What if the first land deeded in Delaware could still tell its story?

Experience 360 Years of Lewes History—Told Through the Families Who Called the Fourth Street Preserve Home

“The First Settler of Lewes” is more than a story of early survival and settlement—it’s a deeply rooted chronicle of the people who lived on and stewarded the very land now protected by the Fourth Street Preserve Campaign. From the first land deed in Delaware to generations of families who followed, this book traces how lives were shaped by the forest, fields, and waterways of this unique landscape.

Rich in historical detail and grounded in place, the book reminds us that land both makes and preserves memories. And just as the past was shaped by those who lived here, our collective action today ensures this land’s legacy lives on. The Fourth Street Preserve is not only a protected natural space—it’s a living link between Lewes’ founding and its future.