Meet Latimer!

A special mascot is being introduced this year in honor of the 220th anniversary of the ratification of the federal Constitution and the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Delaware Day. Named in honor of James Latimer, presiding officer of Delaware's Ratification Convention, this mascot may accompany Secretary of State Harriet Smith Windsor to special events and will occasionally participate in statewide parades featuring the Department of State's Constitution float. Latimer was designed by Lisa Williams.

Latimer's Story

Latimer is very excited to celebrate Delaware Day this year with Delawareans both young and old. The fact is Latimer could not be any more proud to be a Delaware mouse. His family goes back many, many years in Delaware. His great-great-great-great-grandfather lived in a large tavern in Dover called The Golden Fleece, also known as Battell's Tavern. As some of you may already know, this was no ordinary establishment.

Battell's was a place where many important decisions were made that affected the lives of Delawareans. Of course, it also provided very nice accommodations to many influential people, including John Dickinson and the thirty deputies who signed Delaware's ratification document.

Latimer's ancestor, who lived in a hole in the wall of the Council Room at the tavern, overheard many interesting conversations about Delaware . . . and debates, as well! He heard concerns expressed about the welfare of the people, taxes, economics, military strategies, political viewpoints, the construction of the Old State House, the U.S. Constitution, and the Ratification. In fact, Latimer's great-great-great-great-grandfather was probably one of the most knowledgeable mice in the whole state, simply because he witnessed so much history with his own mouse eyes and ears!

Latimer's great-great-great-great-grandfather, who was also named Latimer, shared his love of history with his family so that each generation passed down stories called "The Tales of Latimer." The story of Delaware's ratification of the Constitution is one of Latimer's favorite tales. He recalls his great-great-great-great-grandfather's story very well.

Despite a very cold week in December more than 200 years ago, thirty men from throughout the State travelled to Battell's Tavern where, his ancestor overheard them discussing the Constitution for five days--morning, noon, and night. Finally, the men made a decision. As the men signed their names to a piece of paper on a big square table, Latimer the Elder ate the crumbs of bread they dropped on the floor. Suddenly he stopped, squeaked with joy, and scurried away with excitement, for you see Latimer learned these men unanimously ratified the Constitution on December 7, 1787, and by doing so, made Delaware the first state.

To honor his ancestor and continue the tradition of celebrating that special day, Latimer the Younger is dressing up in colonial garb and spreading the word about December 7 at events throughout the state this autumn. He has quite a busy schedule for a mouse, but he is doing something he loves--celebrating Delaware history!

The Real Latimer: James Latimer, President of Delaware's Constitution Ratification Convention in 1787

Delawareans from New Castle County elected James Latimer as one of thirty deputies authorized to review the proposed federal Constitution at the ratification convention held in Dover beginning December 3, 1787. His signature on Delaware's Ratification Document - "James Latimer, Pres. [ident]," indicates that he presided over the convention.

During the American Revolution, Mr. Latimer served as a member of the New Castle Committee of Safety. Auditors Accounts dated February 5, 1785, record authorization of payment for services provided during the war. James Latimer along with William Kennedy provided passage for sixty-three men from Captain George Latimer's independent company from Wilmington to Philadelphia in 1776 for which he received a payment of £4..14..6. Mr. Latimer received an additional sum of £6..15 for transporting two deserters. Between March 1777 and July 17, 1781, Mr. Latimer served as a justice of the Court of Common Pleas for New Castle County and received a salary of £173..10..11 for his four years, four months, and two days service. With an interest in education, he served on the board of the Newark Academy (University of Delaware) in 1783.

By the time of his death in 1807 Mr. Latimer, a businessman, resided in Newport and owned more than 760 acres of real estate in the county as well as bank stock worth more than $9,580. As a merchant with a wharf and store houses along the Christina Creek, he transported grain and flour to Philadelphia. Probate records indicate that he leased more than 600 acres of land situated in rural Christina Hundred and owned a slave named Amy and her three children--Rachel, George, and Empson. Mr. Latimer conditionally manumitted his woman servant Amy by setting her free three years after his death and instructed his executors to "Bound out" her children until they reached the age of twenty-four.

A variety of outbuildings including a kitchen, woodhouse, stable, and garden surrounded his residence, which he expanded shortly before his death in 1807. According to his will, probated in 1809, he bequeathed his wife Sarah "the new end of my Present Dwelling House with Liberty of Cooking in the Kitchen" and provided the names of his eight children--four sons and four daughters. While James Latimer divided his real estate holdings among his sons George Latimer, Henry Latimer, William Latimer, and Thomas Latimer, he bequeathed his daughters Margret Geddes, Sarah Cuthbert, Jean Latimer and Susannah CathCort the sum of £50 each. Apparently the youngest daughter Jean Latimer also received "a bed and furniture of her choice and furniture for one room." The most expensive object listed on his inventory was 135 ounces of silver valued at $169.50. Household furnishings included a clock, seven tables, thirty-four chairs, two dressing tables, four beds and furniture, a desk and chest of drawers, and a tea table.

Resources:

New Castle Probate Files, James Latimer 1807 - 1809, RG 2545.001, Roll #251 - Delaware Public Archives.

Bushman, Claudia L., et al, eds. Proceedings of the House of Assembly of the Delaware State 1781-1792 and of the Constitutional Convention of 1792. Newark: University of Delaware Press, 1988.

James Latimer Portrait: RG 1325.036 General Collection Portraits, Box 4, Folder 8, Photo Number P229 - Delaware Public Archives