Background
Molleston was born in Mispillion Hundred, Kent County, Delaware, near Thompsonville. He was the son of Henry and Sarah Manlove Molleston.
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Henry Molleston
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His ancestor, Alexander Mollestine, was probably Dutch, and was an early settler of Lewes, Delaware. Molleston was a physician, but was also a miller and was known to have had two mills on Isaac"s Branch of the Saint Jones River. He was also a Trustee of Union Academy in Camden.
In 1800 it is believed he lived at "Passey" or "Cooper"s Corner, where State Street crosses United States. Highway 13.
In 1799 he was elected to the State House and served from the 1800 session through the 1808 session. After serving as State Treasurer from 1808 until 1813, he was elected again to the State House for the 1814 session and then to the State Senate where he served from the 1815 session through the 1819 session.
He was Speaker of the State Senate from the 1817 session through the 1819 session. In 1819 he was elected Governor of Delaware by defeating Manaen Bulletin of Laurel, the Democratic-Republican candidate, but died shortly after the election and before taking office.
His death precipitated something of a political crisis, as this situation was not anticipated in the constitution.
The agreed upon solution was for the newly elected State Senate to elect a Speaker, Jacob Stout, and for the incumbent Governor, John Clark to resign before the end of his term, so the newly elected Speaker could succeed to the office. lieutenant was also agreed that Stout would serve only one year as Governor before a special election was held. Molleston died at his home in Dover.
His burial location is unknown, but possibilities include the property where his home was located, the old Whatcoat Cemetery at Camden, or the old Banning Chapel Cemetery on the Dover-Magnolia Road.
Number known portrait of Henry Molleston exists. Elections were held the first Tuesday of October.
State Senators had a three-year term and State Representatives had a one-year term. The Governor takes office the third Tuesday of January and had a three-year term.
Delaware Historical Society.
Website. 505 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801. (302) 655-7161
University of Delaware.
Library website; 181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717.
(302) 831-2965.
Membership
He was a member of the Federalist Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly, and was elected Governor of Delaware, but died before taking office. They were members of the Methodist Church. Molleston was a member of the convention that wrote and approved the Delaware Constitution of 1792.
Members of the Delaware General Assembly took office the first Tuesday of January.
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Born
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Died
November 11, 1819 (aged 57) -
Nationality
United States -
Religion
United Methodist Church -
Political Party
Federalist Party