USA > Delaware > Narratives of early Pennsylvania, West New Jersey and Delaware, 1630-1707 > Part 25
USA > New Jersey > Narratives of early Pennsylvania, West New Jersey and Delaware, 1630-1707 > Part 25
USA > Pennsylvania > Narratives of early Pennsylvania, West New Jersey and Delaware, 1630-1707 > Part 25
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Corn and Flesh, and what else serves Man for Drink, Food and Rayment, is much cheaper here than in England, or else- where; but the chief reason why Wages of Servants of all sorts is much higher here than there, arises from the great Fertility and Produce of the Place; besides, if these large Stipends were refused them, they would quickly set up for themselves, for they can have Provision very cheap, and Land for a very small matter, or next to nothing in comparison of the Purchace of Lands in England; and the Farmers there, can better afford to give that great Wages than the Farmers in England can, for several Reasons very obvious.
As First, their Land costs them (as I said but just now) little or nothing in comparison, of which the Farmers com- monly will get twice the encrease of Corn for every Bushel they sow, that the Farmers in England can from the richest Land they have.
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In the Second place, they have constantly good price for their Corn, by reason of the great and quick vent ' into Bar- badoes and other Islands; through which means Silver is become more plentiful than here in England, considering the Number of People, and that causes a quick Trade for both Corn and Cattle; and that is the reason that Corn' differ's now from the Price formerly, else it would be at half the Price it was at then; for a Brother of mine (to my own particular knowledge) sold within the compass of one Week, about One Hundred and Twenty fat Beasts, most of them good handsom large Oxen.
Thirdly, They pay no Tithes, and their Taxes are incon- siderable; the Place is free for all Persuasions, in a Sober and Civil way; for the Church of England and the Quakers bear equal Share in the Government. They live Friendly and Well together; there is no Persecution for Religion, nor ever like to be; 'tis this that knocks all Commerce on the Head, together with high Imposts, strict Laws, and cramping Orders. Before I end this Paragraph, I shall add another Reason why Womens Wages are so exorbitant, they are not yet very numerous, which makes them stand upon high Terms for their several Services, in Sempstering, Washing, Spinning, Knitting,-Sew-" ing and in all the other parts of their Imployments; for they have for Spinning either Worsted or -Linen, Two Shillings a Pound, and commonly for Knitting a very Course pair of Yarn Stockings, they have half a Crown a pair; moreover they are usually Marry'd before they are Twenty Years of Age, and when once in that Noose, are for the most part a little uneasie, and make their Husbands so too, till they procure them a Maid Servant to bear the burden of the Work, as also in some meas- ure to wait on them too.
It is now time to return to the City of Brotherly-Love (for so much the Greek Word or Name Philadelphia imports) which though at present so obscure, that neither the Map- Makers, nor Geographers have taken the least notice of her, tho she far exceeds her Namesake of Lydia,' (having above
1 Sale. ' Grain.
' Philadelphia in Lydia, Asia Minor. A marginal note in the original reade: "Three German Miles from Smyrna."
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[1698
Two Thousand ' Noble Houses for her Five Hundred Ordinary) or Celisia, or Cælesyria; yet in a very short space of time she will, in all probability, make a fine Figure in the World, and be a most Celebrated Emporeum. Here is lately built a Noble Town-House or Guild-Hall, also a Handsom Market- House, and a convenient Prison.2 The Number of Christians both Old and Young Inhabiting in that Countrey, are by a Modest Computation, adjudged to amount to above Twenty Thousand.'
The Laws of this Country, are the same with those in Eng- land; our Constitution being on the same Foot: Many Dis- putes and Differences are determined and composed by Arbi- tration; and all Causes are decided with great Care and Expe- dition, being concluded (generally) at furthest at the Second Court, unless they happen to be very Nice and Difficult Cases; under Forty Shillings any one Justice of the Peace has Power to Try the Cause. Thieves of all sorts, are oblig'd to restore four fold after they have been Whipt and Imprison'd, accord- ing to the Nature of their Crime; and if they be not of Ability to restore four fold, they must be in Servitude till 'tis satisfied. They have Curious Wharfs as also several large and fine Tim- ber-Yards, both at Philadelphia, and New-Castle, especially at the Metropolis, before Robert Turner's Great and Famous House, where are built Ships of considerable Burthen; they Cart their Goods from that Wharf into the City of Philadelphia, under an Arch, over which part of the Street is built, which is called Chesnut-Street-Wharf,' besides other Wharfs, as High- Street Wharf, Mulberry Street Wharf, and Vine Sreet Wharf, and all those are Common Wharfs; and likewise there are very pleasant Stairs, as Trus" and Carpenter-Stairs,' besides
" This number doubtless is an exaggeration.
