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St. Peter's Square is in the heart of Historic Lewes
The graveyard, which surrounds the church, has many interesting grave stones dating back to 1707.
There are 18 markers throughout the Churchyard that serve as a guide to some noteworthy graves:
1. NUNEZ FAMILY
Row of old slate stones of the Nunez family dating between 1746 and 1775.
2. TOMB OF RYVES HOLT, Esq. (1696-1763)
First Chief justice of Delaware (1745-1763) who is found designated as such in the records of the Supreme Court. He was Sheriff of the county, and in 1733 was appointed King's Attorney for Sussex; he was a member of the Assembly for several years and Speaker of the Assembly. He lived at the corner of Second and Mulberry Streets. In the oldest house now standing, erected before 1685. It was once run as an inn by Phillip Russell.
3. GRAVE OF THE REV. WILLIAM BECKETT
Missionary in Lewes from 1721-1743. In his will he asked to be buried between his two wives. The stone of one , who died in 1732, may be seen to the right of his.
4. ELIZABETH H. CULLEN
This is the famous"February 30th Stone"- the inscription reads "In memory of Elizabeth H. Cullen, born February 30th, 1760 and departed this life September 30th, A.D. 1830. Aged 78 years & 7 months. She stretched out her hands to the poor, Yea, she reached forth her hands to the needy. Prov. 31st Chap. & Vers."
5. TOMB OF CAPTAIN JAMES DREW
of the DeBraak. This was the English ship which foundered on the Capes and from which coins are occasionally washed up after a storm. A leather covered trunk, used as a buoy by three Spanish prisoners, is on exhibit in the Zwaanendael Museum. The stone vase on top of the tomb is reputed to have been sent by Queen Anne.
6. GRAVE OF SAMUEL PAYNTER
(1768-1846), the 26th Governor of Delaware (1824-1827). In 1818 he was appointed a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Sussex.
7. TOMB OF HENRIETTA STOTESBURY
It is believed that the child died June 23rd, 1840 on the sailing vessel which was taking the family from Philadelphia to Europe and was interred after the ship reached the Breakwater.
8. TOMB OF CALEB RODNEY
The 23rd Governor of Delaware, born in 1767 and died 1840. A life-long resident of Lewes, he served frequently as a member of the General Assembly. He conducted a successful mercantile business for many years at the present site of the Zwaanendael Inn. One of the doors from his store and dwelling that was struck by a cannon ball during the War of 1812 is preserved in the Cannon Ball House.
9. TOMB OF THE HON. CALEB S. LAYTON
Sometime Associate Justice of the Superior Court of the state, born 1798 and died 1882. He served as a member of the State Legislature for several terms and was later a member of the State Senate. He served also as Secretary of State under Governors David Hazzard and Charles Polk.
10. GRAVE OF DR. HENRY FISHER
Born in Waterford, Ireland in 1700. He was probably the first physician of eminence in the territory now known as Delaware. He practiced widely and was one of the few educated medical practitioners in Sussex County during his lifetime. He died in 1748. His son, Mayor Henry Fisher, was a noted patriot during the Revolutionary War.
11. GRAVE OF CAPTAIN HENRY F. McCRACKEN
Pilot of the Delaware Bay and River. He requested that his anchor be buried with him in 1868 and the fluke may be seen protruding from the ground.
12. TOMB OF THOMAS NORMAN
Sexton of the church for 44 years. The stone has a model of the church engraved on it.
13. TOMB OF WILLIAM MARSHALL
Pilot of the Delaware Bay and River, born in Lewes in 1774 and died in 1850. He was many times a vestryman of St. Peter's. He was Lieutenant Commander during the bombardment of Lewes by the British, April of 1813 and left a diary recording those in his battery which is now on display in the Zwaanendael Museum. A Lieutenant Marshall is mentioned several times in Rodney's diary and probably refers to William Marshall.
14. GRAVE OF DR. JOSEPH MAULL
Thirty-fourth Governor of Delaware. He was born in "Pilottown" in 1781. While serving as Speaker of the House, he succeeded Governor Thomas Stockton on his death in 1846, but served only nine weeks, dying on May 3, 1846. A practicing physician in Broadkill and adjoining Hundreds, he often served as a member of the General Assembly, served several times as State Senator, and was one of the delegates from Sussex County to the State Constitutional Convention in 1831. Dr. Maull in 1813 was in the company of volunteer militia artillery at Lewes commanded by Samuel B. Davis.
15. TOMB OF DANIEL RODNEY
19th Governor of Delaware (1814-1817). Born in Lewes in 1764 and died in 1846. He was a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the three years from 1817, elected a member of Congress from Delaware, and also served for a short time as United States Senator. He was a lifelong resident of Lewes and built a house on Second Street about 1800 which is still standing.
16. GRAVE OF JACOB KOLLOCK
Born 1692, died 1772. He was a member of the legislature for forty years, Speaker of the House, and Warden of the Parish for many years.
17. TOMB OF MARGARET HULING
This is the oldest stone in the churchyard. The inscription reads:
HERE LYETH YE BODY
OF MARGARET YE WIDOW
OF JAMES HULING WHO
DESERT FEBRY YE 16TH
IN YE 76TH YEARE OF HER
AGE 1707 BORN 1631
18. HULING FAMILY
In the corner at the front of the church is the second oldest stone. It also belongs to the Huling family. A portion of the stone is broken so that the whole inscription can not be read:
mARTHA HIS WIFE
deCEST FEBRY YE
1708 IN YE 8TH YEAR
of HER AGE