Information and Books about Delaware and the Marvel Family

History of Delaware – On October 25, 1682, William Penn directed that Delaware be divided into townships occupied by 100 families. Each family would have an average of about 10 members (including servants). These townships were referred to as hundreds in an April 9, 1690 order by the Provincial Council. Originally, there were 5 hundreds in New Castle County, 5 in Kent County and 2 in Sussex County. As the population grew, several of the hundreds divided, creating new hundreds. In 1875, the total number of hundreds had grown to the present-day 33 hundreds. Their boundaries have essentially not changed since and no longer serve as judicial or legislative districts. Several of the names of the hundreds end with the suffix kill (for example Broadkill, Murderkill, etc.). This suffix comes from the Old Dutch word ‘kille’ meaning river bed or channel.

The above information came from – Delaware Geological Society website – https://www.dgs.udel.edu/delaware-1868-hundreds-maps

Maps of the Delaware Hundreds in 1868 (click on the link)

Map of the Delaware Hundreds from 1875 to the Present