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If you appreciate the work done on this blog, please consider making a small donation. Thank you!

About

The mission of the Mill Creek Hundred History Blog is primarily to educate people about the rich history of the area. Very often, people know more about the history of far off places like Egypt or Rome than they do about their own home areas. For anyone interested in Mill Creek Hundred's past, this site hopes to rectify that imbalance. The site gives short histories about some of the notable buildings, people, and places that have made MCH what it is today.

I originally started the blog for the simple reason that there wasn't one already out there, and I thought there should be. This I blame on the unique (at least in this part of the country) structure of Delaware and its communities. In other states, seemingly every town, township, village and borough has its own historical society. Here in Delaware, with few incorporated areas, we have nothing equivalent. There is the Historical Society of Delaware and (in New Castle County, at least) a few smaller groups in places like New Castle, Newark, Hockessin, and Pencader. Still, many areas fall through the cracks. This site tries to fill in some of those cracks, at least in the Mill Creek area.

The other thing I'd like to do through this site is to gather any information I can relating to the area. If anyone has any information, photographs, documents, or just good stories about Mill Creek Hundred's past, feel free to contact this site either through the comments section, or via email at mchhistory@verizon.net. Comments and feedback are always welcome. Finally, if you have any questions about a person, place, or building in the area, or if you have an idea for a post topic, feel free to ask. I don't guarantee I'll have all the answers, but I'll give it a shot! Thanks.

105 comments:

  1. I just stumble across this blog while researching for the Boy Scout Pathfinder merit badge. I'm also a local history buff, so this blog is really interesting to me.

    Have you considered an entry on the most famous resident of MCH- Senator L. Heisler Ball? How about the Phillips and Klair families?

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    1. I remember Skeet Klair don't know why they called him Skeet. Then I went to Marshallton School with Doris Klair.

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  2. Thanks for commenting. Any ideas for posts are welcome. We appreciate the ideas. Funny that you should mention Ball, my husband just wrote a post today (Swithin Chandler) and in the last paragraph he mentioned Ball as a potential future post.

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  3. Scott mentioned that he attended JDHS. What years? I graduated from Dickinson in 1977 and still live in the area.

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  4. I'm a little younger than you -- Class of '89. Thanks for the comments and the interest in the site. If you know anyone else that might be interested in it, feel free to pass it along. The more the merrier! One of my ultimate goals for the site is for it to become more of a dialogue, and less of a monologue. I love to hear what other people are interested in, what they might know about things, or any personal stories they might have relating to historical topics(like you and the Friends graveyard). Thanks again!

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    1. hi scott, i graduated from jdhs in 1980 and still live in the hundred.i was wondering if you knew of any history pertaining to the spring grove mill site in the mermaid/stoney batter area?you can still see the remains of the buildings and millrace near the greenway trail behind northpoint.

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  5. Hi, I happened on your blog while doing some genealogy. I found out my Phillips line is the same one that was connected to the Greenbank Mill. I've been to the Greenbank site, do you have much info on the actual Phillips family? Thanks

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  6. Bill,

    Wow, that's really cool to hear that you're related to the Phillips. I'm sorry I don't really have a lot to send to you now, outside of links to the Greenbank Mill National Register form (it has some info about the Phillips family). You may have already seen this, but here it is. I do think, though, that the Phillips family would be a good post topic at some point.

    http://216.174.25.53/CHRIS_IMAGE/NRPoints/08-09-35/N00191%20Greenbank%20Mill%20Historic%20Area%201973.pdf

    http://216.174.25.53/CHRIS_IMAGE/NRPoints/08-09-35/N00191%20Greenbank%20Mill%20Historic%20Area%201979.pdf

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  7. Great site!
    I spent alot of time as a kid playing along the red clay creek in Brandywine Springs Park. I was wondering if you had any additional info on the spring water bottling plant that was once along the banks near Faulkland Heights. I have some current pics i can forward if you're interested.
    Thanks

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    1. Use to walk the railroad track to get to Hercules Golf Course to caddy. Years 1941 to 1946.

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  8. Yes, I do know a bit about the Kiamensi Spring Water Co., too much to give a complete answer here. Short version: It operated from 1907 til about 1925. Was originally owned by several men involved with Brandywine Springs Park. Sold to larger company in 1914. Reservoir at the base of the hillside, bottling plant at the top. First shipped out via trolley, later by railroad. Overhead cables took cases across the creek to the train. Lots of broken bottles around, but you probably know that.

    I actually found a complete bottle across the creek at the park at an archaeology dig in Nov or Dec. We have some bottles at the museum at the W&W Railroad station at Greenbank. If you want to email me, I can give you some more specifics. I'll also put the site in the queue for an upcoming post. Even though it's technically not in MCH, it's very much connected with this side of the creek. I'd love to see whatever pics you have, and maybe use them for the post, if you don't mind. Thanks for the comment!

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  9. I am very happy to have found this site. I am really fascinated by the local history of Mill Creek Hundred and I have done a fair amount of research myself. Why aren't more people out there interested in the what happened here in the past? Out little Hundred is incredibly rich in the full range of American History. It's fascinating.

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  10. Scott,

    Thanks for the info on the Kiamensi Springs Water, Co. I'd be more then happy to send the pics just let me know where to send them.

