Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-03-31
CUNNING BEDFORD.

i1OIIle, OH LstIIdSAtl hifNts
mington March 80. 1912. He usually
designated himself as Junior to dis
tinguish him from his father, whose
name was Cunning. and also from his
cousin, Governor Cunning Bedford who
lived in New Castle. After the deaths
Of his father and cousin he discontinued
the use of Junior"
The ancestors Of the Bedfords We're
residents Of England. In 1921 William
and Cunning came over in the vessel
James and settled at jamestown. Nir-
ginia. The state of Virginia afterwards
gave Cunning a grant Of 1000 acres
az land in what is now the state Of
Ohio. They afterwards removed TO
Philadelphia. A branch Of the family
was in New Castle as early as l1l6.
The grandfather of Judge Bedford lived
in Cecil county. Maryland, and was
buried in Old ST. Mary's cemetery, along
the North East liver. One of the
earlier members of the family was mar
ried in England 10 a Miss Cunning, one
of three sisters. famous in history for
their beauty After that marriage the
name or Cunning was used very fire.
/ quently by the Bedfords as given
name.
I The motto Of the Bedfords is For
4 tune follows fortttude" Their coat q
arms consists Of three lions paws. hence
/ the lions paws on the monument.
/ The father Of Judge Bedford, also
/ named Cunning. was born in 1920. He
married in I742 Susanna Jaquett.
daughter Of Peter Jaquett, and great
/ granddaughter Of Jean Paul Jaquett.
who in 1855 was Vice Director on the
( South River (Delaware) and who laid
out the town Of New Anstel, afterward
called New Castle The Jaquett home
/ stead was at Long Hook" along the
state road. a short distance south OF
! Wilmington. The house and barns are
still standing.
/ Cunning Bedford. the father. was
ensign and lieutenant in the Colonial
Militia OF Pennsylvania from 175S 20
I 1850 and saw service in the Indian
Wars. also in the French Wars. in
which that Militia engaged.
/ He resided on Arch street, Phila-
delphia. and had a farm near that
civ where he spent his summers. The
/ farm was one Of the show places OF
/ thar time. During the Revolution the
british used the town house as barracks.
/ His son. later Judge. then member OF
! Congress. was captured and imprisoned.
/ The British amused themselves by max
ing a target of a portrait by Peale, OF
( the Judges wife. shooting out the eyes.
A Founder Of Carpenters Hall.
! later in life the Judges father met
with business losses and at once turned
1 his attention 10 architecture. IN which
I he was successful. He designed, and
was one of the founders Of, Old Car
nenter's Hall in Philadelphia. This hall
was occupied for time by the first
/ Continental Congress. He was an in
innate friend Of the Penn family and
was presented with a handsome silver
tankard and salver by John Penn for
I professional services for which ne de-
I clined 10 receive remuneration For
many years he was a n Alderman In
PHILADELPHIA He died in 1902 at LON
hardy" the home Of his son Judge Gun
ming Bedford. Jr.. but was buried in the
cemetery of the Arch Street Presby-
terian Church. Philadelphia. OF which
church he had been an elder.
Cunning Bedford. Sr.. left three sons
and four daughters. Among the sons
was Judge Cunning Bedford, Jr., the
! eret Grand Master of Delaware, and
/ peter Bedford. The latter was named
for his grandfather. Peter Jaquett.
/ There are now no living descendants
az Judge Bedford Most Of the surviv-
ing members of the family are descend
ed from Peter Bedford. The BedfGTds
Of New York. the Hacketts Of Pennsyl-
vania. the wilkins and BarrolI families
of Maryland and the Cooch family Of
/ Delaware are descended from him. His
daughters have descendants living in
Baltimore and in England.
| Judge Cunning Bedford. Jr., married
Jane Ballareau Parker. who WAS born
June 10, 174S. She was a member Of
a prominent French family, then resid-
ing in New York. Her father, James
/ Parker, was an intimate friend Of Frank
! lin. Judge and Mrs Bedford had two
daughters and one son. None Of their
| children married.
Close Friend of Washln gtOn's.
| Judge Bedford graduated at Nassau u
| Hall, n j., in 1771 with great distinc-
| tion. He studied law in Philadelphia
with Joseph Reed. Reed was Adju-
| tant-General on General Washington's
stafr and later Governor Of Pennsyl-
vania. After completing his law stud
les he practiced for a while in Dover
and afterward moved to Wilmington.
He was Attorney General of Delaware
and a member Of the State Legislature.
He was one Of the delegates TO the con
ference tha4 framed the Constitution
Of the United States. BY his efforts
two Senators were obtained for Della
ware and the other small states. He
received from President Washington.
with whom he was closely associated
In the Revolution n commission ak the