LOWER-DELMARVA-ROOTS-L Archives

From: bobmoor< >
Subject: OLD DELAWARE NAMES
Date: Sun, 25 May 1997 17:31:50 -0400

Traces History of Many Old Delaware Families

Special to The Evening Journal

DOVER, Sept. 22nd, 1923 -- Herman Carter, a native Delawarean, but
for many years a resident of Mt. Sterling, Ohio, has just completed
and sent to the Delaware State Archives' Commission, one of the most
complete genealogical records of many of the most prominent families
in Delaware and parts of Maryland, that has ever been prepared.

The papers were prepared and printed by Mr. Carter, the data being
copied from the note books of the late John C. Gooden, of Dover.

Some of the many families mentioned in the records include: The
Lowbers, Reynolds, Broadways, Rodneys, Goodens, Browns, Harringtons,
Coopers, Gruwells, Whitakers, Cases, Frashers, Killens, and Cloughs,
and the numerous branches of all the above-named families.

The first branch or generation mentioned is that of Peter Lowber, who
died in 1698, who married Gertrude Nieuland. The following
generations are then enumerated: Michael Lowber, Samuel Broadway,
John Reynolds, William Rodney.

In tracing out the several lineages, the statement is made in the
records of Mr. Carter that the source of information contained
therein was secured from county records, public documents, church
records, family bibles and tombstones, that the records are truthful
and only such date is given for which there is positive evidence.

Peter Lowber, of Amsterdam, Holland, emigrated to America and was a
resident in New York City in 1677. He came to Delaware in 1684 and
purchased land near Dover. The first deed on record shows September
15, 1684. His will was probated May 2, 1698. He owned much land in
Kent County, Delaware.

The generations of the Lowber line are as follows: Mary Lowber, Agnes
Lowber, Margaret Lowber, Gertie Lowber and Michael Lowber. Michael
Lowber was born in 1677 and was baptized Oct. 17, 1677, in Old Dutch
Church, New York City, and came with his father to Delaware in 1684.
Connected with the Lowbers were the families of Reynolds, Goodens,
Walkers, Markers, Skinners, Browns and Harringtons.

From the Reynold's branch came John Reynolds, who emigrated to
Delaware from England. He purchased 134 acres of land November 12,
1722. His will was probated May 2, 1729, in which he named his
children: Daniel Reynolds, George Reynolds, John Reynolds, Robert
Reynolds, Sarah Reynolds, Elizabeth Reynolds and Mary Reynolds.

Daniel Reynolds was a tutor in the Lowber family and married one of
the daughters. He received "Golden Ridge" from the Lowbers and in
his will probated June 14, 1736, he gave it to his children.
From the Daniel Reynolds line sprang Susannah Reynolds -- John
Reynolds -- Michael Reynolds.

Michael Reynolds, on April 25, 1757, volunteered in the French and
Indian Wars. No. 23 on the muster rode of Captain John Caton,
Delaware Archives, Vol. 1, page 13. From this above enlistment his
descendants are entitled to membership in Colonial Dames.

Next in line came the Rodneys with several bearing the title of Sir.
They include, Sir Walter Rodney, Sir Henry Rodney, Sir Thomas Rodney,
Sir John Rodney, Sir Maurice Rodney, Sir George Rodney and William
Rodney. It was from the line of William Rodney that Caesar Rodney,
the signer of the Declaration of Independence, from Delaware came.

William Rodney, emigrant, was at Lewes from 1682 until 1690 with his
father-on-law, Thomas Hollyman. In 1692 he resided in Kent County.
In 1693, he was appointed Recorder of Deeds and Clerk of the Court
for Kent County. In May 1698 he was Register of Wills which position
he held until May 1708, when he died.

The data of the Rodney family as secured by John C. Gooden, states
that the Rodney family is very ancient, the earliest record being
found in the Cathedral of Wells in which the name of DeRodney
occurred in 766. Rodney Stoke was their residence.

The next generation in the Lowber line was that of Reuben Gilder,
immigrant. On February 24, 1757, he bought of Caesar Rodney,
sheriff, 100 acres of land of Robert Caton, two miles west of Camden,
going toward Willow Grove. His will was probated April 5, 1775. He
left four children, namely, Henry Gilder, William Gilder, Henry
Gilder, 3d, and John Gilder.

The next generation in the Lowber line is Nicholas Broadway, who
first appears on the record July 19, 1662. Samuel Broadway next
appeared as of 1699. From this branch sprang Samuel Broadway, Jr.,
and Sarah Broadway, Samuel Broadway's will was probated March 18,
1743.

The Broadways once owned nearly all the land on the road from the
Maryland line to the farm of former Governor Robert J. Reynolds, near
Petersburg, Del. From the Broadways sprang the Registers, Coopers,
Carters, Jumps, Hargadines, Bradleys, Gruwells, Baxters and Marvels.

The next in line of the Lowbers comes Edward Carter, from which
sprang a long line of the Carters, McColleys and Gruwell. Herman
Carter, who completed the data of all the Lowber line, is one of the
Carter generation, being a son of Edward J. Carter who moved from his
farm near Petersburg to Dover.

The descendants of Rachel Carter of the line of Edward Carter,
include Nancy Carter, Edward Broadway Carter, Rachel Carter. From
Rachel Carter, who married James Frasher, a second husband, sprang
Edward Frasher, Debbie Frasher, Robert Frasher and William Frasher,
Debbie Frasher, who married Ezekiel Clements, is shown in the line of
the Clements family, including James Thomas Clements, Rachel
Catherine Clements and Mary Ann Clements. From the Clements family
sprang the Clark family. From the Robert Frasher family, sprang the
Heyd generation, well-known through Kent County, Delaware.

Another branch of the Edward Carter family through the marriage first
to Ann Whitaker shows the families of Seward's, Cloughs, Andersons
and Barwicks, while from the marriage with Mary Broadway springs the
Cases and Killens.

The next in line of the Lowber generation is shown as that of
Christopher Cardiff, who left a long line of descendants including
the Cardiffs, Shiles, Reeds, Lankfords, Downings, etc. From the
Cardiffs also sprang, the Gords, Bolins and Donaldsons.

In closing this sketches of many of the most prominent families in
Delaware and parts of Maryland, spreading all over the Unites States,
the genealogist states that the Broadway and Whitaker lines cross in
the second generation; the Hargadine lines and the Whitaker lines
cross in the fourth generation and the Carter, Whitaker and Hargadine
lines cross in the fifth generation.

Best regards,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Robert Cooper Moor, PO Box 5, Hockessin, DE 19707
http://members.aol.com/bobmoor/Moor.html
Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Delaware
National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution
Delaware Historical Records Advisory Board [DHRAB]
http://del-aware.lib.de.us/archives
Delaware Genealogical Society [DGS]
http://delgensoc.org
The Lower Delmarva Genealogical Society
http://bay.intercom.net/ldgs
Aircraft Owners and Pilot's Association [AOPA]
http://www.aopa.or

This thread:

• OLD DELAWARE NAMES by bobmoor< >

  • Re: OLD DELAWARE NAMES by Shari Handley< >