    Thanks

    Chris

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    1. I have 2 bottles, one big and one small. My uncle lived in Faulkland Heights and knew where the old scrap heaps were and we went and dug them up one time.

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  11. Chris -- Thanks, that'd be great. You can email me at mchhistory@verizon.net. I can't wait to see them. I've been across the creek at the park alot (not yet this year, though), but I've never gone over to the other side to take a close look at what's there.

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  12. Another interesting Old Stone House that resided in Stanton when I was growing up sat at the RT 7/RT 4 intersection. It was torn down in the late 1960's, and replaced by the Alert Gas Station, which was basically 8 gas pumps and a small metal shack. The house was covered in ivy, and was used as doctor's office. I think some people tried to save this historical home, but I guess the local Delaware politicians at the time thought we needed another gas station. Would be interesting to know anything about this house.

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  13. Dave C. -- I think what you're probably refering to is what I called the "Old Stone Hotel". It was torn down about 1970 to build the Alert station. I did a post on it in December, and the post contains a before and during picture of the demolition. Interesting to hear it was a doctor's office. Also interestingly, we've had a descendant of the 19th Century owners post a few comments recently (John Hersey).

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  14. Hello there. I like your blog, and find it interesting - and well laid out and presented! But I confess to have come across it by accident, when I mistyped the name of a blog I have recently started (to document some McWilliam history). It is mcwhistory.blogspot.com.
    I would appreciate it if you could let me know what tools or gadgets you are using to format your blog and the pictures in it.
    I like the home/index/map etc list of buttons. How do you do that? Also what do you use to but a box round each picture and to caption it? Also the lines (vertical & horizontal) which delineate the posts etc?
    Apologies that this is off-topic, but I would be grateful for some pointers about this!
    Regards,
    Alan McW

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    1. Thanks, Alan, for the kind words. I'm glad you like it, and I'm glad you stumbled over here. I tend to find lots of interesting things on the internet by accident. I'd be happy to try to help a fellow Scotsman (OK, I'm not actually a Scotsman, but my great-grandfather McLaren did come over from there about 100 years ago (from near Banff, if I recall), and my almost-certainly future brother-in-law is from near Edinburgh).

      I wish I could say I spent weeks designing every little detail, but most of it just comes from the template I used -- the Simple template. Looks like you're using Awesome. I originally had a different one, but didn't like the look, so I tried a few and settled on this one. The buttons for the pages come after you add the Pages gadget (it's under "Basics"). You can have a list of pages to the side, or the buttons at the top.

      The lines around the pictures I believe I did by going to Template --> Customize --> Advanced --> Images. There it gives the option for the color of the lines around the images. Honestly, I don't remember whether I did that, or if it was the default for the template. I'm pretty sure the lines between the posts were defaults.

      If you need anything else, feel free to email me at mchhistory@verizon.net. I'm not sure how much I remember, but I'll help all I can.

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  15. Hello, I wish I had found your blog sooner, but mabey your still going. Anyway, in the mid 40s there was a barn like structure on a hill that had been converted into a home. I believe I was a resident in that place for a couple of years. The people (Jack and Bobbie Blyer) took in young boys. The time frame is from 1945-1947 that I was there. Does anyone know of this. Trying to figure out my young life. You may reach me at loewerp@msn.com
    Thank you Richard LOewe

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    1. We're still going, Richard. I hope that someone reading knows something about this for you. Nothing jumps out at me immediately as far as a location for this. Since you're here, can we assume that you know (or at least think) this was somewhere in or near Mill Creek Hundred?

      I did a quick look, but haven't found a Jack and/or Bobbie Blyer in the census records yet. The closest I've come is a John J. and Oneita Bleyer who lived in The Cedars in 1940. They were 42 and 33, with a 6 year old son named Francis X., and John's father John B. Bleyer. John could plausibly be "Jack". Do you know about what age they were in the mid/late 40's?

      The only other thing I found was a short newspaper mention of a Jack Blyer (of Marshallton) winning a War Bond in 1942. Could be the same guy. If I come up with anything else, I'll post it. If anyone else knows anything, please post it here or send it to Richard or myself.

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    2. I have been miss spelling the last name. But, when you said the sons name was Francis X. that but a chill down my back. My time with them was from 45-50. What is the Cedars? They moved to Delaware City and continued with the business of [caring] for young boys. Last known address for them was 4th & Hamilton St Delaware City, DE. I was removed from there in June 1950 and returned to my mother. It was not a good memory for me. If you can find out more information. I may be reached at loewerp@msn.com.

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  16. I love your blog. I have lived between Milltown Road and Papermill since I was 7 (now 61) and have been fascinated and disturbed by the changes in our beautiful hundred. I am interested in knowing more about Mermaid Tavern and what was on the land occupied by Pike Creek Shopping Center (I remember dirt bike riders and a big mud pit) since I live a mile from that building.

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    1. Thanks, I'm glad you enjoy it. Yeah, I'm sure you've seen a lot of changes, especially in that area. I did do a post about the Mermaid Tavern a while back. If you haven't read it, the easiest way to find it might be the Index of Topics Page via the button up top. In fact, it was the very first post I did. That being said, there might still be more to tell if I go back to it some time.

      Historically, the land around there was generally in Walker hands, although I don't know the exact property boundaries. Maybe someone else a little more, ahem "experienced", than I has memories of the spot before the shopping center?

