Historic Shrines of America Part 21

"These stones were sleepers in the New Castle and Frenchtown Railroad, completed in 1831, the first railroad in Delaware, and one of the first in the United States."

[Ill.u.s.tration: DOORWAY OF RODNEY HOUSE, NEW CASTLE, DEL.

_Photo by Ph. B. Wallace_]

[Ill.u.s.tration: DOORWAY OF STEWART HOUSE, NEW CASTLE, DEL.

_Photo by Ph. B. Wallace_]

The fire of 1824 which burned a large part of New Castle destroyed many of the old houses, but there remain enough to make the town a Mecca for those who delight in studying things that are old. Most of these houses are on the square, or are within a short distance of it.

All are remarkable for the beautiful entrance doorways and wonderfully carved interior woodwork. Artists from all parts of the country turn to these houses for inspiration in their work.

[Ill.u.s.tration: AMSTEL HOUSE, NEWCASTLE, DEL.

_Photo by Ph. B. Wallace_ See page 205]

The Amstel House, the home of Henry Hanby Hay, is the oldest of these; it was probably built about 1730. One of its earliest owners was Nicholas Van d.y.k.e, who was a major of militia during the Revolution, and later served six years in the Continental Congress. For three years he was Governor of Delaware. During his residence in this house it was called "The Corner." So, at least, it was referred to by Kensey Johns in a love-letter to comely Anne Van d.y.k.e, written during the cold winter of 1784:

"This evening I visited 'the Corner.' Soon after I went in Mrs. V. says, 'Well, Mr. Johns, what say you to a ride below with me, and bringing Miss Nancy up?' After an hour pa.s.sed, I recovered myself and answered in the negative, that my business would not permit of it--Your papa discovered by his countenance the lightest satisfaction at my refusal; this approbation of his afforded me great pleasure. The more I regard your happiness, the more desirous I am by a.s.siduity and attention to business to establish a character which will give me consequence and importance in life. I wish to see you more than words express.

"Mrs. B. says she wants you to come up very much; she asked me to use my influence to persuade you. All I can say is, that if your Grand Mama's indisposition will admit of it, and your inclination prompts you to come, it will much contribute to my happiness, even if I should only see you now and then for a few moments. My fingers are so cold I can scarce hold my pen, therefore adieu. Be a.s.sured that I never cease to be,

"Yours most affectionately,

"KENSEY JOHNS."

[Ill.u.s.tration: DOORWAY OF AMSTEL HOUSE, NEWCASTLE, DEL.

_Photo by Ph. B. Wallace_ See page 205]

On a pane of gla.s.s in the guest chamber of the old house some one long ago scratched with a diamond a message that sounds as if it came from the heart of the lover:

"Around her head ye angels constant Vigil keep, And guard fair innocence her balmy sleep."

Three months after Kensey Johns wrote the ardent letter to Anne Van d.y.k.e, the day after the wedding, April 30, 1784, George Washington came to the Corner, and there was a reception in his honor and that of the bride and groom. The Father of his Country received the guests standing before an old fireplace whose hearthstone has been lettered in memory of the event.

A few years later Kensey Johns, then Chief Justice of Maryland, built near by a beautiful colonial mansion where he entertained many of the leading men of the nation.

Kensey Johns' predecessor as Chief Justice was George Read, the Signer. His house, an old record says, stood so near the Delaware, which is here two and a half miles wide, that when the tide was high one wheel of a carriage pa.s.sing in the street in front of it was in the water, and in violent storms the waves were dashed against the building. The house was in the midst of a wonderfully beautiful garden. This garden is still one of the sights of the town, though the house was destroyed in the fire of 1824.

[Ill.u.s.tration: DOORWAY OF READ HOUSE, NEW CASTLE, DEL.

_Photo by Ph. B. Wallace_ See page 207]

George Read, the Signer's son, in 1801, built a house in the corner of the garden, which was saved from the fire by a carpet laid on the roof and kept thoroughly wet until the danger was past. This Georgian house is a marvel of beauty, both inside and out. The hand-carved moldings, mantels, and arches bring to the house visitors from far and near.

Miss Hatty Smith, the present owner, delights to show the place to all who are interested.

[Ill.u.s.tration: HALL OF READ HOUSE, NEWCASTLE, DEL.

_Photo by Ph. B. Wallace_ See page 207]

In the early days New Castle was on the King's Road from Philadelphia to Baltimore. Washington pa.s.sed this way when on his journeys.

Lafayette visited the town in 1824. The house built by Nicholas Van d.y.k.e, son of the owner of the Corner, received him for the marriage of Charles I. Du Pont and Dorcas M. Van d.y.k.e. It is recorded that on this occasion he gave the bride away.

Caesar Rodney, too, pa.s.sed through the town frequently, notably when he made the famous ride in July, 1776, that helped to save the Declaration of Independence; here he rested after the first stage of his historic journey.

The name of George Thomson, secretary of Congress during the Revolution, is also enrolled in the list of the worthies who visited the town. In 1740 his father, when on his way from Ireland to America with his three sons, died on shipboard. The captain appropriated the meagre possessions of the family and set the boys ash.o.r.e at New Castle, penniless. George was sheltered by a butcher who was so delighted with him that he decided to bring him up to the trade.

