of the
village boys to catch Wilmington
boy sparkling one of the village girls.
They would waylay him and put him
under the pump. 1t was a brave and
daring town boy who risked a repeti-
ton of the pumping process.
A town boy had to keep himself
within due bounds when suffered toI
visit in the village. Lads of Whining
ton had a wholesome regard for the
pump.
There seems to have been no record
Kept of the pump, and beyond the fact
that it was put there before the days of
Edward Johnson, a well-known pump
maker of Brandywine village. there isl
no certainty regarding the age of the
well. Another singular thing about il
is that before the street was rai1ed il
was but II feet deep and no greater in
circumference than -four barrel. 1t
is walled up with stone instead Of
bricks.
J. j. Rigby and Samuel Rigby. song
of the late Samuel Rigby of Brandy
wine village, both are we'll versed in
the history OF the pump and have a
clear recollection Of its usefulness dur
ing their lives.
J. ]. Rigby is 60 years old and has
lived within sight OF the pump ever
since his birth, and tells when it stood
in the middle Of the sidewalk instead
Of at the curb. where it now is.
The present stock IS about thirty
years old and was put in with the aid
Of Samuel Rigby, who took up a sub
scnption for the needed repairs The
pump has been kept up by public con-
tribution for over fifty years and is the
pride of both the old and young who
are fortunate enough to reside in that
part of the Ninth ward in the city Of
Wilmington.
The Rigbys are direct descendants OF
Admiral Rigby of the British navy.
who is well-known to historians as a
valiant and fearless sea warrior for
the crown.
Opposite the village pump are
three low stone houses with a porch
extending along their entire front
These are among the oldest buildings in
Brandywine hundred and were used as
"a tavern during the revolutionary
days II was in this old tavern that
Washington is said to have rested one
night. and il was while here that he is
said first to have tasted the water from
the old village pump.
During it's century OF usefulness
there never has been a case of fever or
sickness traced to its waters nor has
1t ever been condemned by a board Of
health or a chemical analysis.
Many political meetings have been
held at the pump in years gone by. ven
dues and other sales have been held
there too, but in the days when the
streets OF Brandywine village were
/ lined with market wagons the old
pump was a blessing to both man and
beast.
/ Farmers while watering their horses
would linger there and exchange
views on the crops and manner OF rails
ing and harvesting them. They would
argue politics both Safe and national.
and exchange their views on the Affairs
Of tho country.
;. The farmers wives also would congre-
gate around the old pump and talk of
}. their household and dairy affairs. net
! neglecting to gossip a little as we'll.
The old pump has heard many pieces
4 of timely gossip.
j It was at this pump that many Of the
long since dead of Brandywine village
;, who had lived long lives as man and
wife. first met as sweethearts and
beauX- They lived to bless the old
nfsp,r and ffc oonfipo- mo- 80. -. 80. Z, 4