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  17. I am unsure why my post did not go through last night, but I do not see it today. My name is Laura. I am great grand daughter of Levi and Kate Murray, owners of The Brown Farm AKA The Farmhouse from 1917. Myself along with my two cousins, also great granddaughters of Levi and Kate are in the process of taking over the wedding business of The Farmhouse as the second generation of family. We have been trying to research the land and the farmhouse it's self because we want to push the historical past of the house soon in our marketing/advertising and your information has filled in many gaps for me, so I really appreciate that! Thank you.
    I would love to talk to you and anyone else that has information on The Farmhouse and it's land. In return I could fill in many gaps for you from 1917 until present day as it is still in my family. If you would like to contact me please do at Laura@thefarmhousede.com
    Thank you again, and I hope to hear from you soon.

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  18. I am glad to see my post above did show up since my first post seems to have not sent. If anyone knows how I can get in touch with Ken Copeland I would appreciate the help in doing so. As far as I have read on the "Brown Farm, AKA The Farmhouse" article he knows a lot of my families land.

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  19. Thanks Laura! I let Ken know, and I'll be in touch with you soon.

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  20. I would like to participate in this blog. Born in Massachusetts but lived near New Castle from 1951 to 1964 and in MCH from 1972 up to present-day. Wrote some articles on Corner Ketch for the Hockessin News, years ago. I dont have URL. Do I need one?

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    1. Karl -- I'd love for you to take part! If you still have copies of the articles, I could put them up as Guest Posts. If you'd like, email me (mchhistory@verizon.net) and we'll work something out. That's actually an area I keep meaning to get back to, but haven't yet. Glad you found us, and welcome!

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    2. Somehow I never got back into your blog until now, Scott; I will email you about my Corner Ketch info.... and here's another one for you... probably 20 years ago the Smithsonian Museum of Amer. History had an exhibit of three old log cabins - one had been recovered in Georgia; I forget where the second one came from but the third had once stood "at the foot of Mendenhall Mill Road, New Castle Co, Del" and they even had an old map outline which appeared to show its location on the right as you approach the intersection with Mill Creek Rd. Anyone familiar with this?

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    3. I've not heard that before. The only log cabin at the Smithsonian I'm aware of was the Lynam one, which I wrote about a while back. So one of two things -- either they got the location of the Lynam cabin wrong (it was located on the Dickinson High School property), or there was a second one. The location you're describing would have been a Mendnehall tract from the late 1700's on, but owned by several other families earlier. No idea who it could have been, although ironically one name was John Buckingham, brother of James who started the Corner Ketch Buckingham clan. I'll keep my eyes open for this, and for your Corner Ketch info. Thanks!!

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  21. Thank you so much for all the blog posts! I am just starting to research my family history and I was able to learn so much from your blog. Whenever I need to find more information about a new branch of my tree, your blog is always the place I end up! I have in my family tree the Derickson's, Gregg's, Wells, Woodward's and Highfield's. So you can see why your posts were so informative. I also love finding that some of the old farms/homesteads are still standing today. Keep up the good work!

    -Kailah (great-grand daughter to Harvey C. Derickson)

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    1. Glad you like the blog, and I'm glad it can be helpful! I might actually be doing more about the Dericksons sometime in the near future.

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  22. Hi Scott. I just stumbled onto your blog this morning. I have an old book on my bookshelf by Sir Walter Scott, published in 1887. It is inscribed "For Emalea Pusey Warner - A birthday gift which carries with it an inheritance of loving interest thru five generations.
    Scott may be 'old fashioned,' but he is very charming, and he keeps the past alive.
    A happy birthday to thee!
    Emma Worrell
    1926"
    I decided to google the names of these two ladies and imagine my surprise that Emalea Warner is the namesake for Warner Hall at the U of D and also Warner Elementary. Emma Worrell was a Quaker teacher and married to Thomas Worrell - and there's a photo of Mrs. Warner and Mrs. Worrell together on your blog!
    WOW!
    John Hadfield

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  23. Hi Scott,
    Thank you for your wonderful blog! Keep up the good work. The stuff you are publishing is pure gold. I found it while searching for my 8th great grandfather John Gregg. I knew there was stuff out there beyond, but never expected this. And your information sent me out for more!! His grandson married a Dixon, so again I was excited to see the treasure you have here. By the way, family history is country history. These people seeded the country, both in works and future citizens. We are certainly a history rich people. Our family stories tell our nation's story. Any one doing genetic genealogy.. feel free to contact me.
    Thank you so much!!!!

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  24. Hi All,

    My father and I are coming to PA/DE later this week and hoping to see the Simon Hadley house just off of Limestone Road. Do you have any connection with the current owners? Do you know if they are friendly and agreeable to people being on their property? We are a farming family and it looks like the land is still being farmed, according to images on Google Earth. Most farming families welcome visitors paying homage to their history. I sure hope the current owners are welcoming. It looks like you could only see the house if you go down their driveway, so we would really like to see if we can get permission.

    Any advice, knowledge or connections you may have are much appreciated.

