Newark post. (Newark, Del.) 1910-1969, 1916-04-19
OWNERS OF
FARM SINCE 1907
Story Of the Beginning of the
Steel Property

II. Johnston, came into the Steel
family in 1707.-At that time the
Sheriff. came down on one Joseph
Moore because he was unable to
pay his debts and levied upon the
farm and advertised it for sale
Aug 10Th of that year.
John Steel, an Irishman who
had settled in Philadelphia, was
attracted by the possibility of
owning a farm in this region and
came to the sale and purchased it.
Whether this is the same
Joseph Moore that figured in the
life of New Castle County during
the previous 80 or 40 years in
various ways, it is not certain
yet the fact that he landed in the
Sherriffs net gives much reason
able conjecture that it was the
same.
The first appearance of Joseph
Moore was in 1879 when he was
hailed before the Justices at New
Castle for running away from
Virginia, stealing four servants
from their masters and other
goods etc. While there seems to
be no record of his life before
this it is evident he was we'll
known to the court for in the
sentence passed upon him it is
distinctly stated that the punish
ment was not for these misdeeds
alone but for "these and other
his former misdemeanors."
The following record of the
Court shows the incident: -
At a meeting of We Justice
held in New Castle Feb. IS, 1879,
FIR. John Foil, Mr.. Peter Alrich,
Pres. Mr.. John D'haer, Mr.. Will
Semple, Justices.
Joseph Moore (alias) Marshall
being run away from MiddleseX
county in We Province of Virginia
and having inticed and taken
four servants belonging to their
respective masters and also a
boat, and other goods and being
pursuaded by James Parker of We
said county of Middlesex and APP
pretended here within the pre-
cincts of this court; being this
day brought before the Justice of
this place was found upon exami-
nation guilty of We above fact
confessed further that he had
changed his name and likewise
had shot a bullock Of some per-
sons by the way. 1t was thought
good by the Justices above that we
said Joseph Moore for these and
other his former misdemeanors,
and for an example to others be
first here publicly whip "a lashes
and that he then Immediately be
sent back with we said James
Parker to Virginia to the place
he came from, and do further
forever Danish him we said
Joseph Moore or Marshall out of
the precincts of this River De-
laware.
This sentence was put in eXecu-
tive We same day above written.
Notwithstanding the severity OF
the judgement Joseph Moore did
not stay "bannished." We find
him back again the next year.
But this time with evident inter
est to live a different life. For
some reason he wants, not only
to put his misdemeanors behind
him but he wants to do it before
the eyes of those who beheld his
humiliation. There may have
been girl in the case. She is
not far and give that he might
have desired and marry the
daughter of John Ogle who owned
the George Steel farm adjoining
the above named property. At
any rate we find John Ogle in
terested in Joseph Moore and in
his getting a patent from the
court for 200 acres joining him
on the West.-But how coulu
this be brought about? Joseph
Moore by sentence of the court
was forever bannished.' Money
and influence can do great
things and Joseph Moore secured
both of these and appeared be-
fore the court and promised to be
GOOD if it would remove the SEN
tence of bannishment. The Court
his plea and granted his request
as is shown by the following re
cord:
upon a petition in We behalf
of Joseph Moore presented the
Court do take his bannishment
and grant his liberty to dwell in
the country provided he be of
GOOD behaviour for one year and
..,ool,, ,p1 to find fiftV hounds