A new article has been added at Newspaper Abstracts > United States > Delaware > Sussex http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/index.php?action=displaycat&catid=642 Also visit our new sister sites: http://www.AncestorsOnTheWeb.com http://www.Genealogy101.com Direct link to article: http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/link.php?id=46399 Submitted by: Harrison H Howeth Article Title: The Philadelphia Inquirer Article Date: November 14 1898 Article Description: Uncle Pete of Lewes Article Text: November 14, 1898: More or less mystery surrounds the antecedents of a curious old chap who asserted that he lived more than a century and who died at Lewes, Delaware, near the Breakwater a few days ago. He was known among the old and young as "Uncle Peter" and was a much of a landmark of that ancient town as was the Breakwater. No one knew where "Uncle Peter" came from or what was his true name. To some folks he said his name was William Bryan while others declared that it was 'Gluseppi'. The latter was probably his correct name. Uncle Peter always said that he was born on the little island of Malta in the Mediterranean during the time of the bombardment of Napoleon in 1708. He would talk little about his early life but he showed traces of refinement. Various stories were told on him, one is that years ago a lady of the Italian nobility became anamored of him and he was compelled to flee because of threateed vengenace on the part of the husband. Another was that he served as a drummer under Napoleon in the battle of Waterloo and afterward, while at sea, was shipwrecked off St. Helen and privately managed to secure an audience with the banished emperor but was discovered by the British and sent adrift in a boat and finally rescued. It was in 1868 that "Uncle Peter" went to Lewes with a man named Carpenter from Boston, under contract with Captain Willaim Williams and they worked on some wrecked vessels on the shoals at the mouth of Delaware Bay. Afterward, the two engaged in the junk business in Lewes but Carpenter soon left. "Uncle Peter" lived in a little hut on the Lewes River, among old iron and bones and other odds and ends. He did all his own cooking and was always alone. He prospered until a few year ago when he was hampered by infirmities. Then friends assisted him. A great believer in the power of faith "Uncle Peter" was very devout. For hours at a time he would engage in silent devotions in his hut and when he was found dead his body was in the attitude of prayer. He could speak several languages and was a valuable interpreter for the shipping men about Lewes. It was thought that "Uncle Peter" had amassed several thousand dollars as he was miserly in his habits and that he had hidden treasure buried along the creek but it has not yet developed. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ DE-Old-News ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ NewspaperAbstracts.com - Finding our ancestors in the news! TM http://www.NewspaperAbstracts.com