    Thank you,
    Eric Hadley
    ehadley@earthlink.net

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  25. Hello, I was thrilled to find this blog! My gr gr grandfather, Alexander Walker, was originally from Hockessin and moved to NE Missouri in the 1850s. His wife was Ann Brackin. A cousin has done a lot of genealogy work on the Walkers and my Missouri relatives were great to save correspondence with the Delaware cousins as far back as the 1850s. Gr gr grandfather died in the Civil War, not in battle, but of pneumonia. He was 'old' (50 or so) when he enlisted in the Mo. Militia. His wife felt he was 'safer'. Or perhaps he went in place of an older son. No pictures exist of gr gr grandfather Walker. One of Ann Walker's letters to Delaware regretted not having a likeness taken while they were in MO. They had 12 kids. My gr grandfather was a baby when his dad died. He lived until he was 97, so I remember him. Looking forward to keeping up with your blog! Thanks so much.
    Vickie Perry Glas, Quincy IL vlglas@comcast.net

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    1. Vickie -- Thanks for reaching out! Always thrilling to hear from descendants of the people in the blog. I don't know if that's what brought you here, but I just put up photos of (if i have the right people) Alexander's cousin and his wife, William H and Anna Walker.

      In looking briefly, I came across this article: http://haygenealogy.com/hay/patriots/civilwar/CW-Walkerletters-EMM.pdf

      It doesn't specifically say it, but I would assume the picture at the top is Alexander. Not a great copy, but there must be an original somewhere. Presumably taken before they left MCH? If your gr grandfather was Alexander, one letter in the article mentions him being born.

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  26. I just found your blog and I believe that the Robinsons that you mention all throughout are my Robinson Family, in fact they were pretty much in the milling business, as are those who are left, my uncle. My mother was a Robinson. I was just wondering if you happen to have a picture of William, or any of the other Robinsons that you speak of in your blog posts? It would be wonderful to see more of what is spoken of about them. Thanks so much !

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  27. I live in the old stone barn in Limestone Hills. I would be very interested in what you find. We were told it belonged to Wilhelmina duPont May?

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    1. The one on Middleton Dr up on the right? The last time I looked there was a business in there. That's awesome. I've mentioned the Joseph Lindsey Barn a couple of times, but I've never focused directly on it. With the new land records I have access to, I'd be interested to see what more I can find. It might be a week or two before I can get to it, but if you're patient I'll see what I can find.

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  28. Thanks so much, Scott! I used to live in the Hockessin area and it is fascinating to learn more about my hometown. I'm tracking down Quaker ancestors living in MCH in the early to mid-1700s. Some records indicate that MCH was actually a part of Kennett, Chester, PA in the early days. Do you happen to know when it became part of DE or was it always considered to be in DE? Thanks!

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  29. Hi Scott, just found your blog and I'm wondering if you have any information on my house, which is at the corner of Old Wilmington and Meetinghouse Rds. in Hockessin (across from Hockessin Friends Meeting). I believe the house was once known as the Thomas Little House, and I know from the date stone that it was built in 1817, but beyond that I don't have much info except the memories of Kathryne Mitchell of Woodside Farm--she lived in this house as a girl. Since the house is turning 200 this year and I will also have a "round number" birthday, I'm planning to have a party celebrating both. It would be great to have some more history on my house.

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    1. Julie -- Yes, I know the house you mean. Beautiful. I remember looking into it a few years back, but I'm not sure I did anything with it. I recall that the next couple houses up Meetinghouse Road were connected to it. I've got a few things going right now, but I'd love to get back to it. I'm pretty sure that I have more resources available to me now as far as land records go. Might be able to piece together more of the story. In the meantime, feel free to email me at mchhistory@verizon.net if you want to get in touch. Thanks!!

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    2. Julie -- If you're still monitoring this, send me an email at mchhistory@verizon.net . I have at least one thing already that you'll be interested in and maybe more. How about the 1796 deed where Samuel Little (Thomas' father) buys the property?

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  30. Two years ago I made a proposal to the Delaware Historic Marker program for the placement of an historic marker at the site of the original Oliver Evans automated flour mill (one still operates at Mt. Vernon) and, later, the Fell's Spice Mill. It has been approved without funding which will, hopefully, with the help in July of Senator Anthony Delcollo, be funded. I hope then to be present for the unveiling at some unknown future date. But, my hope is that people interested in identifying significant historic sites in the State of Delaware will lobby, as I have, to find a more effective and efficient way of getting markers into place. The current program is frustratingly slow and likely, in some cases to result in no marker at all because of the way it is structured. The substance of the site seems less important than finding a local sponsor - out of state residents have no standing - and the support of a local legislator who may not have much enthusiasm for historic matters since they may not seem to have present value.

    Ken Shelin

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    1. Thanks, Ken, for the info. Yes, I can see how the system is frustrating. Approval without funding doesn't get you far, does it? Please keep us updated on the progress of this. I agree with you that it's an important site that should be recognized, and I know that you have a personal family connection to it. I look forward to hearing more in the coming months. Thanks!!

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  31. I just found this blog, and it is amazing. My dad, Ken Woodward, was born and raised in the MCH. My family lived there from 1808, when my GGGG grandparents - Abner and Elizabeth (nee Harlan) Woodward - moved across the border from Chester Co. PA, until the 1970s when my dad moved away. I believe F.K. Woodward on the 1868 map (in District No. 30) is Abner's grandson/my GG grandfather, Frederic Klair Woodward.

    Thank you so much for making this blog. It has been really neat to read about the area my family lived in for over 150 years.