' The prison was in the centre of High (now Market) Street, a short distance east of Second Street. "The Cage," a small jail, built in 1683, was still stand- ing at the intersection of High and Second streets.
" Probably an excessive estimate for that period.
" An error; Robert Turner's wharf was at Mulberry (now Arch) Street.
"Tresse's Stairs, built by Thomas Tresse from the bank or bluff of Front Street down to King Street, between High (now Market) and Mulberry (now Arch) streets.
· Carpenter's Stairs, built by Samuel Carpenter from Front to King Street, between Chestnut and Walnut streets.
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several others. There are above Thirty Carts belonging to that City, Four or Five Horses to each. There is likewise a very convenient Wharf called Carpenter's Wharf,1 which hath a fine necessary Crain belonging to it, with suitable Granaries, and Store-Houses. A Ship of Two Hundred Tun may load and unload by the side of it, and there are other Wharfs (with Magazines and Ware-Houses) which front the City all along the River, as also a Curious and Commodious Docka with a Draw-Bridge to it, for the convenient Reception of Vessels; where have been built some Ships of Two or Three Hundred Tuns each: They have very Stately Oaks to build Ships with, some of which are between Fifty and Sixty Foot long, and clear from Knots, being very straight and well Grain'd. In this famous City of Philadelphia there are several Rope-Makers, who have large and curious Rope-Walks especially one Joseph Wilcox.' Also Three or Four Spacious Malt-Houses, as many large Brew-Houses, and many handsom Bake-Houses for Pub- lick Use.
In the said City are several good Schools of Learning for Youth, in order to the Attainment of Arts and Sciences, as also Reading, Writing, etc. Here is to be had on any Day in the Week, Tarts, Pies, Cakes, etc. We have also several Cooks-Shops, both Roasting and Boyling, as in the City of London; Bread, Beer, Beef, and Pork, are sold at any time much cheaper than in England (which arises from their Plenty) our Wheat is very white and clear from Tares, making as good and white Bread as any in Europe. Happy Blessings, for which we owe the highest Gratitude to our Plentiful Provider, the great Creator of Heaven and Earth. The Water-Mills far exceed those in England, both for quickness and grinding good Meal, their being great choice of good Timber, and earlier Corn than in the aforesaid Place, they are made by one Peter Deal,' a Famous and Ingenious Workman, especially for in- venting such like Machines.
-
e
All sorts of very good Paper are made in the German-Town; as also very fine German Linen, such as no Person of Quality
* See p. 261, notes 1 and 2, supra. ' I. e., Dock Creek.
' Joseph Wilcox, previously mentioned as having succeeded to his father's rope-walk at the north end of the town. He was mayor in 1706.
"Peter Daile (d. 1703) of Pennypack Mills in 1703.
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need be asham'd to wear; and in several places they make very good Druggets, Crapes, Camblets, and Serges, besides other Woollen Cloathes, the Manufacture of all which daily improves: And in most parts of the Countrey there are many Curious and Spacious Buildings, which several of the Gentry have erected for their Country-Houses. As for the Fruit- Trees they Plant, they arrive at such Perfection, that they bear in a little more than half the time that they commonly do in England.
The Christian Children born here are generally well-fa- voured, and Beautiful to behold; I never knew any come into the World with the least blemish on any part of its Body, being in the general, observ'd to be better Natur'd, Milder, and more tender Hearted than those born in England.
There are very fine and delightful Gardens and Orchards, in most parts of this Countrey; but Edward Shippey1 (who lives near the Capital City) has an Orchard and Gardens ad- joyning to his Great House that equalizes (if not exceeds) any I have ever seen, having a very famous and pleasant Summer- House erected in the middle of his extraordinary fine and large Garden abounding with Tulips, Pinks, Carnations, Roses, (of several sorts) Lilies, not to mention those that grow wild in the Fields.
Reader, what I have here written, is not a Fiction, Flam, Whim, or any sinister Design, either to impose upon the Ig- norant, or Credulous, or to curry Favour with the Rich and Mighty, but in meer Pity and pure Compassion to the Num- bers of Poor Labouring Men, Women, and Children in England, half starv'd, visible in their meagre looks, that are continually wandering up and down looking for Employment without finding any, who here need not lie idle a moment, nor want due Encouragement or Reward for their Work, much less Vaga-
1 Edward Shippen (1639-1712), a wealthy Quaker merchant, mayor, speaker of assembly, chief justice, and president of the provincial council when it was vested with the deputy governorship. Born in Methley, Yorkshire, England, he removed to Boston, Massachusetts, in 1668 and thence to Philadelphia in 1693- 1694. His "Great House," which was on Second Street, north of Spruce, and overlooked Dock Creek and the river beyond, was occupied for a time in 1699 by William Penn and his family at their first arrival on the occasion of the Proprietor's second visit to his province.
