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The Government of the Counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex upon Delaware

Twenty Shillings ~ 20/- ~ £1 1746 - Printed by Benjamin Franklin

One of the fascinating aspects of Delaware's history is that for much of the colonial era it was regarded as a southern province of Pennsylvania. Whilst the legislatures split in the 17th century, the colonial charters for both Pennsylvania and Delaware were held by William Penn and the two colonies shared a common governor for much of the colonial era. This fact is reflected on this early note from the colony that refers to what we now know as Delaware as The Government of the Counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex upon Delaware ie the Delaware river. The earliest notes for these southern counties were printed by Andrew Bradford beginning in 1723. When the first notes were issued in Delaware they traded at a discount versus the regular Pennsylvania notes, but by the 1734 issue the notes traded at par.

In 1734, a 28 year old Philadelphia printer was tendered the contract to print the banknotes for Delaware, having previously printed the banknotes for the colony of Pennsylvania in 1731. This young gentlemen would over the next 50+ years would firmly establish his prominence in the American Revolution and then the establishment of the United States of America and the framing of the constitution. While Benjamin Franklin had his name as a printer on Delaware and Pennsylvania notes until the 1764 issues, only those printed before 1748 were actually printed by Franklin. Those issued until 1764 were more likely printed by David Hall, his foreman in the printing business with whom Franklin had formed a long term partnership with and split the profits of this lucrative business with.

This note having been printed in 1746 was printed by Benjamin Franklin in his Philadelphia printing shop. The note is signed by William Armstrong, possibly Hugh Durborrow(signature faded) and last John Clowes Sr. who was an attorney who lived from ca. 1700 - 1769.

Four Shillings ~ 4/- 1776

This four shillings note was issued in January 1776 and was printed by James Adams of Wilmington Delaware. Adams opened his printing business by printing the Wilmington Almanack commencing in 1762. No paper money was issued by Delaware from 1760 until this 1776 issue, the issuance of the latter likely necessitated by the insuing American Revolution. In a stirring reflection of the ambiguities of political feeling during this heady time, this note was as having been issued in the 15th year of the reign of George III - bearing testament to the fact that early in the Revolution the colonists were not rebelling so much against the King as they were the British Parliament. With the last issue of Delaware notes in 1777 things would change dramatically and no longer was George III's reign noticed on the paper money.

This particular note was signed by John McKinly(1721-1796) who was prominent in Delaware politics, having served in the French and Indian war, and held several political positions in Wilmington prior to the American Revolution. He would go on to being elected president of Delaware in 1777, but was subsequently captured by British forces though later paroled in exchange for the Tory governor of New Jersey who was being held by the Americans. After his release he withdrew from active support of the Revolution.

The second signature on this note has faded in time and I cannot ascertain any details of it that would lend to it's identification. The last signature is of Boaz Manlove, and is quite fascinating in his politics, because he would become a Tory - a loyalist to the British cause. He hailed from Sussex County and held a number of prominent positions in said county, which gave him the prominence to being selected to sign the colonial paper money of Delaware. Curiously he started out the Revolution in 1774 in Boston protesting the British taxation and creating relief societies for the patriots in Boston. However his political thinking must have gravitated as by 1777 he had thrown his lot in with the British and would have a warrant issued for his arrest by the Delaware legislature. His property was thence sold for £2000 and he was believed to have fled to Nova Scotia.

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