Genealogy Report: Descendants of Thomas Pope
Descendants of Thomas Pope
2.CHARLES2 POPE (THOMAS1) was born 1748 in Duck Creek Crossing, Kent Co., De., and died February 16, 1803 in Columbia Co., Ga..He married (1) JANE STOKESLEY Bef. 1773, daughter of BENJAMIN STOKESLEY and SUSANAH TRAIN.She was born Abt. 1750, and died July 09, 1793 in Duck Creek Crossing, Kent Co., De..He married (2) SARAH SIMPSON 1799 in Duck Creek Crossing, (Smyrna) Kent Co., De., daughter of THOMAS SIMPSON and JANET.
Notes for CHARLES POPE:
Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Pope...was a merchant at the commencement of the Revolution.He was probably the son of Thomas of that place.(Footnote in "Personal Recollections of Captain Enoch Anderson)Pope was born in Smyrna and, after receiving a common school education there, opened a general store.He was succeeding in business when the news of the battles at Lexington and Concord reached Delaware.Pope immediately raised a company of militia at Smyrna.He received a commission as captain of that company on January 18, 1776, and joined the Delaware Regiment commanded by Col. John Haslet.("Forgotten Heros of Delaware", Emerson Wilson).
He raised a company of militia which became the Fifth Company in Haslet's Delaware Continental Regiment...During these days prior to the Declaration of Independence, the three Lower [Delaware] Counties were in a defenceless position against raids by crews of the British frigates "Roebuck" and "Liverpool".In May 1776 Pope and his company were sent to Lewes to defend it from the enemy on the Delaware Bay, and from the great number of Tories living in Sussex County.The night before "Black Monday", June 10 [1776], he received information of the plot to destroy Dover and warned Thomas Rodney.Then on June 14 [1776], he and his men were sent to Sussex County to suppress an insurrection connected with the Black Monday conspiracy.("Delaware Heritage", Charles E. Green)
The Delaware Regiment left Dover on July 20, 1776 and in the Battle of Long Island, Pope was cited for his bravery after all the troops had left the lines.(Green)When [the Delaware Continental Regiment] joined Washington in New York they were the best-drilled and probably the only completely uniformed unit in the army.There were about 550 of them then, handsomely turned out in blue coats, faced and lined wit red, sporting white waistcoasts, buckskin breeches, white woolen stockings, and round black leather caps with a high peak in front, inscribed with the words "Liberty and Independence. Delaware Regiment."
They were fiercely proud of themselves and when they went into combat they demonstrated they had every reason to be.Before their first fight they were attached to the command of Lord Stirling, and just before the action began on Long Island he gave them a little pep talk there in the front lines.As it happened, Stirling had been presentin the gallery in the House of Commons in February 1775 when General James Grant, then a member, rose from his seat and made a widely publicized boast that he could take 5000 men and march from one end of the American continent to the other.Now Grant's division was facing Stirling and the Delaware regiment across a marsh that lay along Gowanus Creek, and Stirling told his untested troops, "He may have 5000 men with him now---we are not so many---but I think we are enough to prevent his advancing further on his march over the continent than that mill-pond."Actually, Grant had 7000 men to Stirling's 950, but Stirling "fought like a wolf" and so did the Delaware and Maryland boys he led, and instead of retreating they dumbfounded the British by attacking six separate times before Grant, reinforced by Cornwallis, finally broke them.Washington, observing the action through a telescope, saw what was going on and groaned, "Good God! What brave fellows I must this days lose!"(The Winter Soldiers, Richard M. Ketchum)
During the Battle of Long Island, the Delawareans under Maj. Thomas Macdonough and the Marylanders under Col. William Smallwood saved the American army and Capt. Pope was cited for his gallantry and hard fighting throughout the day.Maj. Macdonough was wounded in the battle and after the retreat to Manhattan, Pope became acting major of the Delaware Regiment.(Wilson)
It was in this capacity that he led the attack on Rogers and his Rangers at Mamaroneck, N.Y. [on October 22, 1776].The commander of the division ordered Col. Haslet to send 750 men to surprise and capture Rogers, if possible.The attacking force consisted of a picked number of Delawareans under acting Maj. Pope and of Virginians under Maj. W.T. Green.Rogers, a great hero of the French and Indian wars who led his [Queen's American] Rangers in many expeditions against both the French and the Indians, was a Tory in the Revolution and he organized a new group of Rangers.The Americans hated Rogers and his men and were anxious to capture him.The attack was made at night on Roger's camp, only two miles from the main British encampment.Pope and his Delawareans succeeded in surprising the Rangers, killed Rogers' lieutenant and many others and captured 36 of his men, his colors, and 60 stand of arms.Pope was wounded in the [left] leg in the sharp fight.Maj. Rogers is reported to have fired one shot, then to have sulked off into the darkness shouting, "Kill the Tories" so that he would be mistaken for a Continental.His ruse worked, but the disgrace of his defeat was so great that he began drinking heavily and was dismissed from the British service shortly afterward.That was the end of the Rangers in the Revolution.(Wilson)