    Steve Woodward

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    1. I forgot to add, I think N. McCormick in District 31 (Corner Ketch) is my GGG grandfather, Nathan McCormick. Nathan's son, Thompson McCormick, and Thompson's son, S. Leslie McCormick, owned the Merestone House. Elsie (McCormick) Woodward was my grandmother.

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    2. That's really cool, Steve! I love hearing from actual real-life descendants of people who otherwise tend to be just names on maps. You certainly have a bunch of MCH families in your tree, which is not that unusual. If you've got one, you've probably got a bunch. The guy who wrote the comment just above, Ken Shelin, is also a Woodward descendant. That whole discussion about the Fell Spice Mill is because he has Woodward ancestors who worked there.

      Another interesting fact -- that F.K. Woodward house on the 1868 map is still there. It's tucked back in amongst new houses and is hard to see, but it's there. Someday I hope to get around to it.

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    3. Scott.
      I couldn't resist replying to Steve Woodward's July 20, 2017 post, as I went to Sunday School with his dad, Kenny, and got my checks cashed at the bank his grandmother managed when I was a U of D student 1967-73. I remember their home, and glad it is still there.
      Although the above is not very historic, I plan to send you some info on Little Baltimore and Eden, including the William H Walker house location. Now that COVID19 has forced me into virtual retirement, I have some time to do it.
      Is it best to reply to individual posts, or send large e-mails to you? How about if I have photos?
      Jack McVaugh

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  32. http://millpictures.com/mills.php?millid=1344

    My schoolmate Chris Diiorio owns the mill and the the miller's house. Thought this was Mill Creek Hundred related....

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  33. My 12th great grandfather is William Brackin 1528-1602.

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  34. As many others have expressed above, I truly appreciate your work. I am a real estate agent locally and this is a great resource for me as well as long term residents and new residents alike. Thank you!

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  35. It's so wonderful to have stumbled upon your blog while doing my genealogy search. It was great to see my 5th great grandparents David and Elizabeth Jeanes Eastburn and my 4th great grandfather Isaac Eastburn mentioned a few times. Living in Pike Creek I never new how much of this area belonged to the family. Wonderful work you do!

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  36. any info about 2203 W Newport Pike in Stanton? It is a stone house in bad repair but I am intrigued by it.

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    1. If that's the one behind Stanton Liquors (and I generally try to orient myself via liquor stores and bars, especially on Fridays), it is Ten Maples, the 1812 home of Simon Cranston. For more, check out this post (http://mchhistory.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-cranstons.html) and the two shortly after it about the Sons of Simon Cranston.

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  37. Hi, I've been looking into family history and am I was wondering whether there is any way to determine where someone lived say around 1900. The census records indicate residents, but don't have much specific info.

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    1. It's not always easy. The census might give the street or road, maybe a house number if you're in the city. If out of the city, look for a road and look around at who the neighbors are for clues. If they owned their home, you can look for land records to give a more precise location

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  38. Thanks for the prompt reply.

    I know by 1895 they lived in the Newark area, in the 1900 census they were listed as White Clay Creek Hundred, district 0064 which is described as the hundred outside of Newark. News clippings from 1908 regarding the death of their daughter (who is buried in White Clay Creek Church Cemetery on Polly Drummond Hill Road)have them living in Roseville, and the 1910 census has them living on Chapel Street in Newark. I'm wondering whether the 1900 census refers to the Roseville residence, and what might have attracted them to Newark around that time period.

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    1. Could be. Although the Roseville mill from which the area got the name was in MCH, it's on the border. Anyone south of White Clay Creek could be considered Roseville but be in WCCH. What occupation is listed?

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    2. I'm pretty sure the arrived in 1892.
      The June 1900 census, when they are listed as living in White Clay, hundred, and has the head of household working day labor.

      Newspaper articles from 1908 have them living in Roseville

      The 1910 census has them living in Newark (I'm pretty sure they moved for personal reasons) and the head of household and his 17 y/o son as laborers in a fiber mill, with 0 days out of work.

      His obituary in 1945 has him as an employee of the Continental Diamond Fiber Co, where he had worked “about 38 years” and prior to that the American Vulcanized Fiber Co., which apparently formed in 1901 out of American Hard Fibre in Newark that had a factory on the “remains of the Dean Woolen Mill along White Clay Creek” sometime after 1886. So my guess now is that he came to Newark for a job with American Hard Fibre, and stayed with that company as it merged into others. I assume American Hard Fibre/Dean Woolen Mill was near Roseville?

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    3. Yes, the Dean Woolen Mill was/is located off of Paper Mill Road along White Clay Creek. It's right next to the bridge. Part of the old mill is still there, repurposed as an office building. Also, Timothy's of Newark. Here's an article that talks a bit about the company. The John Pilling is the same family that owned the Kiamensi Woolen Mill. https://www.newarkpostonline.com/features/out-of-the-attic-continental-vulcanized-fibre-early-s/article_5230bb91-9f52-52a6-ab28-160bd870c8ee.html

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    4. The other mill was on S. Chapel Street and Delaware Ave. I think the site is now apartments

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  39. The creek that runs through Arundel is called "Dublin Creek". Does anyone here know the history behind that name?

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    1. I still haven't run across that name yet. I see what you're talking about -- it actually starts up near Mill Creek Road and runs down through the golf course. I would think it would have to do with the Irish connections of the families in the area, but I've seen no mention of it. Of course, I spent my entire childhood playing in what we just called The Creek, never knowing it actually had a name (Calf Run). I'll keep an eye out for a mention of it.

