New Castle Court House Museum facts for kids
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New Castle Court House Museum
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U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
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New Castle Court House Museum
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 Location in Delaware
Location in the United States
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| Location | 211 Delaware St., New Castle, Delaware |
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| Built | 1730 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Part of | New Castle Historic District (ID67000003) |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000285 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 28, 1972 |
| Designated NHL | November 28, 1972 |
| Designated NHLDCP | December 24, 1967 |
The New Castle Court House Museum is a very important historical building in New Castle, Delaware. It's famous because it's the exact center of a special 12-mile circle. This circle helps define most of the border between Delaware and Pennsylvania. It also marks parts of the borders with New Jersey and Maryland.
This building is one of the oldest courthouses in the United States. Many important historical events happened here. Because of its history, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1972. It's also part of the New Castle Historic District, which is another National Historic Landmark. Today, it's part of the First State National Historical Park.
Contents
History
The 12-Mile Circle and State Borders
In 1682, James, the Duke of York, gave William Penn a special land deed. This deed described a circle 12 miles wide around New Castle. This circle was meant to mark the land Penn would own.
However, the borders were quickly challenged by Lord Baltimore, who owned the colony of Maryland. This started a long legal fight between the two families that lasted 87 years!
To solve the problem, officials met at the New Castle Court House many times. In 1750, they agreed that the top of the Court House building (the cupola) would be the exact center of the 12-mile circle.
Later, in 1763, two surveyors named Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon measured the final borders. They drew a straight 12-mile line from the Court House. Their famous line, called the Mason–Dixon line, became an unofficial dividing line between the northern and southern states.
The borders created by the 12-mile circle also caused arguments with New Jersey. In 1820, New Jersey said that Pea Patch Island should belong to them, not Delaware. The issue went to court, and eventually, an arbitrator named John Sergeant decided. He ruled that the original deed for the 12-mile circle was valid. This meant the island belonged to Delaware.
New Jersey tried to challenge the borders again in 1872. The U.S. Supreme Court heard cases about this dispute several times. The Court House's role in defining these borders is a big part of its history.
Colonial and Early American Times
The first courthouse on this spot was built around 1687. This building was not just a courthouse; it was also a government center. The colonial assembly, which made laws, met here.
Sometimes, the assembly for both Pennsylvania and Delaware met in New Castle. In 1700, William Penn himself attended a meeting here. He wanted to fix disagreements between the lawmakers from Pennsylvania and Delaware.
Penn's efforts didn't fully work. In 1704, the three counties that make up Delaware asked for their own assembly. They wanted to make their own laws. They chose William Rodney as their first Speaker. From then on, the assembly meeting in the Court House governed only Delaware.
The original building was mostly destroyed by a fire in 1729. It was rebuilt on the same spot within a year. You can still see the foundation of the first building today.
In 1774, the assembly met here and chose three famous Delaware politicians. They were Thomas McKean, Caesar Rodney, and George Read. These men would represent Delaware in the Continental Congress.
On June 13, 1776, the assembly in this building voted to break away from England. They also decided to separate from Pennsylvania, which Delaware still shared a governor with. This was a huge step towards independence!
When the Declaration of Independence was issued, it was read to the people of New Castle from the second-floor balcony of this Court House. Later in 1776, Delaware's first Constitution was written and approved inside this very building. This made Delaware the first state to adopt its own constitution after the Declaration.
The Court House served as Delaware's first capitol city until 1777. Then, British forces captured Philadelphia and Wilmington. Because of the danger, Delaware's government moved south to Dover, which became the new capital. The building continued to be used for court cases until 1888.
In 1804, a famous architect named Benjamin Henry Latrobe visited New Castle. He designed the United States Capitol building. Latrobe and his assistants drew detailed pictures of the Court House. These drawings were very helpful for later repairs and restorations of the building.
The Impeachment of Samuel Chase
In 1800, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase held court at the New Castle Court House. He wanted to charge newspapers that were criticizing the government. However, the jury refused to charge anyone.
Justice Chase was very angry. He insisted he knew of a newspaper that was causing trouble. He even ordered the town's newspapers to be brought in for the jury to review. Chase was not being fair. He was upset because a local printer had criticized him!
In 1804, Chase became the first, and only, Supreme Court Justice to be impeached by the House of Representatives. Impeachment means being formally accused of wrongdoing. One of the accusations against him was about his actions in the New Castle Court House.
Delaware's U.S. Representative, Caesar A. Rodney, helped lead the impeachment effort. The House said Chase had abused his power by refusing to let the jury go. They said he acted like an "informer" instead of a fair judge.
Chase defended himself by saying it was his job to point out if a law was broken. The Senate, however, found Chase not guilty of the charges. Even though Chase was not removed from office, Rodney was praised for his strong arguments. Two years later, President Thomas Jefferson appointed Rodney as the U.S. Attorney General.
Trials of Thomas Garrett and John Hunn
One of the most famous trials in the Court House happened in 1848. Two well-known abolitionists, Thomas Garrett and John Hunn, were put on trial. Abolitionists were people who wanted to end slavery. Garrett was a close friend of Harriet Tubman and helped many enslaved people escape to freedom.
They were accused of breaking the Fugitive Slave Act. This law made it illegal to help enslaved people escape. The trial was led by U.S. Chief Justice Roger Taney.
Both Garrett and Hunn were found guilty. They were given very large fines, enough to make them lose all their money. But even after this, Garrett and Hunn bravely said they would keep helping enslaved people escape.
Garrett gave a powerful speech in the courtroom. He said the verdicts would make more people think about the "monster evil" of slavery. He believed it would help bring about the end of slavery in America.
After the trials, Garrett wrote to Harriet Beecher Stowe. Four years later, she used these events as inspiration for parts of her famous book, Uncle Tom's Cabin. Garrett was a main inspiration for the character of Simeon Halliday.
By the time the Civil War began, Garrett had helped 2,700 enslaved people escape! Hunn also continued to work for freedom. His son later became Delaware's governor. He helped approve the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution, which ended slavery and gave rights to African Americans.
Justice Taney, who oversaw the trials, later wrote the decision in the famous Dred Scott case in 1857. This decision said that black people could not be considered American citizens.
Museum and National Park
The New Castle Court House opened as a museum in 1963. Today, it is part of the First State National Historical Park. The park's main office and visitor center are located next door, in the Sheriff's House.
The National Historical Park was created to help people learn about Delaware's unique history. It tells the story of how the area was settled by the Swedes, Dutch, and English. It also highlights Delaware's important role in forming the United States and becoming the first state.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in northern New Castle County, Delaware
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Delaware
- List of the oldest buildings in Delaware
- Penn–Calvert Boundary Dispute
- The Twelve-Mile Circle
- Read House & Gardens
- Stonum