1
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bond or Drone it about. Here are no Beggars to be seen (it is a Shame and Disgrace to the State that there are so many in England) nor indeed have any here the least Occasion or Temp- tation to take up that Scandalous Lazy Life.
Jealousie among Men is here very rare, and Barrenness - among Women hardly to be heard of, nor are old Maids to be met with; for all commonly Marry before they are Twenty Years of Age, and seldom any young Married Woman but hath a Child in her Belly, or one upon her Lap.
What I have deliver'd concerning this Province, is indis- putably true, I was an Eye-Witness to it all, for I went in the first Ship that was bound from England for that Countrey, since it received the Name of Pensilvania, which was in the Year 1681. The Ship's Name was the John and Sarah of London, Henry Smith Commander.1 I have declin'd giving any Account of several things which I have only heard others speak of, because I did not see them my self, for I never held that way infallible, to make Reports from Hear-say. I saw the first Cellar when it was digging for the use of our Governour Will. Penn.'
I shall now haste to a Conclusion, and only hint a little( concerning the Natives or Aborigines, their Persons, Language, Manners, Religion and Government; Of Person they are ordi- narily Tall, Straight, well-turn'd, and true Proportion'd; their Tread strong and clever, generally walking with a lofty Chin. Of Complexion Black, but by design, Gypsie-like, greasing themselves with Bears-Fat Clarified, and using no defence against the Injuries of the Sun and Weather, their Skins fail not to be Swarthy. Their Eyes are small and black. Thick Lips and flat Noses so frequent with Negroes and East Indians,
V
1 Of 100 tons burden. She departed from London in October, 1681, and arrived in Pennsylvania before December 15.
'Governor William Penn's house, built in 1682 in the centre of a large lot between Front, High (Market), and Second streets, patented in 1701 to his daughter Laetitia. After his first visit (1682-1684) the house was occupied by some of the provincial offices for several years, the council meeting there. Robert Turner's letter of 1685 (see p. 269, ante), stating that his house, built the year previously, was the first brick house erected in Philadelphia, would seem to dis- credit the generally accepted view that the so-called Laetitia House, the brick structure in Fairmount Park, removed thither from the above lot some years ago, is the house built for Penn in 1682.
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are rare with them. They have Comely Faces and Tolerable Complexions, some of their Noses having a rise like the Roman. Their Language is Lofty and Elegant, but not Copious; One Word serveth in the stead of Three, imperfect and un- grammatical, which defects are supply'd by the Understanding of the Hearers. Sweet, of Noble Sound and Accent. Take here a Specimen.
Hodi hita nee huska a peechi, nee, machi Pensilvania huska dogwachi, keshow a peechi Nowa, huska hayly, Chetena koon peo.
Thus in English.
Farewel Friend, I will very quickly go to Pensilvania, very cold Moon will come presently, And very great hard frosts will come quickly.
I might Treat largely of their Customs and Manners, but that will not agree with my proposed Brevity.
As soon as their Children are born, they wash them in cold Water, especially in cold Weather. To harden and embolden them, they plunge them in the River, they find their Feet early, usually at Nine Months they can go. The Boys Fish till Fifteen, then Hunt, and having given proof of their Man- hood, by a large return of Skins, they may Marry (else 'tis a shame to think of a Wife) which is usually at the Age of Seven- teen or Eighteen; the Girls stay with their Mothers, and help to hoe the Ground, Plant Corn, bear Burdens, and Marry about Thirteen or Fourteen.
Their Houses are Matts, or Barks of Trees set on Poles, Barn-like, not higher than a Man, so not expos'd to Winds. They lie upon Reeds or Grass. In Travel they lodge in the Woods about a great Fire, with the Mantle of Duffils they wear wrapt about them, and a few Boughs stuck round them.
