250 Years Ago, the Seeds of Dissent Stirred in Lewes

June 15, 1776: The seeds of dissent stirred in the soil that day. Three lower counties of Pennsylvania (later to become the colony of Delaware) fearlessly declared their independence from the British Crown. Three months later, Delaware enacted its Declaration of Rights. Before the thirteen colonies proclaimed their independence on July 4, 1776 and long before the Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, Delaware played a significant role in the revolutionary and constitutional process (it was the first colony to ratify the Federal Constitution). Much of that courageous revolutionary spirit was on display in Lewes, the first town in the first state. In so many ways, the life force of American independence took root in Lewes, where liberty pole gatherings dauntlessly condemned King George and where British cannon balls attempted to crush that rebellious temperament.

Looking Back

As early as 1766, patriotic trouble brewed in Lewes. Protestors, known as “the Sons of Liberty,” boldly contested the Stamp Act, which unfairly taxed the colonists. The law, they complained, was “unconstitutional” and “destructive of [their] natural rights and liberties . . . .” That rebellious tension continued unabated; in time, it evolved into a revolutionary spirit. Two days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress, John Haslet (a Presbyterian clergyman and soldier) wrote to Caesar Rodney (a Continental Congressman from Delaware) from Lewes:

“I congratulate you on . . ., on the Important Day, which restores to Every American his Birthright! A Day which every freeman will record with gratitude and the millions of Posterity with Rapture.” 

As recounted by Kim Rogers Burdick in Revolutionary Delaware: Independence in the First State (2016): “In Lewes, two weeks later, Haslet’s Delaware Continental Regiment celebrated with a reading of the Declaration of Independence, [replete with] three cannon blasts and three toasts.”

For Delaware, 1776 was both a revolutionary and constitutive period. By September 1776, Delaware had forged its Declaration of Rights. Advanced as it was for its time, it lacked any commitment to equality for all persons; its remedies for injustices were confined to “freemen” (sect. 12). Hence, unlike the inspirational principle ordained in the Declaration of Independence and the equality clause contained in Virginia’s 1776 Declaration of Rights, the Delaware Declaration of Rights had no such guarantee. It did, however, contain a free press clause: “That the liberty of the press ought to be inviolably preserved.” (sect. 23) In that respect, it honored that fundamental liberty long before the First Amendment, which was not ratified until 1791.

While constitutional equality for people of color was a long time coming to Delaware (it did not ratify the Civil War Amendments until 1901), constitutional liberty for press freedom was a vital part of the colony’s fundamental charter.

As we prepare to celebrate 250 years of declared independence, it is well to remember that people live in historical context; sometimes even as freedom blooms, injustices persist. Such realism is patriotic since it honors what is best in our heritage, while it seeks to correct past wrongs. As it is said, the dead live on the lips of the living. By that measure, truth is seldom a one-way, glorious story. And yet, in the tumble of it all, there is much in our revolutionary tradition to inspire us, even if our ideals sometimes fell victim to iniquity.

It is against that backdrop that the “spirit of ’76,” at the national and state levels, will be remembered and reflected upon by the good people of Lewes.

Looking Forward

The town of Lewes is proud to play its part in celebrating our 250 years of independence. As we in Lewes embark upon our observance of America’s semi-quincentennial anniversary, we do so with pride in being the First Town in the First State. With honesty and authenticity, we reflect upon how to tell the American story, our full story, as Americans and Delawareans.

This celebratory journey begins with our first female mayor giving her first press conference during Constitution Week. A robust question-and-answer exchange with members of the press and residents will focus on the critical importance of press freedom, then and now. Immediately following, DAR representatives (in full colonial regalia) will express their awe in having a female leading the First Town. Thereafter, they will petition the Mayor: How should the brave women and men of 1776 be remembered? The Lewes celebratory 250-year-long plan will then be launched in full, working with other local, state, and national groups.

Some of the already scheduled activities include a tribute to the rich maritime and shipbuilding history of our town. On New Year’s Eve 2025, an anchor will be dropped from the historic Coast Guard Light Ship Overfalls, docked in the canal. The next morning, bells will be rung around the community and in houses of faith, along with town criers welcoming in 2026.

A rich variety of history lectures, book events, interviews, plays, and public art exhibits will take place all winter and into spring. The aim is to inspire and educate: Storytellers will explain how our town evolved through the voices of indigenous people, enslaved people, women, merchants, sailors, school teachers, ministers, military service people, postal workers, lawyers, judges, and more.

A Liberty Pole will be erected and a Liberty Tree planted to symbolize the right to gather, and to protest – all to demonstrate how freedom of expression was deployed then and throughout our history to galvanize change. There will also be dramatic recitations of the writings of Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine, along with discussions (for young and old alike) of how their writings influenced the revolutionary spirit. 

To acknowledge both our Dutch and English roots, a Tulip of Lewes will be planted during our annual Tulip Festival. And an invitation will be extended to the Mayor of Lewes, England, to travel to their namesake city. A sister-city agreement will also be signed to establish welcoming and lasting relationships between both towns despite historic hostilities.

On the stirring side, a patriot on horseback will ride into town to echo Paul Revere’s actual words: “The   Regulars are coming out,” meaning British soldiers were coming.

On July 4, townspeople will gather at the Sussex Tavern and elsewhere to recite the Declaration of Independence’s 1,320 words aloud.  

Celebratory plans will highlight the role music played in telling our story — spiritual songs, abolitionist songs, political protest songs, along with everyday tavern songs. The plan is to punctuate key milestones in our American journey through the American songbook of iconic songs.

With the Declaration of Independence and our own Declaration of Rights (which today contains an equality clause) as our north stars, the First Town in the First State happily assumes its rightful role in celebrating and retelling our American Story.

The American experiment took root in Lewes. Faithful to our heritage, we will strive to honor our past, rectify its failings, and once again “pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

Ronald Collins is a retired law professor and the Lewes Library’s Distinguished Lecturer. Amy Marasco is the Mayor of Lewes.