The Americans lost 3 men killed and 12 wounded, among whom were Maj. Green and Capt. Charles Pope of the Delawares.Although this affair had been fought within 2 miles of Howe's camp and the Americans had to march 10 miles back to White Plains, they returned without opposition or mishap.Dr. James Tilton, the Delaware regimental surgeon, went on this expedition.He wrote about it to Caesar Rodney under date November 20: "...Capt. Pope, who acted as Major, was within bayonet push of them, challenged them and summoned them to surrender.They answered by firing on us, which we briskly returned and soon terminated in our favor; the field was left to us..."In an undated letter to Caesar Rodney, Haslet told the story of the fight, briefly: "Capt. Pope, who acted a Major, & behaved with great bravery, [was wounded] in his leg...likely to recover..."("The Delaware Continentals" -Ward)
Pope recovered from his wounds during a stay in Smyrna and re-enlisted for another year's service.After the death of Col. Haslet at Princeton, David Hall of Lewes became colonel and Pope was lieutenant-colonel of the regiment.He fought gallantly during the campaign of 1777 and in the Battle of the Brandywine [and Germantown].When Hall was seriously wounded at the Battle of Germantown, Pope took charge of the regiment [as acting colonel].He retained his rank of lieutenant-colonel since it was hoped that Hall could return to service.He and his men were transferred to the command of Gen. LaFayette and saw active service at Barren Hill and later at the Battle of Monmouth.(Wilson)This Delaware regiment participated in all the battles of the Revolution except Bunker Hill and Yorktown.("Some Allied Families of Kent Co., Delaware" -Griffith)
"On the third day of October, '77, the lieutenant-colonel [Pope] of our regiment came to me in the dusk of the evening and told me he was appointed by General Sullivan...to choose out forty-five men, rank and file, out of different regiments in the division, to attack the British guards at Mount Airy, at the entrance of Germantown before day.'I have chosen you out of our regiment', said Col. Pope, 'pick your men and fall in on the left of the regiment' ... Pope called for me at dark---I was ready.'Mind,' says he, 'when we come to Mt. Airy we are to give one fire and then make a rush with the bayonet.'After dark the entire army moved on to the attack...our division, commanded by Gen. Sullivan, in the center of the Germantown road.We came to Chestnut Hill, three miles from Mt. Airy, it was then daybreak.Pope came to me and said the object of an attack at Mount Airy was given up, being too late, 'but keep your place in the line of the regiment, on the left.'The guard at Mount Airy gave one fire and gave way.Our division displayed to the right, on the right of the Germantown Road. We pushed down all fences in our front and marched to the battle.It was a foggy morning.Bullets began to fly on both sides some were killed some wounded, but the order was to advance...what with the thickness of the air and the firing of guns, we could see out a little way before us...we proceeded into the heart of Germantown......We old soldiers had marched forty miles, fought a battle to three o'clock p.m., and marched back to camp again..."(Capt. Enoch Anderson)
Lt. Col. Pope was sent to Delaware in November [1777] to buy, with Continental money, blankets, shoes, and stockings, andGeorge Read [President of the Delaware State Assembly] was asked to assist him...[in a letter from General Washington]."Buy, if you can...", was the plan, if not, take.In his necessity, Washington had hardened his heart, even toruthlessness, but with discrimination.On receipt of Washington's letter [George Read] called upon "persons in authority" in Kent and Sussex [counties] to give Pope every assistance."(Ward)
The Delaware troops were apart of the time at Valley Forge and the rest of the winter of 1777 they were encamped at Wilmington, De.(Revolutionary Soldiers of Delaware, -Whiteley)During the winter of 1777-1778, when the Delaware Regiment was posted at Wilmington, President George Read was informed in March [1778] that 700 of the enemy had landed at Liston's Highlands.Pope was sent to investigate and protect the supplies at Duck Creek Crossroads.Two days later, he reported that about forty of the enemy had landed and carried away some cattle and food.In April [1778] President Caesar Rodney sent Pope to investigate a story that a Tory fort had been erected on the farm of Cheney Clow near Kenton.With agroup of militia he destroyed the fort and chased Clow and his band into the woods.Fifty of the Tories were captured.(Green)
