High Tide News April 2017

Watch Videos with FREE APP Download from get.layar.com...see page 8 for instructions. Local Postal Customer High Tide April 2017 Vol. 5 Num. 4 www.hightidenews.com A Romantic Myth of Caesar Rodney and a Lewes Tory Woman FAKE By SandieNEWS Gerken Caesar Rodney is, by far, Delaware’s most Read disagreed. Rodney’s vote would decide famous colonial era hero. For Delawareans, his Delaware’s stand on the resolution. hurried ride to Philadelphia in July 1776 to cast The final vote Delaware’s deciding vote for independence at was scheduled the Second Continental Congress is as famous for July 2. But, and legendary as Rodney was in Paul Revere’s ride Delaware on in Boston. The urgent business. resolution before McKean had the delegates sent for Rodney proposed that the to rush to Statue of Caesar Rodney, courtesy of www.wikimedia <http://www.wikimedia>commons.com/public domain colonies should Philadelphia to unite in declaring break Delaware’s stalemate. But, Rodney was freedom from Sketch of Fisher's Paradise, courtesy of Hazel Brittingham delayed. At the last minute, a military escort British rule. Unanimous consent of the colonies helped send him on his way. Whether by horse was required. Delaware had three delegates: or carriage, Rodney rushed to Philadelphia, Thomas McKean, George Read, and Caesar arriving on the afternoon of July 2, just in time to Modern photo of Fisher's Paradise, Rodney. McKean favored the proposal. George Courtesy of www.wikimediacommons.com/public<http://www.wikimediacommons.com/public> domain cast his vote. A historic moment, as all thirteen continued on page 2 Cleaning and Replacement of Vinyl Panel Windows – 24 hour emergency Panel Replacement JUST VINYL We take the clouds away & let the sunshine in! 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Frankford, DE and serves the entire the business by advertising and states and sharing their world travel “And then, on average, watching Delmarva area. personally walking neighborhoods to and experiences. 98% of estimates become active jobs to “I left my high stress corporate meet owners of vinyl panel window Other great moments in the complete.” accounting job in Baltimore MD and systems. development of the company have Marianne has received many came to Delaware to own & operate the According to Marianne, one of the been the positive phone calls received continued on page 6 1 continued from page 1 A Romantic Myth of Ceasar Rodney and a Lewes Tory Woman Author and Genealogist, Sandie Gerken lives in Dagsboro, DE. As a colonies voted unanimously to declare McKeon’s despair that Rodney was so after the hoax was revealed. Lewes native Sussex Countian, local history is themselves “free and independent.” tardy. Describing how Rodney was in residents considered it “gospel” for one of her passions. Retired now, she For years, the truth of Rodney’s delay Sussex on urgent business to quell Tory many years. In the annals of Lewes lore, devotes her time to genealogy research in Delaware was believed to be his rebellion, she states he made time for it captivated many as an exciting story. (her greatest passion since 1978), presence in Lewes, being wooed by a social pleasantries with the witty and In fact, Caesar Rodney had written his watercolor painting, grandchildren, lovely and beguiling, Lewes lady named wily Widow Rowland. brother Thomas about being in Sussex soccer for kids with disabilities, books, Sarah Rowland. The widow Sarah was Miss Pyle based her facts on an settling uprisings, then returning to and things creative and historical. She a Tory, steadfastly loyal to England. 1880 poem written by Delaware-born Dover to finish state matters. Thomas recently authored the Rodney had been in Sussex County in newspaperman, author, and poet, Rodney’s diary verifies that Caesar book Memories of the June 1776 to deal with Tory uprisings in George Alfred Townsend. Townsend began his July 1st journey north from his Clayton Theatre as a the area. Mrs. Rowland took advantage wrote under the pen name “GATH” and home near Dover on July 1. In the 1940s, fundraiser to help the of the opportunity to invite Rodney was quite well known nationally as a war an autograph collector found GATH’s Clayton go digital. She to a Pilottown home, thus diverting correspondent in the Civil War and as “confession” letter while rummaging is now exploring her writing skills with his attention from political duties. She an author. He had been invited in1880 through old letters and papers of Samuel local history articles for High Tide News. conveniently intercepted several of to speak at the Fourth of July festivities Bancroft, Jr. Dr. George H. Ryden, state Thomas McKeon’s urgent summonses, in Georgetown. He wrote a lengthy, archivist in the 1930s was editing the story of a great Delaware patriot. determined to keep Rodney from narrative poem on Caesar Rodney’s Letters To and From Caesar Rodney SOURCES: voting. But, on July 1, at the very last ride to Philadelphia with details on the 1756-1784 at the time of his death in minute, Sarah’s maid interrupted the Rodney –Rowland romantic encounter. 