Milford chronicle., 1932-09-02
WAS RODNEY BY
DOVER FTRESIDE
OR IN LEWES
rContinned from Firn Paael

sion naQ Deen tempted to mark the
starting point of Rodney's ride, the
most dramatic event in the pa
triot's life, but because there is SO
great an uncertainty as to the start
ing point, the commission decided to
honor Rodney only with tablet on
the Christ Churchyard wall where
the signer is buried.
"Since there is no documentary
evidence" Edward w. Cooch, of the
Markers Commission, telling just
from what point Rodney started his
ride, and in view of the controversy
which has not yet been settled, we
have decided to commemorate Rod
ney with a tablet where he is bur-
| led.
"The Commission is only to place
tablets commemorating persons and
events of which we have undeniable
proof"
There is the undisputable fact
that Rodney. booted and spurred
and suffering from his long ride, ar
rived at Independence Hall on the
afternoon of July 2, met by Thomas
Mexican, one of the Delaware dele
gates to the Continental Congress,
and they both voted that the Thir-
teen Colonies should be free from
the English Crown. George Read.
the third Delaware delegate voted
mo" but since the Delaware dele
cation had majority of yeas" for
the independence, Delaware was re-
corded as voting "yes" and thus she
helped make the attitude of the
Thirteen Colonies unanimous.
There is also the undisputable
fact that Rodney passed through
Dover on his way to Philadelphia,
but opinion differs on whether he
started in Dover or in Lewes. The
leading Delaware historians say
Dover" Leon DeValinger, Jr., as
sistant State Archivist, records:
"There is documentary evidence
that Rodney had been in Sussex to
quell threatened Tory rebellion
and had returned to his home near
Dover when McKean's messenger
summoned him to Philadelphia"
Dr. George Fl. Ryden, State archi-
fA1ls hcS DCCn COAACCllL6 AGLlOlO VI |
Rodney and among all these letters
there is nothing to indicate that
Rodney's ride began in Lewes.
The equestrian statue of Rodney
at Tenth and Market streets, Will
mington, Commentaries his ride
from Dover to Philadelphia.
One of the factions that supports
the Lewes story says Rodney had
left Congress late in June to put
down Tory riots in Sussex and was
staying at the home of Samuel Row
land, royalist, who had been keep
ing from Rodney letters written by
Mexican, urging Rodney to hurry
back to Philadelphia. One, night a
negro servant told Rodney he should
not remain in Lewes any longer but
should hurry back to Philadelphia
because he, the servant, had over
heard the members of the Rowland
family say they were joyed at being
able to. detain Rodney in Lewes.
Rodney left, this story says, that
night and met McKean's messenger
at Dover.
Another supporter of the Lewes
story is Katherine Pyle in her book,
Once Upon Time in Delaware"
which tells of Rodney. courting Sar-
III Rowland who had been keeping
rom him the letters. of Mexican.
Rodney learned of the situation in
Philadelphia through maid of Mis-
ress Rowland, and left at once for
Philadelphia, arriving in time to
ast his vote. ..
Miss Pyle, however. remarks in
ootnote to her story that the exact
ime when Rodney started and the
lace he started from have been {
much disputed.
The Rodney tablet to be placed at !
he Christ Church reads: {
Caesar Rodney.
Statesman, Soldier and Patriot. !
lember of the Stamp Act Congress
nd of First and Second Continental
Signer of the Declara-
ion of independence. Member and
peaker of Colonial Assembly of
Three Lower Counties on Della
are Member of Council of Safety,
Iajor-General of Delaware Militia
nd President (Governor) of Della p
are during American Revolution. Q
orn 1928, died 1884 Buried on his ?
arm, Poplar Grove. Re-interred
| Christ Church yard, 1887"
h anIPaTThg