Caesar Rodney - Signer Declaration of Independence - Delaware
Jason Rusk
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Date Visited: 14 August 2022
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This was the beginning of my second hunt (First planned) for the gravesites of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence. I had a trip planned to go to New Hampshire, and decided to leave a little early to see how many I could find. Virginia Beach to Dover Delaware.
Caesar Rodney 1728 - 1784 - "The Pale Rider"
Life:
Death: The last 10 years of his life were difficult as he suffered from cancer. Rodney died at his farm, Poplar Grove, on June 26, 1784. His remains were reinterred in 1888 at the Christ Episcopal Churchyard in Dover.
Signed the Declaration of Independence at the age of 48.
If you ever take the tour of Independence Hall, and have the right tour guide, you will hear the story of Caesar Rodney. It's the stuff intense movies scenes are made of.
John Adams, John Hancock, and Benjamin Franklin, among others, felt that the vote for independence needed to be unanimous for a number of reasons. First and foremost, each colony needed to be "all-in" for the fight to come against Great Britain. If any of the colonies opted to stay connected to the British, it would weaken the colonies' ability to wage war. Also, it meant the colonies could provide a united front to the world at large, which gave potential allies more reason to support them. The very title of the actual document, "The unanimous declaration of the thirteen United States of America," was written to show that the 13 different and individual colonies could come together to create something new."
As they insisted on a unanimous vote, had Delaware been split, causing a No vote, there would have been no Declaration, and no Revolution. (to be dramatic)
Hence the importance and legend and story of the Pale Rider.
I borrow the following story from Wedman, Sheraton, and O’Connor's, CAESAR RODNEY HISTORICAL TRAIL.
On June 7, 1776 Richard Henry Lee of Virginia introduced his famous resolution that would lead to the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. The debate over the resolution became intense. Delaware was not alone in its agony over whether its people would accept separation from the mother country. New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and South Carolina also were torn by similar doubts. While Rodney and McKean never wavered in their support of Lee, George Read, the other Delaware delegate, hedged to the point of opposition. He understood Delawares Tory representation and support for the crown, and was reluctant to vote yes for Independence. The movement for a free America was clearly touch and go. Wise minds decided to delay the debate until July 1.
Meanwhile at Cedar Creek, about 18 miles north of Lewes, hostilities erupted. By the time news of this Delaware deviltry reached Caesar Rodney in Philadelphia the date was June 13, 1776. A thousand Tories armed with guns, pitchforks, and clubs, were reported in violent revolt, intelligence that likely heightened the color on Rodney’s “pale as ashes” countenance. Rodney in action belied his sickness. Orders crackled like rifle fire from his Philadelphia quarters. To the major in charge of the militia, he was not satisfied with issuing instructions to seize all arms and ammunition at Lewes, adding, “Seize the most suspected of the ringleaders as hostages for the good behavior of their dependents.” And suspecting that the source of “corruption and direction” was centered at Dover, Rodney secured a leave of absence from the Second Continental Congress and took to his horse. Clearly worried, since Rodney placed little faith in the fighting quality of militiamen, he spurred the animal onward.
For once he might have spared his fretfulness. Even Tory sympathizers were not altogether fools. What had they to gain if they were arrested and their property confiscated? Instead of encountering enemies he found himself dealing with neighbors and friends. The entire affair settled most amicably.
If Rodney relaxed, back in Philadelphia his old friend Thomas McKean was anything but joyous. Lee’s resolution seeking to declare that “these United Colonies are and of right ought to be free and independent states” was undergoing rough days. Pennsylvania and South Carolina already declared their vote to be on the “nay” side. New York remained neutral. With McKean and Read dividing their votes, Delaware’s delegates remained tied. The formal vote, scheduled for July 1, had been postponed for a day, that is how desperate the situation had become.
It was at this point that John Adams of Massachusetts, instructed Thomas McKean, to get word to Caesar Rodney to return as soon as possible to save the vote. McKean wrote to Rodney insisting that he was more needed in Philadelphia than Delaware. Rodney was in his home near Dover when McKean’s communication arrived. Rodney, whether he mounted a “flying steed” or a ”swift horse,” was no more reluctant than Paul Revere to start his ride that would win immortality in the American story.
His journey covering more than 80 miles, may as one authority has said, have been pursued “through the long shadows of night, and the heat of July.” Rodney offered only one comment. He “was detained by thunder and rain.” But even if conjecture is the only source of the story, the flight of “the pale rider” toward Philadelphia determined to save the cause of American freedom never can be disrobed of its romance.
Ride on! Brave soul through night forlorn,
Ride on! ‘though weary, weak and worn,
Ride on! ‘tis Freedom’s glorious morn,
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Ride on! Today a Nation’s born
By Thomas Irons
Philadelphia’s thoroughfares are drying from the rain when at last Rodney’s horse stirs up clouds of dust. Still in boots and spurs, Rodney met McKean at the City Hall door. Even then the other delegates were assembling for the day’s session. Rodney strode into the hall of Congress for the business of the day. The turn came for Delaware to vote on Lee’s resolution. Rodney rose. He was dusty and tired and soft-spoken. He said, “As I believe the voice of my constituents and all sensible and honest men are in favor of independence, my own judgement concurs with them. I vote for independence.”
Once the voting for independence concluded and debate resumed, Rodney is remembered for puncturing the self-importance of the Virginia delegates who believed they were the mighty rock on which independence rested. He joked, "Let [Virginia] be of good cheer," he said, "she has a friend in need; Delaware will take her under its protection and insure her safety."
One day, not surprisingly, Thomas Jefferson would refer to Delaware as “a jewel among the States.” John Adams wrote his wife Abigale, that Lee’s resolution, passing without a dissenting vote had made “the second of July 1776 the most memorable epoch in the history of America.”
The following scene from the HBO Series, John Adams, which was an excellent show. (Don't over think it!) Shows the vote, with the final vote cast by Caesar Rodney still soaked and muddy in his "in his boots and spurs" from his 80 mile ride, flanked by McKean and Read.
I think the writers of this scene captures the significance of the vote, with the silence at the end, as they let it sink in what just happened.
Delaware understands their place in history and the significance of the Ride, as this is what they selected in 1999 when the U.S. mint was creating the 50 state quarters.
Address: 509 S State St Dover, DE 19901
Coordinates: 39.15488° N, 75.52155° W
The first leg was the longest as the journey progressed the gravesites were closer. And since this was Sunday, there was no traffic. I arrived at Christ Episcopal Church on a perfect afternoon.
Unlike many others, it is not hard to find his grave, as it is very well marked.
I am amazed that information on his life and historic ride is harder to find than expected.
To make a long story longer, as I read Jennifer Rudnick's book, she notes that the prevailing opinion is that there is a chance, the remains under this marker may not be Caesar Rodney's. Mainly because back in the day, while they did the best they could to mark and keep track of grave sites, it wasn't always accurate. so when they moved his body to the Church from the original site they may not have grabbed the correct remains. When asked where the original site was, the answer unfortunately is:
Somewhere under a runway at Dover Air Force Base.
And since that is where I landed many times coming back from the middle east, I will just go ahead and check the box that I have been to his burial site.