1941. He documented the letter Caesar Caesar Rodney Patriot, pamphlet, William companions by rushing into the room The story enthralled Delawareans and wrote to his brother on July 4, 1776 that P Frank, 1975, reprint 1992 and thrusting a packet of messages into so became the “official” version. Without detailed his historic ride. The story was “Fisher’s Paradise Being Restored” W. Rodney’s lap. She declared: any proof to the contrary, the Colonial finally debunked! Emerson Wilson, News Journal, Jan. 31, 1970 “I’m a good Whig girl of Sussex. You Dames who published Ms. Pyle’s book “Birth of Nation Ends Caesar Rodney are Sarah Rowland’s fool!” placed a footnote in the book that they Details on Sarah Rowland remain a Romance”, Mina Carol, Wilmington Morning Shocked and alarmed, Rodney recognized the Sarah Rowland story as mystery. One account relates names News, July 4, 1935 ignored Sarah’s pleas of innocence. He the most detailed tradition, therefore the her as the daughter of the postmaster. “Delaware Newspaperman Invented July immediately mounted his horse and most accurate version. But, it was NOT Another refers to her as the niece of 4th Story of Rodney and the Pretty Traitress of Lewes”, William P. Frank, News Journal, July dashed off to Philadelphia, 120 miles True! Although the book and GATH’s Joshua Fisher, a Lewes and Philadelphia 3, 1942 away. Leaving in the afternoon of July poem contain many documented facts, merchant. Both of these relationships Once Upon a Time in Delaware, Katherine 1, he rode all night by horse and/or the account of Rodney’s dalliance in might be fact… or fiction! Finding Pyle, DE Society of Colonial Dames, 1911 carriage, through a thunderstorm on Lewes is not true. It is a proven myth. only limited data on Rowland families, “Frankly Speaking”, William P. Frank, muddy roads. He arrived exhausted and After the 1911 publication of Katherine I cannot match dates for any of the Morning News, Feb. 15, 1960 muddy at the Philadelphia State House Pyle’s book, Samuel Bancroft, Jr., several Sarah Rowlands in the Lewes in the afternoon of July 2, 1776 in the owner of Wilmington newspapers and area for that time period. Joshua Fisher nick of time to declare his vote. publisher of GATH’s poems and novels, and family were well known Tories, This is the story that Delawareans wrote to George Alfred Townsend, some even exiled to Virginia for their took as authentic. So much so that requesting his source data of the Sarah British loyalty. Tradition has it that the High Tide News is published every month, year-round, and delivered by the Katherine Pyle, sister of famed illustrator, Rowland incident. Mr. Townsend replied meeting of Sarah and Rodney took place U.S. Post Office to homes in Howard Pyle, included this account in that he wrote the poem while staying at at Fisher’s Paradise, the home of Major Sussex County, Delaware. her 1911 book, Once Upon A Time In the Burton Hotel in Rehoboth Beach in Henry Fisher on Pilottown Road, Lewes. Subscriptions are available at: www.hightidenews.com/subscribe.html Delaware, which was published by the preparation of making a grand speech Major Fisher was a staunch patriot. Delaware Society of Colonial Dames at the Independence Day celebration in A skilled pilot, he was tasked with Volume 5 Number 4 as a schoolbook for Delaware children. 1880. He admitted that he concocted overseeing the defense of the entrance April 2017 The chapter “Caesar Rodney Rode for the controversial legend to explain the to Delaware Bay. He provided vital Publisher: Layman Enterprises Freedom” detailed the history of the unknown reason for Rodney’s absence information to the Continental Congress Editor: Judy Layman congressional meeting on independence from Congress.

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