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  40. Does anyone know any history of a house at 1319 Ashland Clinton School Road? The large barn there was apparently used for drying and storing tobacco for the Garrett Snuff Mill. House est to be built around 1820.

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  41. I have been researching the creation of the White Clay Creek State Park (DE) and Preserve (PA). I've been giving a ZOOM WCC PPT presentation Monday nights at 7:30. I'd love to offer it to folks here, wanted to check if that is okay. Officially sites to the EAST of WCC are in the Mill Creek Hundred... there is some of that (The Roseville Mansion, which I learned about the Cotton Mill HERE and then had quite an adventure finding it! I think folks here might be interested, but want to get clear that it's okay. Please advise.

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  42. I am researching my 3x great grandparents Jacob Taylor Craig born 1816 in Pennsylvania, died 1900 in Iowa, and Sidney Hanna (probably Lydia Sidney Hanna daughter of Thomas M Hanna ) born about February 1832 probably in Mill Creek, New Castle, Delaware, died March 1904 in Iowa. They had 14 children, all born in Mill Creek, New Castle, Delaware. I have just recently discovered that Sidney was probably Lydia S Hanna, mostly by DNA, as her life was shrouded in mystery. I don’t think that any of her children ever knew her maiden name as each lists a different maiden name for their mother on official documents, none correct. Possibly because of a rift between Sidney and her parents. She married Jacob T Craig when she was 18 years old and he was 16 years older (at 33 years old), than Sidney and living alone with his mother Ann Pierson Craig. Jacob’s father was Jacob Craig who moved to New Castle, Delaware between 1816 and 1833. I would like to find any information available on Sidney and Jacob during their time in Mill Creek

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    1. Thanks for reaching out, Renee. I have found a little, which I might give you piece by piece here as I find it (if you want, you can email me at mchhistory@verizon.net). First thing I found is that Jacob Senior, for a while, owned and ran the Mt. Pleasant Inn. For more on that, go up to the right and click on the link for the paper by Walt Chiquoine. Ann, Jacob, and Sidney were probably living in the tenant house in 1850.

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    2. I see that Rev. Thomas Love reported their marriage of March 6, 1850. Love was at Red Clay Creek Presbyterian, so I would assume they married there.

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    3. In 1861, Jacob and Sidney bought 5 acres along Brackenville Road, just north of the Inn. In 1867 they sold it to Lorenzo Twaddell, whose name is listed by it on the 1868 map in the upper right of this page. In the 1870 census Jacob is shown working in the lime quarry of John G Jackson. He was listed as a laborer in 1860, and several men around him were in the quarries. He might have worked there then, too.

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    4. I just noticed that the "new" 1860 map I recently found shows J. Craig listed across the road from the Mt Pleasant Inn on Old Wilmington Road. Must have remained at the tenant house until he moved in 1861

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    5. I've written about the Hanna family before, mostly about her brothers Joseph and Lewis. Her father Thomas' house was located on the west side of Limestone Road, just north of the Mermaid tavern. I have photos of some of the family, but not Sidney. I found your Ancestry tree (very nice, btw), so I see you have photos of Sidney and Jacob. And since you're about as out of state as you can get from here, I can send you some maps and location info by email if you want. Some of these road names may not mean much to you

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  43. Thank you for all of the information! I will try and see what information I can find on what you mentioned.

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  44. Hey Scott, Love your reporting on the history of the earliest Armstrongs of Christiana Hundred of my ancestry; Archibald c1695-1705 Fermanaugh. It's so complete it gives me confidence to continue researching & documenting these early generations of American Armstrongs.
    His grandson James Nathan A* b1762 is my line, but disappeared from the family history. He married Ruth Bennett b1760 a Quaker at the cost of both being excommunicated. Later they re-joined the Quakers (Centre & Kennett Sq.), eventually moving West to Colombiana Co. Ohio. James married a 2nd time, Deborah Holmes. His son Bennett b.11/5/1775 later married into the Craig family, Elizabeth Craig. Later generations were early settlers in IN, IL and IA.
    I'd love to learn more about Archie & related families of Christiana Hundred; LMK how to keep in touch.

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  45. Here is a resource you might find interesting. I found it as a link on the website for the Town of Bellefonte. It gives some background on a lot of place names.

    http://www.townofbellefonte.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/delawareplacenames.pdf

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    1. That is interesting, thanks. That's also...a lot of names. If anyone tells you there's nothing or nowhere in Delaware, send them that link. And think how many more developments have been built since 1966.

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  46. I just stumbled onto this blog as I have decided to try to restart my research on the lineage of Joshua Stroud Fletcher(1789-1825) A distant Fletcher cousin and I started working together about 2006, and we put together enough evidence for her to become a DAR, I am more interested in trying to connect the Strouds and Fletchers back to England. I found this blog when I searched for Martha Byrnes, who seems to have married Joshua Stroud. I believe a daughter of theirs married Joshua Fletcher, I'm thinking from what I'm seeing that I need to search for Meeting records in Wilmington and Mill Creek. I appreciate your continued work on this blog. Thank you.