George was terrified when he overheard the man's plan; he did not intend to be a butcher. So he stole out of the town between dark and daylight and made his way to surroundings where the way was opened that led him to usefulness and fame.

[Ill.u.s.tration: RIDGELY HOUSE, DOVER, DEL.

_Photo by R. C. Holmes_ See page 208]

XLV

THE RIDGELY HOUSE, DOVER, DELAWARE

A BOYHOOD HAUNT OF CaeSAR RODNEY, THE SIGNER

On the Green in Dover, Delaware, is one of the most striking houses of the quaint old town--the Ridgely house. The date of its erection is not certain, but it is an interesting fact that on one of the bricks is the date 1728. Originally there were but two rooms in the house; subsequent enlargements have been so harmonious that one who sees the place from the Green must pause to admire. Admiration turns to delight when the interior of the house is examined. The old-fashioned garden at the rear intensifies delight.

Dr. Charles Greenburg Ridgely became owner of the property in 1769.

The house was a gift from his father, Nicholas Ridgely. The second of the wives who lived here with Dr. Ridgely was Ann, the daughter of Squire William Moore of Moore Hall, near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, whose determined advocacy of armed preparation for defence against a threatened Indian attack once aroused the indignation of the Pennsylvania a.s.sembly, most of whose members were Friends.

The Ridgely house was famous throughout Delaware as the resort of patriots. Dr. Ridgely was six times a member of the Provincial a.s.sembly, and was also an active member of the Const.i.tutional Convention of Delaware in 1776.

During the days when patriotic feelings were beginning to run high, Caesar Rodney, the ward of Dr. Ridgely's father, was often an inmate of the Ridgely house. Caesar was born near Dover in 1728. At Dover he received most of his education. Some twenty years after the little town saw so much of him he became famous because of his vital service to the Colonies, as a member of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. "He was the most active, and was by odds the leading man in the State in espousing the American cause," Henry C. Conrad once said to the Sons of Delaware. In the course of his address Mr. Conrad told the thrilling story of Caesar Rodney's most spectacular service.

On July 1, 1776, when the vote was taken in the Committee of the Whole of the Continental Congress as to the framing and proclaiming of the Declaration of Independence, ten of the thirteen Colonies voted yes.

"Pennsylvania had seven delegates, four of whom were opposed to it, and three in favor of it. Delaware had two members present, McKean and Read. Rodney was absent. McKean was in favor of, and Read against the Declaration. McKean, appreciating that it was most important, for the sentiment it would create, that the Declaration of Independence should be proclaimed by the unanimous vote of the thirteen Colonies, sent for Rodney, who was at that time at one of his farms near Dover. Rodney came post-haste, and he arrived just in time to save the day, and cast the vote of Delaware in favor of the Declaration.

McKean, writing of the event years afterward to Caesar A. Rodney, a nephew of Caesar Rodney, said:

"I sent an express, at my own private expense, for your honored uncle, the remaining member from Delaware, whom I met at the State House door, in his boots and spurs, as the members were a.s.sembling. After a friendly salutation, without a word in the business, we went into the hall of Congress together, and found we were among the latest. Proceedings immediately commenced, and after a few minutes the great question was put. When the vote of Delaware was called, your uncle arose and said: 'As I believe the voice of my const.i.tuents and of all sensible and honest men is in favor of independence, and my own judgment coincides with theirs, I vote for independence.'"

Since Pennsylvania also voted in favor of the Declaration, it was adopted unanimously.

Caesar Rodney was Governor of Delaware from 1778 to 1781. On April 8, 1784, the State Council, of which he was presiding officer, met at his house near Dover, because he was too ill to go to Dover. Less than three months later he died.

A monument marks his last resting-place in Christ Episcopal churchyard in Dover.

XLVI

REHOBOTH CHURCH ON THE POCOMOKE, MARYLAND

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA

The Pocomoke River rises in southern Delaware, forms a part of the eastern boundary of Somerset County, Maryland, and empties into Pocomoke Sound, an inlet of Chesapeake Bay. On the banks of this stream, not far from the mouth, Colonel William Stevens, a native of Buckinghamshire, England, located in 1665, taking out a patent on what he called the Rehoboth plantation, the name being chosen from Genesis 26:22. "And he called the name of it Rehoboth. And he said, For now the Lord hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in this land." When Somerset County was organized he was made Judge of the County Court. He also became a member of "His Lordship's Councill,"

and was one of the Deputy Lieutenants of the Province.

As the years pa.s.sed many followed Colonel Stevens to Somerset County, in search of religious freedom. Scotch, Scotch-Irish, French, and Quakers were represented in the village that was known at first as Pocomoke Town, though later it was called Rehoboth. Many of these settlers were Presbyterians, who had lost their property through persecution.

In 1672 the Grand Jury, encouraged by Judge Stevens, asked Rev. Robert Maddux to preach at four points in the county. One of these points was the plantation house at Rehoboth. The next year George Fox, the Quaker, was in the community. He also preached in his famous "leather breeches" at Colonel Stevens' plantation, to a great congregation of several thousand whites and Indians. A Quaker monthly meeting followed.