as his castle of safety in the house and with the hospitable family of his fast and firm friend, Thomas White, Esq., one of the Judges of the Court in Kent County, Delaware. He was a pious man and his wife one of the holiest of women; they were great friends to the cause of religion and to preachers generally. From this place of retreat and protection, as in a castle of repose and safety, he could correspond with his suffering brethern, who where scattered abroad in different parts. He could also, occasionally travel about, visiting the societies and sometimes preaching to the people. in some of their movements they had to be very cautious and circumspect, for they were watched as the hawk watches the partridge on the mountain, and as the wolves watch the sheep of the pasture and the lambs of the flock." The fact that subsequently Judge White was honored with important public station would indicate that he continued in favor with the populace as well as with those in authority. One of the earliest Methodist Churches on the peninsula was "White's Chapel," named for the Judge, and situated near Judge White's residence. A church bearing the same name still stands a few miles from the old site. The original White's Chapel falling in disuse, went to decay, but years afterwards, the frame work that remained, was removed a mile or more westward, across the State line into Maryland, and there it was used as part of the super-structure of what was called Lee's Chapel, and for many years was regularly used for Methodist services. In course of time it was supplanted by Shepherd's Chapel and the building, still in a good state of preservation, is used as a barn or storehouse on the Carter farm, adjoining the old location of Lee's Chapel.

It was at Judge White's house that the first conference of the Methodist preachers was held on April 28th, 1779, and it was here that the important and significant step was taken of appointing Francis Asbury, the general assistant or superintendent in America, with the right of determining questions in conference after due consideration. From this time Asbury became the recognized centre of Methodism in America, and in Judge White's house was born the idea of Episcopal Supervision.

He

Judge White died at his plantation in 1795, in the sixtyfifth year of his age. Asbury in speaking of the death of Judge White, makes this entry in his journal: "This news was attended with an awful shock to me. I have met with nothing like it in the death of any friend on the continent. I have lived days, weeks, and months in his house. was a friend to the poor and oppressed; he had been a professed churchman, and united to the Methodist connection about seventeen or eighteen years. His house and heart were always open; and he was a faithful friend to liberty in spirit and practice; he was a wise, indulgent husband, a tender father, and an affectionate friend."

Judge White devised his home place, called "Belisle" to his son Samuel White. This son seems to have had the advantage of a good education. He studied law presumably with Richard Bassett, and was admitted to the bar at Dover in March 1793. Soon after his admission he seems to have deserted his native county, and as far as is known never occupied the farm which his father devised to him. The farm he sold in 1806 to John Orrell, and with this his connection with Kent County ceased. He took up his residence in Wilmington, where he resided during all the time he was

in public life. He was a Federalist in politics, but held no office until appointed United States Senator on February 28th, 1801, by Governor Bassett.

Richard Bassett, like Judge White was a communicant in the Church of England. The story is told that Bassett had been engaged in the trial of a case at Denton, Maryland, and was driving from Denton to his home in Dover, and stopped at Judge White's for supper, Mrs. White was entertaining Asbury and some of his companions, and sought to keep them out of sight of the distinguished lawyer. Forced to introduce them, Asbury made such an impression upon Bassett that it led to the conversion of the latter, who became an enthusiastic Methodist, and so continued during his life. At Bassett's death in 1815, at his home on Bohemia Manor, a funeral discourse commemorative of him and of his distinguished father-in-law James A. Bayard, the elder, was preached by Rev. Ezekiel Cooper, who at that time ranked as the most eloquent and forcible preacher of his day. Twenty years and more after Richard Bassett had broken bread under Thomas White's roof and been introduced to Francis Asbury, he remembered his good friend of early days and appointed his son Samuel White to the vacancy in the United States Senate. On January 11th, 1803, at the regular session of the General Assembly, Samuel White was elected for the full term of Senator beginning March 4th, 1803. He was placed in nomination by Outerbridge Horsey, a representative from Sussex County, and was elected over George Read Junr, (a son of the signer of the Declaration) by a vote of 20 to 9. He served the full term, and on January 11th, 1809, was reelected for a second term. At this election he was placed

in nomination by Henry M. Ridgely, a representative from Kent County, and received 17 votes to 10 votes cast for Andrew Gray, the grandfather of our present Judge George Gray, who was a manufacturer in Mill Creek Hundred. At the time of his election he had barely reached the constitutional age of a senator, and was one of the youngest members ever elected to that body. It is a remarkable fact that both of the men who placed Samuel White in nomination for Senator afterwards became members of that body. Outerbridge Horsey was elected as the successor of Senator White on the latter's death in 1809, and Henry M. Ridgely was elected Unites States Senator in 1827.

Samuel White had as his colleague in the Senate, for one year, William Hill Wells, of Sussex County, and afterwards James A. Bayard, the elder. The proceedings of the Senate show that Samuel White was not a silent member. Soon after his admission he made a vigorous speech in opposition to the Lousiania Purchase, and placed himself decidedly against the doctrine of expansion. Nothing in the way of records remain to indicate how active or prominent he became as a lawyer. The first reported cases of Delaware decisions begin twenty years and more after his death.

While still a member of the United States Senate he died on the fourth day of November, 1809, at Wilmington. His remains were interred at the Old Swedes' graveyard, this city, where a plain slab covering his grave contains the following inscription:

BENEATH THIS STONE

ARE DEPOSITED THE REMAINS OF

SAMUEL WHITE, ESQ.,

A NATIVE OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
WHO DIED NOVEMBER 4th, 1809.

AGE 39 YEARS.