Evening journal., 1908-05-28
UNWILLING TO BE
NOTABLE EVENT
DaewOrthy Monument TO 0C-
Cupy a Historic Sussex
County Spot
OLD CHURCH THERE DATES
BACK BEFORE REVOLUTION
Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL


Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL
LEwEs. May 2s-The unveiling Of
the memorial to General John Dag
worthy in old Prince Georges. ceme-
terry. near Dagsboro, on Saturday,
promises to be notable event in the
history Of Sussex county. and the great
appreciation which Sussex countians
entertain toward the committee In
charge viii be exemplihed by the crowd
which will be in attendance If tho
weather is favorable. A fine program
has been arranged for the occasion
and many notable speakers win be
present. In addition to Governor Lea,
Chief Justice Lore and Insurance Com
missioner George w Marshall. Cow
ernor Crothers of Maryland, and Cow
ernor Fort. of New Jersey, will be
present and deliver brief addresses
touching upon the early life of General
Dagworthy
The unveillng will take place at one
of the Oldest churches in this State,
the building as it now stands being
only a part of the original structure.
The date of erection oc the landmark
is unknown, but there IS reason to be-
lieve that It was erected several years
before the Revolution. In the church
win be found a communion plate con-
sisting Of two cups of sterling silver
weighing over one pourd each. and a
pewter plate. The cups were sent
from England by the "scclety for the
Promotion Of the Gosoer' and have in
scribed upon them Worcester Parish,
Worcester County, 1772.' Among tho
ablest preachers in this country ohi-
ciated in this church and prominent
among them IS the Rev. John Linn
McKim, a graduate Of Dickinson Col
lege of the class of 1890, man of fne
presence. scholarly at;ainments. who
became leader Of church work in this
county. Rev. Mr. McKim's preaching
and ministrations in lower Delaware
have been factors in the Episcopal
Church for moro than seventy years.
He is now "a years of age and resides
in this town Notwithstanding the
fact that able men like Kingsbury, Nc
kim and Bishop OnderdonlI have been
important factors I'm making Prince
Georges Church a great landmark. the
name of General DaEworthy stands
first among the historic rames connect
ed with the parish
He was "a military man by profession.
being a captain by royal warrant from
England and saw service before Wash.
ington came to the front He took no
small part in saving the army when
General Braddock was slain in the i'll
starred expedition Of 1855 Many years
fnN q 81. -fn s.
commander-in-ch Of the Continental
Army. the question narrowed down to
a choice between Dagworthy and
Washington. Dagworthy stood for the
professional soldier ana the regular
army, while Washington was strong on
the civilian side. The New England
delegation siding with the Virginia
party caused the coveted honor TO lie
given to Washington. AS the war pro.
D gressed Colonel Dagworthy soon be-
came general. ard his services during
the Revolution were Of the highest
order. After the war. he settled in
this county on what has been called
the "Dagworthy Conquest" Here he
built large rambling house. not far
from the churcn where the unveilirg
will take place.
He was a staunch T.piscopalian and
held his membership at Prince Georges
and made improvements to the edifce
by adding the part where the chancel
now is His last viii and testament
is dated 1852. and. leaving no children.
I'm Il was set forth a clause providing
for the education of his niece, his
J. nearest relative. who after the compile
I ton Of her studies became the wite OF
/ William Mil Wells. who for several
years served in the United States Sen.
ate. II IS stated that the members
of the Col. c. r. Layton Post. G. A. r.
Of this town, will attend the unveiling
/ I'm a body. while invitations have been
issued and accepted by the county Of
/ ficers.