East 7th Street Peninsula in Wilmington in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Anthony - Delaware's First Known Black Settler

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 31, 2021

1. Anthony - Delaware's First Known Black Settler Marker

Inscription. A black man named Anthony was among the first permanent settlers of New Sweden. He came to the colony from the West Indies in 1639 aboard the Swedish ship Vogel Grip. Records indicate that Black Anthony became a free man named Antoni Swart, an employee of Governor Johan Printz, who cut hay and sailed Printz's sloop during the 1640s and 1650s.

Erected by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker Number NC-80.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Delaware Public Archives series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1639.

Location. 39° 43.997′ N, 75° 31.844′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, Delaware, in New Castle County. It is in East 7th Street Peninsula. It is on East 7th Street west of Wilmington Industrial Park, on the right when traveling east. Notice that East 7th Street takes a dogleg right on the way to this marker. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1180 East 7th Street, Wilmington DE 19801, United States of America.

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Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Philadelphia.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic,

on the Delmarva Peninsula,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Mayor John E. Babiarz Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Kalmar Nyckel (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Colonists (about 400 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); USS Monitor – America's First National Marine Sanctuary (approx. 0.4 miles away); Wilmington's Civil War Ironclads (approx. 0.4 miles away); Escape by Sea (approx. 0.4 miles away); Lifeboat 39 (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named Lifeboat 39 (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.

Also see

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 31, 2021

2. Anthony - Delaware's First Known Black Settler Marker

. . . The story of Black Anthony (New Sweden Center). (Submitted on December 24, 2018.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 11, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 21, 2018, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. This page has been viewed 689 times since then and 31 times this year. Last updated on July 11, 2023, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 1, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.