Delaware: Polity Style: 1682-2024 |
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| 1/11 Oct 1664 | the territories on the coast of the Delaware Bay and Delaware River in possession of the Netherlands (as part of New Netherland) are surrendered to the commissioner of the King of England in accordance with the articles signed on 1/11 Oct 1664 and form part of the Territories of the Duke of York in America (New York Colonial Documents, 3:71; Delaware Papers 1664-1682, pp. 2-3) |
| 28 Oct/7 Nov 1682 | the town of New Castle ("otherwise called Delaware") and adjacent territories upon the Delaware River are surrendered by the attorneys of James Duke of York to William Penn in accordance with two deeds executed by the Duke of York on 24 Aug/3 Sep 1682 (Laws of Delaware, 1:1-7, Appendix; Hazard's Annals of Pennsylvania, pp. 596-598, 606-607; New Castle County Court Records 1676-1699, 2:21-23) |
| 7/17 Dec 1682 | the counties of New Castle, Jones's (Kent) and Whorekills alias New Deal (Sussex) are annexed to the Province of Pennsylvania in accordance with an act passed by the Assembly of Pennsylvania on 6/16 Dec 1682 and promulgated by the Proprietary and Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania on 7/17 Dec 1682 (Laws of Delaware, 1:8-10, Appendix; Pennsylvania Assembly Votes 1682-1776, 1:1-5) [1] |
| 22 Mar/1 Apr 1683 | the territories enfeoffed to William Penn are formally granted to James Duke of York in accordance with letters patent issued by command of the King of England on 22 Mar/1 Apr 1683 (Delaware Public Archives, RG 0000.006 Charter Documents, online) [2] |
| 23? Nov 1704 | the legislative independence of the counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex (Lower Counties) from Pennsylvania is achieved upon the convening of an Assembly of the Lower Counties in Nov 1704 (Penn-Logan Correspondence, 1:344-348) |
| 15 Jun 1776 | civil and military officers who used to exercise their authority in the name of the King of Great Britain are authorized to continue exercising authority in the name of the Government of the Counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, upon Delaware, in accordance with a resolution of the Assembly of 15 Jun 1776 (Delaware Assembly and Convention Proceedings 1770-1781, pp. 199-200) |
| 4 Jul 1776 | the British colonies represented in the Continental Congress are proclaimed "free and independent states" in accordance with a declaration approved by the Congress on 4 Jul 1776, session of the Congress, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Journals of the Continental Congress, 5:510-515) |
| 11 Sep 1776 | the Declaration of Rights and Fundamental Rules of the Delaware State, formerly styled, the Government of the Counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex, upon Delaware is adopted by the Convention held at New Castle on 11 Sep 1776 (Delaware Convention Proceedings 1776, pp. 17-20) |
| 20 Sep 1776 | the Constitution or System of Government is adopted by the Convention held at New Castle on 20 Sep 1776 (Delaware Convention Proceedings 1776, pp. 26-35) [3] |
| 20 Sep 1776 - 12 Jun 1792 | The Delaware State |
| 1 Feb 1779 | the delegates of Delaware to the Continental Congress are authorized to proceed with ratification of the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union in accordance with an act passed by the General Assembly of Delaware (Legislative Council on 23 Jan 1779, concurred in by the House of Assembly on 28 Jan 1779) and signed into law on 1 Feb 1779 (Delaware Legislative Council Minutes 1776-1792, pp. 372-373, 384; Laws of Delaware, 2:645-646; Journals of the Continental Congress, 13:187) [4] |
| 5 May 1779 | the delegates of Delaware to the Continental Congress signed the ratification of the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, session of the Continental Congress, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Journals of the Continental Congress, 14:548) |
| 1 Mar 1781 | Delaware formed part of the United States upon the taking effect of the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union (Journals of the Continental Congress, 19:213-223) |
| 12 Jun 1792 | the Constitution of the State of Delaware is adopted by the Convention held at Dover on 12 Jun 1792 (Delaware Convention Minutes 1792, pp. 86-105) [5] |
| 12 Jun 1792 - | State of Delaware |
- Full title: An Act of Union, for annexing and uniting of the counties of New Castle, Jones's, and Whorekills, alias New-Dale, to the province of Pennsylvania; and of naturalization of all foreigners, in the said province and counties annexed.
- At the time when the Duke of York executed the deeds in favor of William Penn (24 Aug/3 Sep 1682), he did not have a royal patent to this territory. The letters patent of 22 Mar/1 Apr 1683 formalized the grant of lands.
- Full title: Constitution, or System of Government, agreed to and resolved upon by the Representatives in full Convention of the Delaware State, formerly styled the Government of the Counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, upon Delaware, the said Representatives being chosen by the Freemen of the said State for that express Purpose.
- Full title: An Act to authorize and empower the Delegates of the Delaware State to subscribe and ratify the articles of Confederation and perpetual union between the several states.
- The Constitution was adopted by the Convention on 12 Jun 1792 and, evidently, came into operation on or after that date. It was published in the Delaware Gazette, Nos. 379 and 380, 30 Jun 1792 and 7 Jul 1792. The style State of Delaware is attested in the minutes of the Privy Council of 5 Oct 1792 and the proclamation of the President of the State of 3 Nov 1792. The General Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) under the Constitution of 1792 met at Dover on 1 Nov 1792.
Last update: 05 Dec 2023