They live chiefly on Maze, or Indian Corn rosted in the Ashes, sometimes beaten and boyl'd with Water, called Homine. They have Cakes, not unpleasant; also Beans and Pease, which Nourish much, but the Woods and Rivers afford them their Provision; they eat Morning and Evening; their Seats and
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Tables are the Ground; they are reserv'd, apt to resent and retain long: Their Women are Chaste (at least after Marriage) and when with Child, will not admit of their Husbands Em- braces any more till Deliver'd. Exceeding Liberal and Gen- erous; Kind and Affable; uneasie in Sickness, to remedy which, they drink a Decoction of Roots in Spring-Water, for- bearing Flesh, which if they happen to eat, it must be the Fe- male; they commonly bury their Kettles and part of their Goods with their Friends when they die, suspecting (poor Souls) they shall make use of them again at the Resurrection. They Mourn a whole Year, but it is no other than blacking their Faces.
Their Government is Monarchical, and Successive, and ever of the Mothers (the surest) side, to prevent a Spurious Issue. The Distaff (as in France) is excluded the Regal In- heritance. Their Princes are Powerful, yet do nothing with- out the Concurrence of their Senate, or Councils, consisting chiefly of Old, but mixt with Young Men: slow and deliberate (Spaniard-like) in resolving, naturally wise, and hardly to be out-witted. Their Punishments are Pecuniary. Murder may be aton'd for by Feasts and Presents, in Proportion to. the Quality of the Offence, Person, or Sex injur'd; for if a Woman be kill'd, the Mulct is double, because she brings forth Children. They seldom quarel, when Sober, and if Boozy, (which of late they are more apt to be, having learn'd to drink, a little too much Rum of the Christians, to their shame) they readily pardon it, alledging the Liquor is Criminal not the Man.
The way of Worship the Sweeds use in this Country, is the Lutheran; the English have four sorts of Assemblies or | Religious Meetings here: as first, The Church of England, who built a very fine Church in the City of Philadelphia in the Year 1695.1 Secondly, the Anabaptists:' Thirdly, the Presbyterians, and two sorts of Quakers (of all the most numerous by much) one Party held with George Keith;' but whether both Parties
1 The site now occupied by Old Christ Church. ' Baptists.
" George Keith (1639 ?- 1714), a Scotchman, probably native of Aberdeen- shire, holding the degree of M. A. from the University of Aberdeen, originally a rigid Presbyterian but by 1664 a persecuted Quaker minister, one of the ablest and most active of the age of Penn and Barclay, a companion of Penn and Fox in the tour of Germany in 1677, had removed to New Jersey in 1684-1685, serving
1
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will joyn together again in one I cannot tell, for that Gentle- man hath alter'd his Judgment since he came to England, con- cerning his Church-Orders in Pensilvania, by telling and shew- ing them Precepts that were lawful in the time of the Law, but forbidden under the Gospel to pay Tithes, or Ministers to Preach for Hire, etc. As also to sprinkle Infants; and he tells the Presbyterian Minister, That he must go to the Pope of Rome for his Call, for he had no Scripture for it, and that Water-Baptism and the Outward Supper are not of the Nature of the Everlasting Gospel; nor essential Parts of it, see his Truth Advanced page 173. He gives likewise a strict Charge concerning plain Language and plain Habit, and that they should not be concern'd in the compelling part of the Worldly Government, and that they should set their Negroes at Liberty after some reasonable time of Service; likewise, they should not take the Advantage of the Law against one another, as to procure them any Corporeal Punishment: These Orders he tells his Followers, would make Distinction between them and Jews and Moral Heathens, this was in the Year 1693. in Pensilvania: But now the Year 1697. since he came to England, his Judg- ment is chang'd, for he tells his Disciples, that Water-Baptism is come in the room of Circumcision; and by so doing, they would distinguish themselves from either Jews, Pagans or
as surveyor-general of East Jersey and in 1687 locating the boundary line between the east and west divisions of that province. Coming to Philadelphia in 1689 he had served but a year as teacher of the Friends' School when his restless and aggressive spirit began to stir up trouble among the Friends. Feeling himself leader of the denomination in America he was offended by the disregard by the Philadelphia Friends of his proposed amendments to the code of "discipline" of the Society. He questioned the orthodoxy of leading ministers and importuned for a confession of faith. A ready writer and a keen polemic he raised a bitter doctrinal controversy with stormy disputations and a pamphlet war which dis- rupted the Society for a time, and was largely responsible for Penn's loss of his province, 1693-1694. Keith was expelled from the Society, but not before he had drawn to his side a considerable body of followers, including a few men of prominence. He formed a separate body of "Keithites," which in breaking up resulted in the growth of the Baptist denomination and the establishment of the oldest Episcopal churches. He returned to England in 1693 and in 1700 re- ceived ordination in the Church of England. He revisited this country in 1702 Ipon a special mission of reclaiming the Quakers to the mother church. After wo years he went back to England and was given the small living of Edburton n Sussex, where he ended his days as an Episcopal clergyman.
