Evening journal., 1909-02-05
Original Papers of Grants
of King Charles II and
James, Duke of York,
Now in Delaware Ar
chiyes Through the Gift
of Mrs. Sarah Wistar
Miller
GIVEN BY THE
COLONIAL DANES
spsc.a. to -gE EVENING JousNAL


original records 0. the grants by King
Charles y. OF lard comp-lsiag tie present
STATE % Delaware AID original papers OF
grants made BY James. Duke o. yo-k
were presented to the state 81 Hrs. Sarah
W:sta- 31.iie-. % Media. Pc. through the
Delaware Society o. Co,o-lal Danes %
america coio-ei J. Ernest Saith, o. WI
=,ington. - BEHALF % Mrs. miller. present
ed the papers % great historic wc-th 70
Governor sisaeoa S. pe--ew!ll. ard Mrs.
Charles z Mailer. Of Wilmington. .p-ssi-
dent % the Delaware Society % colozsal
Danes r. graceful speech formally tend
cred 70 Governor Penze1tn or behalf %
the State the key to the original boz. con
tanning tbs ancient documents which have
been handed down through generations 10
A-s. sarah Wistar Niiie- TIE latter,
while rot a Dsiawa-ean. honorsd the Del
aware Society Of Colonial DANES, By hav-
ing the prizes gifts transmitted to this
State through that society which has
done 50 much and is accomplishing things
OF such worth by collecting and having
preserved the records. papers and docu-
ments that are associated with the found
ing and establishment Of Delaware as q
Colony and State
So appreciative was Governor Pennewin
Of the acquisition on behalf Of the state
that he in his speech of acceptance went
10 tie extent Of recommending in Joint
session OF the Senate and House thet
urgent provision be made for the custody
and preservation Of the records presented
BY Mrs. Miller. The Legislature adopted
unanimously the Governors recommend
ton TO have the historic papers preserved
in a hreproof safe IN the Office OF the Sec
rotary OF State, where they can be viewed
during the day but cannot be handled or
fingered 10 mar the perfect condition IN
which they have been kept since 1859 and
1858 when they were penned so artistically
Former Attorney-Genersl Robert II
Richards who with Colonel J. Ernest
Smith was instrumental in obtaining the
manuscripts for Delaware was one OF the
many interested attendants at the ioint
session Of the Senate and House held to
receive the ancient records Among the
members OF the Delaware Society OF Col
onisl Danes present were Mrs. Charles
r. Miller, the president. Mrs J. Ernest
Smith. Mrs. Charles G. Rumford, Miss
Caroline Miller, daughter OF. the donor:
Mrs. Charles L. denvaine. Miss Margaret
Janvier, Miss Susan spottswood. Of VII
mington; Mrs. Henry Ridgely. Mrs
Beniah Watson. Miss HAYES. and Mrs
J. H. Anderson. Of Dover. and Mrs. Joseph
L. cahall, Of Georgetown.
Governor Pennewill and Secretary OF
State Hastings attended the Joint session
after It had assembled. over which Presi-
dent pro TEN George W. Sparks presided
Speaker T. o. Cooper OF the House and
Governor PenneVtn occupied seats at the
Speakers desk
Colonel J. Ernest Smith was the first
speaker. he described at length the docu-
ments comprised in the gift. Colonel smith
said.
Colonel Smiths Spssch.
your Excellercy, Mr. President. ard
Members Of the Senate and House. Mrs.
Sarah Wistar Miller has requested me. as
her counsel and friend. TO present certain
ancient documents % the State of Della
ware, and in accepting this pleasant duty.
! feel that no greater honor can betall me.
es a Delawarean than being called upon
10 present to the State Of Delamare the
royal patent. and the ancient deeds and
leases for the territory comprising the
sovereign domains Of my. native state.
This voluntary gift is made TO the state
by Sarah Wistar Miller OF Media Della
ware county. Pennsylvania. who is the
wife Of Honorable William H Miller. one
OF the Pennsylvania Commissioners TO hx
the boundary line between Delaware and
Pennsylvania
"This gift IS made through the Delaware
society OF the Colonial Danes Of Amer
lea. and appropriately 50. since this So
ciety has done and IS doing much 70 fnd
and preserve the ancient and historical
papers Of this State
.of all the early papers pertaining to
the history Of Delaware. either as prov
ince q colony, or as a sovereign state.
these papers are undoubtedly the most
important and valuable and their posses
sion Will be Just cause Of satisfaction 10
OUT people.
IN presenting these papers st would
seem meet. considering their great his
torical and legal value TO give. rs best
may, e concise statement Of the papers
themselves. their history. authenticity and
value, and the need Of their preservation.
Thepapsrs now presented consist o.:
'1st Letters Pstent from Charles II.
King OF England. TO his Royal Highness,
James. Duke OF York, dated March 22nd.
4. D, 1853. for New Castle and the twelve
mile circle. and tract OF land South OF the
same t6>cape I.eopen.
'.2-d. Deed Of Feohrent from His Royal
Highness. James. Duke % York, 10 VII
liam Penn, son and heir % Sir William
Penn Knight. dated August Path. = D.
lss2. for the Town % New Castle. and the
land within the circle OF twelve miles
about the same arc ali Islands n the
Delaware river. and the said river and the
soil thereof, lying north % the southern
most part OF the said circle OF twelve
miles about the said town
srd. Irdenture Of lease for ten thousand
years from his ROYAL Highness. James.
Duke Of York. 70 william Penn, son and
heir OF SIR william Penn. Knight. dated
August oath. A. D. 1852. tor the Town OF
New Castle and the tract OF land and
son lying within the twsivs rn!ls circle
about the sane.
"sth. Indenture % Lease for ter thousand
years from His Royal H.ghress. James,
Duke % yo-k. 10 william Penn. so- and
heir % s.r Ws,la-a Penn. Kz.ght. dated
August 24th. 4 D. les2. cor tract o.
.sne upon Delaware river ard bay. begin
n.ng twelve miles south from New Castle
and extending south to Cape Lopen.
Apparent Discrepancy.
As the Royal Patent from Charles " to
James. Duke OF York, here date March
End. A d. 1888 and the deeds Of feoff-
ment from James. Duke of York. to Will
liam Penn hore date Aur71st ozfh n