"Colonel Pope -- our lieutenant-colonel, and who had been a sea-captain -- came to me in March '78."'I have been looking for you, Captain,'" said he.'See yonder there lays at anchor, at the creek's mouth, the Falmouth packet and a sloop.They have nothing but wooden guns.Get you thirty or forty men and I will get a piece of artillery.There is a wood-flat at the wharf for us.'I got my men, he got his piece of cannon and away we went, down the creek.Pope was captain of our little man-of-war, --the "Wood-Flat",--I was captain of marines!As we drew near the enemy, they gave us a broadside, but of small calibre.'Pope', says I, 'where are their wooden guns?'Besides, they had netting 10 feet from the water's edge.'No chance for us,' said Pope.I did not think so either, but we concluded to fight and the battle began at two o'clock p.m.We fired our piece of artillery until all the quarter-rails of our wood-flat were torn off; the enemy slipped their cables and fell down the river.Whether we done them any injury or not, I know not.We received no harm, save from one bullet that struck us...We got safe to Wilmington at dusk..."(Anderson)
Pope and the Delaware Regiment rejoined the main army at Valley Forge during the first week of June [1778] and were in the Battle of Monmouth on June 28, 1778.In September [1778], Pope took over the command of the Seventh Company.Their captain, Cord Hazzard, had resigned because of deafness resulting from and explosion of a shell in the defence of Fort Mifflin, on Mud Island in the Del. River."(Green)
The unit spent the winter of 1778 at Middlebrook, N.J.There Pope's insistent letters to the Delaware General Assembly demanding clothing and supplies for the regiment finally paid off, but not before he had raided several mills and confiscated cloth from which his men made makeshift clothing and supplies while awaiting the uniforms from home.He was criticized for this action, but was later upheld by the General Assembly.(Ward)
On June 18, [1779] Lt. Col. Charles Pope of the Delaware Regiment was ordered to be tried there [Delaware] by court martial for "defrauding the Public of the services of one Joseph Hibbard, a private soldier in the Delaware regiment, by employing him in his domestic business in the spring and summer of the year 1778", which charge was held by the court to be "groundless" and he was acquitted honor, this verdict being confirmed by the commander-in-chief.(Whiteley)
Pope continued in command of the regiment through 1779 but in December of that year he became ill and asked to be relieved.(Wilson)Lt. Col. Charles Pope had...gone on furlough in July, 1779.Washington, in January 22, 1780 noted that Pope had been "absent on furlough all last Campaign."His resignation, which took affect on December 13, 1779, seems not to have come to the notice of the commander-in-chief when he wrote that.(Ward)...He resigned on account of wounds he received in service. ([Minutes of the Council of the De. State, December 29, 1779] Footnote of Personal Recoll. of Capt. Anderson)Later he was in command of the Delaware Navy which patrolled the Delaware River and Bay during the latter years of the Revolution.(Wilson)
Colonel Pope was a bold and dashing officer.Captain Enoch Anderson says in his 'Personal Recollections'that Colonel Pope had been a sea-captain.It may have been for this reason that he was put in command of the marine forces of the state after retiring from the army, as is set forth in the following:
An Act for the protection of the trade of this state on the River an Bay of Delaware:Charles Pope is authorized by said act to take command of the state schooner "Vigilant" at Wilmington, and the state barge, or long boat, at the Cross Roads (Smyrna), in the county of Kent, and put the vessels in proper order and condition, and recommend the appointment ofa lieutenant of marines, and procure the enlistment of 40 men to serve as seamen and marines; and Charles Pope was to be the captain of these naval forces.(Griffith)
November 15, 1781 Gov. John Dickenson, Esq. "Issued a commission to Charles Pope, Esq., appointing him Commander of the State Schooner Vigilant."On "November 13, 1782 issued instructions to Charles Pope, Esq. Commander of the State Schooner Delaware, to contract with Commissioners from the State of Pennsylvania , for transferring to that State by way of sale, one-half of the said Schooner with her Guns, Tackle, Apparel and Furniture, or any Greater Share thereof, as he and such Commissioners may agree upon; and for concurring with the sd. Commissioners in any Measures necessary for the speedy Equipment of the said Schooner for the Protection of the Trade of the Bay and River Delaware; reserving to himself on the Part of this State a Share in determining the Destination or Direction of the said vessel in that Service, in Proportion to the Part that shall be held by this State, and also retaining the Command of the sd. Schooner agreeable to the Act of the Legislature of this State of the 5th of February last."(St. of De., Governor's Register 1674-1851).