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    1. Interesting story, and I know things like DAR require some pretty good proof so I'm sure you've put a lot of work into it. With just an admittedly quick look, unless I'm confused or have the people wrong (always a possibility) the generations don't seem to line up. The Martha Byrnes and Joshua Stroud associated with the mill in Stanton were married in 1785. I found a family tree that does have Joshua Stroud Fletcher's parents as Joshua Fletcher and Elizabeth Stroud, but Elizabeth was born in 1757. She could be related to the Joshua Stroud in Stanton, but not his daughter (sister, maybe?). If I find anything definitive, I'll let you know. But you're right, if they're Quakers then there should be good records somewhere. If not here, then I think there's a good Friends library at Swarthmore College.

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    2. Thank you, I should try Swarthmore again - I used that resource for my Trueblood line. :)

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  47. In Drummond Hill, if you go to the circle on Alton Court and walk the backyard through the woods behind all the houses down the next street, there are graves and deteriorating stones. Is there a blog about those?

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    1. Not specifically about the old cemetery, but it's mentioned in the post about White Clay Creek Presbyterian. That was the site of the original church and yes, the old cemetery is still there. People have mentioned hearing about headstones being taken over the years, if I recall. http://mchhistory.blogspot.com/2011/08/white-clay-creek-presbyterian-church.html

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  48. Any history about the Carousel Park property? I have lived in Delaware my entire life (late 50s) and have heard about a house burning down, possibly a duPont estate, which was then deeded to the county as long as it remained a horse farm. I live in Carousel Knoll right next to the park and am glad to have it as a neighbor that can't be developed. I think there was another structure house close to Limestone Road where the parking lots are now. Also not sure how old the little mint green house is near the entrance to the stables. Some of it is pretty old and was added on to. My GP used to have a practice there until he retired in the early 80s. Would love to see some old photos of the park! Great site. Thanks!

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    1. Thanks Jay, and you're in luck! The du Pont estate there was called Limestone, and the post about it is here: http://mchhistory.blogspot.com/2020/03/limestone-du-pont-carousel-estate.html

      I just wish I had known about all that history when I spent all that time running through those woods in high school (for cross country and track practices, not being chased).

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  49. I'm not sure if I saw this previously on the MCHB, but here is an article, complete with a genalogy, of a Pierson famnily reunion in Hockessin in 1909:

    h t t p s : / / www.newspapers.com/clip/100945582/pierson-family-reunion-325-named/?_gl=1*wbl21o*_ga*Nzc0MTQ3MTQyLjE2NzYwNjI1MzQ.*_ga_4QT8FMEX30*MTY3OTYwMTY3Mi4zLjEuMTY3OTYwMTY3Mi42MC4wLjA.

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    1. I don't think you saw it here, but great catch! I had another article from the 1909 reunion that I included on the Facebook post, but not this one. I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like this, with all the family members sorted out like that. Thanks for flagging it!!!

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  50. Where was Dawyers, DE? In the History of the 1st Presbyterian Church, Banbridge, County Down, Northern Ireland, it is stated that Rev. Samuel Young, educated at Glasgow University (Scotland) immigrated to Dawyers, DE from County Down to serve the Presbyterian Church in 1718 and died there in 1721. According to another source, Young was appointed to a new congregation "at the head of the Elk." Thanks!

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    1. I feel pretty certain that that's supposed to be "Drawyers". It's a creek and old Presbyterian Church just north of Odessa. There's even a Samuel Young (presumably the same one) mentioned in this book: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/590be125ff7c502a07752a5b/t/6308e321a8bb3d04e8d02621/1661526819226/Foot%2C+George%2C+An+Address+Embracing+the+Early+History+of+Delaware.pdf

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    2. Thanks so much, Scott! I do remember Drawyers now that I see it.

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  51. Thank you Scott Palmer for your bolg & all the research and time you've put into this. I've lived in Faulkland Heights 33 yrs this May 1st of 2023. Any information on thr Faulkland Heights development I live in ? I understand it was originally a farm * the original farm house located on Kara ( eithrr drive or circle) I'd love to know more about where I'm living now
    Thank you ! Karla Legato

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    1. Thanks, Karla. I know I did a little digging on this a while back, but I don't think I went anywhere with it. On the old maps the property is shown as belonging to Eli Evans (1769-1864) then I think to his son John. I think they're connected to the Evans family that included inventor Oliver and who originally owned the mill that was later the Fell Spice Mill. Having a little trouble finding much on them at the moment, but I plan to look more into it next week. I'll keep you updated.

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    2. Ok, here's where I am now and a quick (as I can get it) summary of what I know and what I don't about the property (there's a lot of both). The early history is tricky, because there were a bunch of tracts that got combined and broken up over the years. I know Andrew Lynam bought 136 acres in 1732 from Old Swede's Church (not sure why they had it, maybe willed?) that had belonged to John Stalcop and part to Charles Pickering. He willed it to his grandsons (Andersons), and at least part was bought by Charles Evans in the 1780's.

      Evans owned land on both sides of the creek and in 1782 sold much of it to his sons Oliver, Jonathan, and Theophilus. Most attention for this goes to the fact that they built a mill on the later site of the Fell Spice Mill, and Oliver demonstrated his automated milling system. But part of that sale included land in Christiana Hundred. After their venture ended, in 1794 David Nivin and Charles Anderson (who had bought out the Evanses) sold Jonathan Evans (one of the brothers) about 54 acres east of the creek). He died in 1806, it went to his son James. That year James sold to Thomas Evans.

