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From: Debbie <>
Subject: [NewCastle] WILMINGTON AND BRANDYWINE CEMETERY, 1888, Part 1
Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2003 11:31:42 -0400
From many sources:
WILMINGTON AND BRANDYWINE CEMETERY. (701 Delaware Ave. Wilmington. DE.
19801-1328. 302-652-5770) — In 1843 Samuel WOLLASTON began to lay off a
tract of land of ten acres and fifty-nine perches on Delaware Avenue
into lots for a cemetery. The project met with public favor and February
14, 1842, a meeting of citizens was held in City Hall, where it was
determined to form a cemetery company, so that each lot-holder would be
a proprietor. Wollaston had already disposed of two hundred lots. On
March 12, 1844, the Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery Company was
organized with the following officers: Willard HALL, president; Jonas
PUSEY, secretary; John A. DUNCAN, treasurer; David C. WILSON, Samuel
WOLLASTON, William LEA, George CRAIG, Henry F. ASKEW, M.D., James CANBY,
Richard H. BAYARD, Miller DUNOTT, directors.
A charter of incorporation was obtained February 6, 1845. The grounds
then included the WOLLASTON tract, lying on the north of Delaware
Avenue, and east of old King’s Road (in Wilmington, now Market Street),
and an additional tract of five acres and one hundred and nine and a
half rods on the north, bought of James CANBY. The company afterwards
bought adjoining lands of Bishop LEE, of the estate of Dr. GIBBONS, and
of Isaac CHAMBERLAIN, making the present area of the cemetery
twenty-three acres, one hundred and fifty-two and one-half rods. George
Read RIDDLE was employed to make a draft or plan of the cemetery, which
was adopted May 7, 1844. The remains of George SHARP were the first to
be interred in the grounds on August 12, 1844. The entire number of
internments to September 27, 1887, was nine thousand six hundred and
nine. Miller DUNOTT, one of the first directors, was buried here May 9,
1845.
We record this short memorial as a testimony of the respect and
reverence entertained by us for Samuel WOLLASTON:
Samuel WOLLASTON, the only son of Joshua Wollaston and Catharine KIRK,
his wife, was born at Wilmington, Del., May 25, 1786, and in 1811
married Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob and Esther FUSSELL.
He was an active, exemplary member of the religious Society of Friends
at Fourth and West Streets, Wilmington, Del., and for many years he
occupied a prominent position in that body.
In 1838 and 1839 he devoted much time and thought and was greatly
interested in the culture of silk, and in the growing of morus
multicaulis trees for feeding the silk-worm, and he built upon his own
place a cocoonery with racks, etc., for the purpose.
Mr. Wollaston, like a long line of ancestors, was a farmer. His farm
was known as 'Windsor Farm', upon which a large part of the western part
of Wilmington now stands, and also a portion of that occupied by the
Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery.
Mr. Wollaston, in 1844, planned and originated the Wilmington and
Brandywine Cemetery, individually conducting and managing the same for
some time. Afterwards he was joined by many of his most prominent
fellow-citizens. At that time few similar institutions existed in this
country, and in the then small community did his wise forethought
anticipate a requirement which later experience has caused to be adopted
throughout the land. The enterprise proved a success, and during the
long period of his life he was an active and valuable member of the
board of directors of that corporation.
To other sterling qualities of head and heart were added the tender ties
of family and home. He was always regular, methodical and very
abstemious, to which, no doubt, he owed his long life and good health.
He loved his friends, was cheerful, indulgent to his children, kind to
those who served him and hospitable to strangers. He was dignified is
manner, modest and retiring in disposition.
As the evening of his life drew on, he became gentle and lovely as a
child, yet to within a few hours of his death he retained his mind clear
and faculties bright, at the advanced age of nearly ninety years,
honored and respected by all who knew him. He died October 15, 1875, at
his place, 613 Washington Street, Wilmington, Del.
Samuel Wollaston was the son of Joshua Wollaston and Catharine KIRK, his
wife.
Joshua Wollaston was the son of Thomas Wollaston and Hannah JOHNSON, his
wife.
Thomas Wollaston was the son of Jeremiah Wollaston and Catharine
ROBINSON, his wife.
Jeremiah Wollaston was the son of Thomas Wollaston and Martha, his wife,
who came to Delaware and settled, purchasing in 1667, ‘68, ‘69 land in
New Castle County, White Clay and Mill Creek Hundred, Delaware.
The cemetery company are constantly improving and making more attractive
their beautiful burying-place, and a large number of imposing and costly
monuments have been erected. It is systematically laid off into plats
and drives, and distributed through the grounds are fifteen artistically
planned flower-beds, as well as trees of many kinds and varieties, the
latter furnishing delightful shade.
Judge Willard HALL was president of the cemetery company from 1844 to
1875, when William CANBY was elected to succeed him.
Jonas PUSEY served as secretary from 1844 to a 1847. On June 27, 1847,
Albert W. SMITH was elected secretary and treasurer, and served in that
position to December 12, 1881, at which date Arthur H. SMITH was elected.
