EXPLANATION.

The committee on Literary Exercises in conjunction. with the librarian conceived the idea of setting part an evening to be devoted to papers and reminiscences touching the life, work and character of Benjamin Ferris, the author of the historical publication known as "The Early Settlements on the Delaware." This publication was issued in 1845 and represented years of patient and painstaking work on the part of the author, and while the work itself has been everywhere recognized as one of distinguished merit, but little has been hitherto presented in permanent shape that tended to impress upon the public the worth and stable character of the man through whose research and effort so much of local historical value has been preserved, that would otherwise have been lost.-The meeting proved an interesting one and was attended by many of the older citizens who had know Benjamin Ferris in his lifetime. The contents of the pages following, containing as they do the proceedings of the meeting, constitute, in some measure, a just meed of praise to the worthy author and historian whom all felt a delight in honoring.

THE LIBRARIAN.

MEMOIR OF BENJAMIN FERRIS.

Prepared by Lewis P. Bush, M. D., an old and intimate friend of the subject of the sketch, and read by Dr. Bush before a meeting of the Historical Society held on the evening of March 10, 1870. Re-read by Henry C. Conrad, Librarian of the Society at the commemorative exercises.

Benjamin Ferris, the subject of the following notice died in Wilmington, Del., November 9th, A. D. 1867.

He was a descendent from an English Family, one of whose members, Samuel Ferris, came from Reading, England, about 40 miles N. E. of London, in the year 1682, and settled at Groton, near Boston, Mass., but shortly afterward removed to Charlestown, Mass., and thence to New Milford, Conn. From this place his Grandson, John Ferris removed and settled in Wilmington, Del., in the year 1748; thus being among the first settlers in this city.

Ziba Ferris, the son of John Ferris, was born in New Milford, A. D. 1743, and died in Wilmington, A. D. 1794. He was the father of Benjamin Ferris, of whom is this paper. It seemed proper that some notice, other than the ordinary Resolutions of respect which have been passed by this Society, should be taken of the subject of this paper, who was a respected member of the Society, and also the first citizen of our State, who ever attempted to gather up any portion of its annals, and hence this sketch.

Of his ancestors, Benjamin Ferris remarks as follows"They are spoken of in the early family records, as being

"of the Puritan sort of people, and for several generations continued to profess the Presbyterian form of faith."

With many others of a like faith, this family, doubtless impressed by the uncertainty of repose in England, in view of the great troubles and sufferings in regard to religion, which had extended through more than a century, hailed the opening of a new country, as light from Heaven, and emigrated to America in hope of finding the peace here, which was denied them in their own land. They had lived near the center of those agitations which prevailed during the reigns of Mary and Elizabeth, of James and Charles Ist and 2nd; and up to the time of their leaving England the peace of the country seemed as unstable as the waves of the ocean. I here quote, as an interesting and instructive fragment, the following remarks of Benjamin Ferris, recorded by him in a book of family history, as a tribute to the character of his ancestors-"One of the best inducements," says he "to stimulate survivors to preserve a record of the character of those who have gone before them, is the hope that the example of worthy ancestors may excite their descendants to follow in their footsteps. On looking over the annals of those, who have passed through the scene of probation before me, on both the paternal and maternal sides of my family, I find an ancestry, pure and spotless as regards any stain on their moral character. I have no doubt that they all had the same temptations, and the same trials that await us, and will always attend those who succeed us; but standing on the watch tower, and having timely notice of the approach of their enemies, they were enabled to conquer; or being suddenly attacked, were, thro' Divine Mercy,

aided in the conflict, and came out victorious; leaving us an example that we might follow their steps."

Benjamin Ferris was born in Wilmington, August 7th, 1780. His early life was spent in Philadelphia where he obtained a knowledge of the watchmaking business; and whence he returned to Wilmington in the year 1813. During nearly the whole period between that and his death, he resided in this city. His occupation here was that of a conveyancer, and he was also appointed city surveyor about the year 1820, which office he discharged with so much public satisfaction, that it was with difficulty that he could disengage himself from it. Fond of knowledge, he read extensively upon religious and historical subjects, especially the history of our own country; and having an excellent memory, he laid up extensive stores of facts relative to general and personal subjects, which, with his fondness for social intercourse, rendered his companionship most interesting and instructive to his friends.

Among other subjects to which his attention was naturally directed, as a member of the Society of Friends, and especially interested in the life, character and administration of William Penn, was that of the condition and welfare of the aborigines of our Country; and hence in November, 1839, we find his name on a committee appointed by the yearly meetings of New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore, to investigate and lay before Congress and the President of the United States the history and wrongs of the Seneca Indians.

These Indians who occupied a Reservation of land chiefly in the southern part of New York, had become surrounded by an advancing civilization. An agricultural