      Here's one of the mysteries for me -- I don't know who Thomas is or if/how he's connected to the others. I assume he must be related, but I can't find him anywhere or in family trees. In 1825, Thomas sold to Eli Evans. Again, don't know where he came from, or how he's connected. Elis died 1864, farm went to his son John. John died childless in 1904 (probably why there's no family trees for these people -- no descendants to put them in).

      In 1904, Joseph M. Woodward and wife Sarah (Klair...both from solid MCH families) bough the land. He sold it in 1944 to son Horace, who I assume sold about 12 years later to the developer to build Faulkland Heights. The biggest thing I don't know is exactly when the house was built, so I don't know who built it. Could be Lynam, could be an Anderson, could be Jonathan, Thomas, or Eli Evans. A date for it would give the answer.

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    3. Karla -- If any of that doesn't make sense or if you have any questions, feel free to email me (mchhistory@verizon.net). Oh, and I forgot -- I think Stephen Burke must have bought the house when the development was built. The Burkes had it until 2007, still owned by who they sold to. One question for you -- did you ever feel like the front was the back, and vice versa? Looking at the front (street-facing side) of the house, the second floor windows in the stone section are not centered and symmetrical like I'd expect (and I see there's an old addition on the left). That often happened n the rear of the house. Since originally the bulk of the property was to the west, going down to the creek, I wonder if what's now the back was originally the front of the house? But now that I'm looking at it again, I wonder if there are two stone sections? That would explain it, too.

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  52. I'm pretty sure that the home at 2406 Kara Pl is the original farmhouse. In the 60s and likely later, the Burke family (friends of mine) lived there. I'd enjoy learning/remembering more. And, yes, Thanks Scott!

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  53. I ran across this blog while doing genealogy research on my family. A lot of my ancestors started out in the Mill Creek and Christiana Hundred locations, and were Quakers. I find your whole site very interesting. Thank you so much for publishing this content.

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    1. Thanks! I'm glad you found it and enjoy it. It's fascinating how many families around here 2 or 3 hundred years ago have spread out so much. If there are any families or people specifically that you ever have questions about, feel free to ask. I'll see what I can come up with.

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  54. Hi Scott. I grew up on Newport Gap pike. My father operated the Arco gas station for a good part of the 60’s and 70’s at Newport Gap pike and Old Capital Trail. I remember reading about the bridge on Newport Gap Pike that crosses the Red Clay creek being repurposed somewhere else in the county when they widened the road a while back. I have done multiple searches and can not find anything. I stumbled upon your blog during my search. Thanks for keeping the history of our area alive. Any chance you have information about this.

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    1. Sorry for the delay, Larry, but thanks for bringing this up. Yes, that bridge did get moved, but it was way before your time. However, there's also a good reason why you might have heard stories much later. It also connects to something I wrote about a while back, admitted I was wrong about, but then never fully explained the correction. I'll put a quick post up about it, but it might not be until Monday. Stay tuned...

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  55. Hello, I've been researching my ancestry and I'm hoping you can shed some light on something or help me connect some dots. I'm confused by what I think is my 4x great grandfather living in the central Mermaid area. He emigrated from Ireland to Philadelphia.
    Then, the 1960 census shows he resided in what looks like a group home or boarding house in the Mill Creek Hundred, Post Office=Mermaid. It does not list a street, but there is a dwelling #. He is listed with several other people -- no relation -- and no occupation shown, but others are listed as farm laborers. I don't know when or why he ended up there; I can't find why his wife is not with him (no definitive records on her anywhere). Was it common to have homes specifically for farm hands? Any thoughts/ideas/input? I tried to paste a screen shot here, but it would not work. Thanks for any info you may have! -Kristin B.

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    1. Kristin -- That sounds interesting. There were no large boarding houses that I know of in the area, but there could have been some farm hands living in a tenant house on a farm. If you give me his name or even the dwelling number, I'd be happy to look into it. I could probably tell you about where the house was. There were no street names then on the rural censuses. Large roads or turnpikes might have had "official names", but most were unofficial. The Dwelling Number on the census was just the order in which the census taker got there, and not a house number. The only way to really know where anyone was is to check it against maps of the time. Feel free to comment here or email me at mchhistory@verizon.net

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  56. Hi Scott, I’m a descendant of John J Woodward, grandson of Abner, via Joseph. Family lore has John dying at a young age as a result of gunshot wound related to a farm mishap. It would be great to know what might have really happened. He was married to Mary Augustus Becker, daughter of Charles Becker originally of Kennet. It seems the original farm was quite close to the Hockessin Friends Meetinghouse.

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    1. "Family lore" is always tricky, but in this case it's absolutely correct. John J. Woodward (1876-1909), son of Frederick Klair Woodward, did die of an accidental gunshot wound on Thursday, November 18, 1909, on his farm on the NE corner of Newport Gap Pike and Hercules Road. He had just purchased the farm in 1907 from his father-in-law, Charles Becker. Becker had purchased it in 1905 from Thomas C. Mitchell, son of previous owner John Mitchell. There were multiple connections between the Mitchells and Woodwards. Some are recounted in the recent post about the Abner Woodward House in North Star -- https://mchhistory.blogspot.com/2023/10/the-abners-woodward-house.html

      I found several newspaper articles about John J Woodward's death, but I can't attach them here in comments. If you email me at mchhistory@verizon.net, I can send them to you.

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