The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-06-04
MEMORIAL EXERCISES AT
WEST NOTTINGHAM
Gateway Dedicated And Tablet
Unveiled

granite gateway was dedicated and
a bronze tablet in memory of two
signers of the Declaration of In
dependence who attended the old
Academy at that place was unveiled.
A large assemblaze of people was
in attendance and the beautiful
grove and surroundings never looked
prettier.
The gateway. was the gift of mem
bers of West Nottingham Alumni
and was presented by Mr.. Paul
Freeman, of Philadelphia. Mr.. Will
liam Gibson, President of the Board
of Trustees, received the gift on
behalf of the Academy.
The bronze tablet placed in the
gateway above the arch inscribed
with the names of two of the signers
of The Declaration of Independence,
that of DR.. Benz. Rush, of Pennsyl-
vania, and Richard Stockton, of
New Jersey, was the gift OF The
Captain jeremiah Baker Chapter,
Daughters of the American Revolu-
tiOn OF Cecil County.
Owing to the fact that this is the
oldest Academy in continuous use as
an educational institution in the
United States and that these two
distinguished men were students
there for some years about 1850, it
was thought worthy of commemora-
tion. This is the first historical
spot to be marked by the d. A. RS
in Cecil county. The Alumni built
stone gateway in the arch OF which
the tablet was placed.
The unveiling took place about
8 D. m. The cords that held the
drapery, being drawn apart by two
little girls, Virginia Lee Smith, of
Havre de Grace, and Ruth Can't
we'll of North East. Miss Harriet
Marine, State chairman for marking
historical spots, presided. Mrs. Cor
della Jackson Simmons, Regent OF
the Chapter, made the presentation
address. The gift was accepted, on
behalf of the Academy by Rev. DR..
Cndrl0S II. EIumoA, AAASooiA'
New Jersey.
The dedication was in charge OF
Mrs. D. N. Garrison, State Regent OF
Maryland. Mrs. j. Pearce Cam,
State Regent of Delaware, presented
a copy of The Declaration OF In
dependence and The Constitution OF
the United States to the Academy.
Mrs. DR.. Reed, State Regent OF New
Jersey, was present, also ThesPres-
byterian Assembly in session In
Baltimore, sent large delegation.
A number of visiting Daughters
were present from "Old Kent"
Chapter of Kent County, Md, and
Governor Paca Chapter of Bel Air,
Hartford County. Much credit is
due Mrs. Simmons, Regent of Capt.
Jeremiah Baker Chapter, D. A. R.,
for her untiring and earnest efforts
to bring to consummation the
marking of this historic spot.
The inscription on the tablet
reads
This Tablet Is Placed
In Commemoration of
DIR BENJAMIN RUSH and RICHARD
STOCKTON,
Who were Students of this Academy.
DIR. Rush, 1876
Richard Stockton, 1743-47
Presented by Captain jeremiah Baker
Chapter Daughters of the Ameri-
can Revolution, Cecil County,
Maryland.
DR.. Benjamin Rush was a student
at the academy from 1851 to 1855.
Leaving the school, he entered
Princeton University when IA. Fol
lowing his graduation, he pract1ced
medicine in Philadelphia during the
period of the great plague, 1888
1906, and was most successful. He
held the chair of medicine at the
of Pennsylvania for over
forty years. He was physician
general for the Middle Department
of Washington's Army during the
War. He was also
the founder of Dickinson College.
Richard Stockton was a student at
West Nottingham from 1743 to
1747. He was the head of the New
Jersey delegation of signers OF the
Declaration of independence. He
was offered the post of Chief Justice
of the United States Supreme Court,
but declined the honor.
Stockton was instrumental in
securing John Witherspoon to leave
Scotland and assume the presidency
of Princeton University.
During the Revolutionary War he
was captured by party of Loyalists
in New Jersey and imprisoned, later
being released by resolution OF the
Congress, authorizing
General Washington to negotiate
with General Rowe, of the British
forces, for the exchange of prisoners.
H.