The present (c. 1888) board of directors are: William CANBY, president;
Jacob F. SHARP, John JONES, Ellwood GARRETT, Albert W. SMITH, Edward
TATNALL, George W. BUSH, W.R. BULLOCK, William M. CANBY. Samuel C.
PENROSE is superintendent of the cemetery.
It has been the aim and purpose of the directors to create a fund from
year to year, increasing the same (after making all needful improvements
and managing and conducting the affairs of wages and expenses), so that
by the time all the lots shall be sold, the fund will be large enough to
keep the cemetery in good order, without taxing the lot-holders. The
directors have every reason to think that they will be able to
accomplish this, as the fund now amounts to forty thousand dollars.
Among the beautiful monuments in the cemetery are those erected to the
memory of the following:
Richard BASSETT, Born May. 2, 1745; Died Sep. 15, 1815. After his
tavern-keeper father deserted his mother, he was reared by a relative,
Peter LAWSON, from whom he later inherited 'Bohemia Manor' estate. He
read law at Philadelphia and in 1770 received a license to practice in
Dover, DE. He prospered as a lawyer and planter, and eventually came to
own not only Bohemia Manor, but homes in Dover and Wilmington as well.
During the Revolution, Bassett captained a troop of Dover cavalry
militia and served on the Delaware council of safety. Subsequently, he
participated in Delaware's constitutional convention and sat in both the
upper and lower houses of the legislature. In 1786 he represented
Delaware in the Annapolis Convention. At the U.S. Constitutional
Convention the next year, Bassett attended diligently. Bassett
subsequently went on to a bright career in the state and federal
governments. In the Delaware ratifying convention, he joined in the 30-0
vote for the Constitution. Subsequently, in the years 1789-93, he
served in the U.S. Senate. In that capacity, he voted in favor of the
power of the President to remove governmental officers and against
Hamilton's plan for the federal assumption of state debts.
From 1793 until 1799 Bassett held the chief justiceship of the court of
common pleas. He espoused the Federalist cause in the 1790s, and served
as a Presidential elector on behalf of John Adams in 1797. Two years
later, Bassett was elected Governor of Delaware and continued in that
post until 1801. That year, he became one of President Adams' "midnight"
appointments as a judge of the U.S. Circuit Court. Subsequently, the
Jeffersonian Republicans abolished his judgeship, and he spent the rest
of his life in retirement. Twice married, to Ann ENNALS and a woman
named BRUFF, Bassett fathered several children. He was a devout
Methodist, held religious meetings at Bohemia Manor, and supported the
church financially. He died in 1815 at the age of 70.
James Asheton BAYARD, Sr., born July 28, 1767, died August 6, 1815.
U.S Congressman, U.S Senator. Elected to represent Delaware as an
At-Large Delegate to the United States House of Representatives, serving
from 1797 to 1803. Appointed by the Delaware General Assembly as a
Senator to the United States Senate to fill a vacancy and served from
1804 to 1805, when he was elected outright for the seat. Served from
1805 to 1813. After leaving the Senate he was appointed by President
James Madison as a member of the commission to negotiate peace with
Great Britain in 1813. He was also active in the signing of the treaty
of Ghent in 1814.
Richard Henry BAYARD, born September 26, 1796, died March 4, 1868. U.S.
Senator. Son of U.S. Senator James Asheton Bayard, Sr., brother of U.S.
Senator James Asheton Bayard, Jr., and grandson of Delaware Governor
Richard Bassett. Was graduated from Princeton College in 1814; studied
law; was admitted to the bar in New Castle, Del, in 1818, and commenced
practice in Wilmington. Was elected as the first Mayor of Wilmington,
Delaware in 1832. Elected to represent Delaware in the U.S. Senate to
fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Arnold Naudain, and served
from June 17, 1836 to September 19, 1839. Then became the Chief Justice
of the Delaware Supreme Court and served from 1839 to 1841. Elected a
second time to the U. S. Senate and served from January 12, 1841 to
March 3, 1845. Was appointed by President Millard Fillmore as the Charge
d’Affaires to Belgium and served from 1850 to 1853. Died at
Philadelphia.
Col. Levi C. BOOTES, born December 8, 1809, died April 18, 1896. Bootes
began his Army career as a private in the mounted rifles in 1846. He
rose to 1st. Lieut. in 1853. He was Bvt. Major 1 July 1862 for
Gallantry at Malvern Hill, Va., Lt. Col. for Gallantry at
Fredericksburg, and again promoted for gallantry at Gettysburg to the
rank of Col. on July 2, 1863. Captain Levi C. Boots served in the 6th
United States Regular Infantry Fifth Corps, Second Division, First
Brigade and was in command of five companies of the 6th U.S. on the
field on July 2 and July 3 at the battle of Gettysburg.
Edward BRINGHURST, born fifth Month 22, 1809; died second Month 8,
1884. Son of Joseph BRINGHURST and Deborah FERRIS. Husband of Sarah
SHIPLEY. Inheritor of "Rockwood", now a museum at 610 Shipley Road,
Wilmington, built from 1851-1857 for Joseph SHIPLEY, the mansion was
situated within 300 acres of woods.
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