Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-10-03
July, 1850. by the wad of gum" go.
An account of his death follows.

An account OF his death follows:
The above present Robert Morris"
refers to the signer and financier, who
evidently came by his executive ability
by Inheritance.
To suggest u time OF commercial su-
premacy to Oxfcrd over baltimore
would at this time appear to be the
Jest OF au imhecile. too farfetched to
be funny but the actual state Of affairs
is told by the same writer as follows:
Oxford, at the time OF his death,
was one OF the most commercial port is
in Maryland; retailers both en- the
western and eastern side of the Chesa-
peake repaired there 10 lay in their
supplies; Baltimore at that time was
little thought of, or scarcely known,
especially by an adjoining State; herds
grazed on the streets, If streets they
could be called, but it soon took the
lead, aud was destined to become the
| emporium 60.
would call attention to the above
remark, noting a time when accounts
were Kept In 80 many pounds of to-
bacco, per yard, per pound. per gallon,
&c. Such accounts are frequently seen
in old documents. Also, to the ''in-
spection law ON tobacco" here dis
ing American products, as enforced by
the British government, counted much
among the circumstances that fomented
insu uhordination, ana. eventually rsvo-
luton OF the colonies here Such his
tory is agreeably interviewer in many
| modern romances.
Baltimore of today is one of the
prominent cities of the United States,
while Oxford, that so far outranked it
century and half ago as TO render
Baltimore Insignificant, is and has long
been merely q pleasant, retiring, little
town, the adjacent rivers furnishing the
fish and oysters that give occupation to
| most OF the Inhabitants. These rivers,
with their clean sandy beaches and
beautiful reaches of salt Water render
the surroundings of our Delaware River
hereabout. but bog and mudhole by
comparison. But in its beautiful sur
| roundings Oxford can not claim
supremacy over hundred similar
| localities OF our lower Peninsula.
| Indeed, Oxford can claim supremacy
in nothing that | know of, unless for
an immense grape vine, that is viewed
with wonder by all visitors; the stem
| for six or eight feet is large as a man g
body. Mr.. Ii. @. Banning and Mr..
7. +. Bayard once had lively tilt
about big Crane vines, each claiming
to have seen the largest 1t finally
| transpired that both referred to this
same big Oxford vine.
| The above references to Oxford and
Robert Norris. Sr., are quotations from
an old manuscript by Col. jeremiah
Banning = 1873 .l79S-a Revolutionary
partisan. He lived in Talbot county,
near Oxford; was collector of the port
of Oxford; Revolutionary colonel
was elected delegate to the Maryland
Assembly, 1888, that ratified the Con-
stitution, proof of confidence by his
fellow citizens, that he says, he valued
more than any other, ever bestowed
upon him. Much of his early life was
spent at sea, or in foreign parts. in the
merchant trade, and he was twice cap
tured by the French in the French
English he aud one other of his
ships company, being the sole sur
vivors ION one of these occasions) of a
barbarous imprisonment at ST. Pierre,
| Martinique.
One of the almost forgotten charac.
ters that contributed quota towards
embittering the American mind to
Revolution, as carly as 17d6, was
Zachary Hood, the stampmaster. This
Hood is a prominent character in one
OF those popular modern romances,
that run to things colonial ("Richard
CaryePD. But Hood was no mere
creature of romance. In ignorance OF
Hoods obnoxious errand, he was
brought from England, in 1865. tc
Oxford, Md, by Col. Banning, who
narrates the circumstances, identical
SO far as they go, with that in the ro.
nance mentioned Hood 8 life was soon
IN jeopardy, or, as Col. Banning has it
The patriots found him aboard the
Layton. Mr.. Hood was threatened with
immediate destruction. However, he
took an opportunity OF making his
escape and fled to Annapolis. From
thence he was hunted and driven like O
savage least TOT New lorh, but found
there he was obliged tO seek safety in
the fort. Iu America he could find nu
rest. and he was obliged to fly to
England for protection, from which he
never returned. At Annapolis Mr..
Hoods house was leveled with the
earth, and himself in many places
burnt in etiigy, and even in Easton.
but the unfortunate patriotic operator
there, in forming the figure, out him
self with an axe, which caused his
death.''
The body Of Robert Morris, Sr, still
rests in Old White Marsh Church yard,
neaI Oxford, where it was placsd IN
1850.
SThe Maryland Assembly of l7ss ac
cepted the Federal Constitution fol
that State, as mentioned, but our little
Delaware has the honor of precedence
OF all the States in this action; scarcely
second in its far-reaching import to the
Declaration of Independence.
Oelaware's Assembly, December 7th,
1851, was first of all the State Assem-
blies to ratify tho Constitution. Oui
| James LRtiIner WAS It's nrpsidant