The active scene of the war had now shifted to the South.At this time there was no protection along the De River and Bay from raids by the enemy, particularly a group of New York Loyalists.President Rodney appointed Pope to command the Delaware Navy.A schooner was secured from Phila, armed and named the Vigilant.For over a year it protected the river trade, giving safe transportation of supplies from Del to the army.To stop this, the enemy began sending heavily armed vessels to the Delaware.The Vigilant was chased up St. Jones' Creek.Pope endeavored to obtain heavier armament, but was unsuccessful.The schooner was returned to the owner in Phila.The need for a Delaware Navy continued to exist and work was begun on a larger vessel to be named "Delaware".When peace was declared this ship was still unfinished.(Green)
On June 23, 1785, a group of Masons was granted a Warrant for Lodge No. 44 at Duck Creek Crossroads by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.One of the petitioner was Charles Pope, who had received the degrees of Masonry in Lodge No. 5 at Cantwell's ridge on November 24, 1774.Two years later, Pope was elected Master of Lodge No. 44.(Green)
Shortly after the end of the war Pope moved his family to Georgia and Delaware lost one of its greatest Revolutionary heros.(Wilson)He died 16 February, 1803, and was buried on his farm in Columbia county, Georgia, whither he moved with his family prior to 1800.(Griffith)The sacrifices and deeds of this devoted Patriot in the cause of liberty and independence are treasured memories.(Green)
More About JANE STOKESLEY:
Burial: Duck Creek Cemetary, Smyrna Presbyterian
Children of CHARLES POPE and JANE STOKESLEY are:
4. | i. | ALEXANDER3 POPE, b. December 29, 1777, Duck Creek Crossing, Kent Co., DE; d. August 14, 1845, Liverpool, England. | |
ii. | WILLIAM POPE, b. November 29, 1773, Duck Creek Crossing, Kent Co., De.. |
Notes for WILLIAM POPE: William never married. |
iii. | CHARLES POPE, b. November 26, 1780, Duck Creek Crossing, Kent Co., De.; d. November 30, 1812. |
Notes for CHARLES POPE: Charles Pope, Esq. appointed Notary of the County of Chatham 11/14/1810 (Milledgeville Nwsppr)Charles was 32 years, 14 days, when he died."Late naval officer of port of Savannah.(Marr & Deaths 1763-1820 [Ga Nwspprs] -Warren)Charles never married. (Descendents) |
5. | iv. | BENJAMIN STOKESLEY POPE, b. August 29, 1783, Duck Creek Crossing, Kent Co., De.; d. December 27, 1859, St. Louis. | |
v. | SAMUEL HENRY POPE, b. May 18, 1786, Duck Creek Crossing, Kent Co., De.. |
Notes for SAMUEL HENRY POPE: Samuel never married. |
Child of (FEMALE) POPE and MR. WEST is:
6. | i. | HETTY3 WEST, b. 1769; d. August 13, 1843, Dover, De.. |