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Moral Heathens: He keeps his Meeting once a Week at Turn- ers-Hall in Fill-Pot-Lane, London, on Sundays in the After- noon; he begins between Two and Three of the Clock and com- monly ends between Four and Five.
Friendly Reader, by this thou mayst see how wavering and mutable Men of great Outward Learning are, if the Truth of this be by any Body question'd, let them look in the Creed, and the Paper against Christians being concern'd in Worldly Government, and the Paper concerning Negroes, that was given forth by the Appointment of the Meeting held by George Keith at Philip James's House in the City of Philadelphia, in Pensilvania; and his Letter also in Mary-Land against the Presbyterian Catechism, Printed at Boston in New-England in 1695. with the Answer to it bound up together in one Book and in Truth Advanced, page 173. And for what relates to him since in England, let them look into the Quakers Argument Re- futed, Concerning Water-Baptism and the Lord's Supper, page 70. And now Reader, I shall take my leave of thee, recom- mending thee with my own self to the Directions of the Spirit of God in our Conscience, and that will agree with all the Holy - Scriptures in its right place; and when we find our selves so, we have no need to take any Thought or Care what any Body shall say of us.
The End of the History of Pensilvania.
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An Historical Description of the Province and Country of West- New-Jersey in America. A short View of their Laws, Customs and Religion: As also the Temperament of the Air and Climate; The fatness of the Soil, with the vast Produce of Rice, etc. The Improvement of their Lands (as in England) to Pasture. Meadows. etc. Their making great quantities of Pitch and Tar, as also Turpentine, which proceeds from the Pine Trees, with Rozen as clear as Gum- Arabick, with particular Remarks upon their Towns, Fairs and Markets; with the great Plenty of Oyl and Whale-Bone made from the great number of Whales they yearly take: As also many other Profitable and New Improvements. Never made Publick till now.
By Gabriel Thomas. London: Printed in the year 1698.
To the Right Honourable Sir John Moor, Sir Thomas Lane, Knights and Aldermen of the City of London, and to the rest of the Worthy Members of the West-Jersey Proprietors.
Worthy Friends,
To whom can the History of West. Jersey with more Justice pertain, than to you the Noble and Generous Proprietors.
That was the chief Motive that inclin'd me to this Dedication, which I hope will be the more acceptable to you, because the Account of that Country is so Sincere and Candid.
I have endeavour'd (by setting forth) the great Encourage- "ments there are) to persuade the Poor, the Idle, the Lazy, and the Vagabonds of these Kingdoms and of Wales to hasten thither, that they may live plentifully and happily, and I doubt not but they will hearken to it, because it is their true Interest. I have done my best endeavours to possess them and others of the great Fertility and Plenty in those Parts, which I need not repeat to you, who must needs be well ac- quainted with the State of that Place. That it may Flourish and mightily tend to your Advantage, as also to the Benefit of England, the hearty desire of your Friend,
GABRIEL THOMAS.
1698]
GABRIEL THOMAS'S ACCOUNT
The Preface to the Reader.
Courteous Reader,
My Chief Design in writing this short Account of West- New-Jersey, is to inform all (but especially the Poor) what Ample and Happy Livelihoods People may gain in those Parts, whereby they may subsist very well without either Begging or Stealing, for if they Steal, they are Whipt, and oblig'd to pay Four Fold; and if they are not of Ability to do that, they must abide in Servitude till they have made Satisfaction to the in- jur'd Person: And if they should be Lazy and turn to Beg, they will get nothing by that Base and Scandalous Imploy- ment; But if they be so Poor that they have not of their own to supply their Wants and Necessities, nor are able to Work, they will have no need to Beg, for People out of their own free Compassion and pure Charity will relieve them in their Ne- cessities. Now if this were all, (though it is not) it wou'd be a sufficient Encouragement to the Idle, the Sloathful, and the Vagabonds of England, Scotland, and Ireland to hasten thither, where besides this, they have a fair prospect of getting con- siderable Estates, at least of living very Plentifully and Hap- pily, which Medium of Life is far better than lingering out their Days so miserably Poor and half Starved; or Whipping, Burn- ing, and Hanging for Villanies, they will have little Tempta- tion, nay or Inclination to perpetrate here. The French Ref- ugees or Protestant People, wou'd soon find it their Interest to remove thither, where they wou'd live far better than in Germany, Holland, Ireland or England. Written by one who earnestly wisheth thy Wellfare and Prosperity in the ways of the Lord, and then thou canst not do amiss in this World.
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