Smyrna times., 1922-01-04

its paths of winding glades and noble
trees full of peaceful beauty, and
ones fancy easily travels back over
the bridges of time when chose gallant
Sons of Delaware gathered there.
In the parlor of Belmont Hall fortu-
nately saved is the old world fire place,
the blue and white tiles of the time of
William and Mary, anil during the
Revolutionary times the women prov
ed themselves as true to the American
cause as the men; many of thc bullets
that did such execution on thc battle
field were moulded there oy the hands
of Delaware's fairest daughters.
Belmont During the Revolution
The tall clock on the landing of the
handsome stair case has mounted
guard there for a century. The stately
cedars on either side of the front
porch were planted there by John
Cloke, ESQ.,, upon the respective birth
! days of his two daughters ami named
for them, following out an old Eng
lish custom to plant a tree when a
child was born. Two antique chairs
also saved were passed down in the
Collins family from that period when
Belmont Hall posed as one of the
State Capitols, and resoundad with
the shouts of the Revolutionary pa
trlots. In these chairs, Caesar Rod
ney and Thomas Mexican and John
Cook were often seated. Delaware
had great cause to be proud of its
Revolutionary soldiers. In less than
a month after the declaration of In
dependence the State had eight hun
dred men in the field, who with three
other regiments formed later on.
fought at Brooklyn, White Plains.
Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Ger
mantown, Monmouth, Camden, Cow
pens, GuilfOrd, Ninety-six, Eutaw and
yorktown, in fact there was not a bat
tie during the Revolution worthy of
the name, except that of Bunker Hill.
IN which Delaware troops did not fight
bravely and well. One of the most in
teresting stories told at Belmont Hall
during those days was about a eenti-
mel General Collins placed in the OBJ
servatory on top of the mansion in
l776 to watch the British who were in
great force around and about that part
OF the country. One night the senti-
mel was shot by a hostile scout. the
wounded man in trying to reach the
room below where he soon expired.
left stains of blood in several places
that could be seen even to this dav.
but the fire has removed this mark
forever.
Governor John Cooks wife was a
sister of Governor Thomas Collins,
and a daughter of John Cook married
John Clark, another Governor of Del
aware.
Belmont Succeeds to Mrs. Speakman
Belmont Hall after remaining in the
. Collins family for generation, was
sold on January 3rd, 1927, by DR.. Viii
; liam Collins, son of Governor Thos
Collins, to John Cloke, Esq, a cousin
| of DIR. William Collins, and a grand
son of Gov. John Cook; he resided
7 there until his death in 1867. Johr
: ClOke was the father of the late Mrs
/ Caroline Elizabeth Cloake Peterson
Speakman, each one of this LADY,
e first four names link in the histor!
: of the ladies and gentlemen who for
/ merly lived in beautiful historic Bel
n mont Hall. From her it descended t.
: her son, Cummins f. Speakmau
5 where like his mother, he was born
f and where as ever its portals wer
Y open with that cordial hospitality tina
has made Belmont Hall such a delight
h full social center.