USA > Pennsylvania > The history of Pennsylvania : from its discovery by Europeans, to the Declaration of Independence in 1776 > Part 1
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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01753 1267
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyofpennsyl00gord_0
THE
HISTORY
OF
PENNSYLVANIA,
FROM ITS DISCOVERY BY EUROPEANS -
TO THE
Beclaration of Independence
IN 1776.
BY THOMAS F. GORDON.
He 974.8 G65h
PHILADELPHIA: CAREY, LEA & CAREY. JESPER HARDING, PRINTER.
1829
Eastern District of Pennsylvania, to wit :
****
SEAL.
BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the fourteenth day of January, in the fifty-third year of the Independence of the United States of America, A. D. 1829,
***** THOMAS F. GORDON,
of the said district, has deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as author, in the words following, to wit:
"The History of Pennsylvania, from its discovery by Europeans to the Declaration of Independence in 1776. By Thomas F. Gordon."
In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, intituled, " An act for the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned." And also to the act, entitled, " An act supple- mentary to an act, entitled, " An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprie- tors of such copies during the times therein mentioned," and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints."
D. CALDWELL, Clerk of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
.
1231520
PREFACE.
IN the following pages, an attempt has been made to present a full and accurate history of the colony of Pennsylvania, from its discovery by Europeans to the declaration of inde- pendence.
The subject is wanting, perhaps, in that vivid interest which arises from frequent vicissitudes-the result of violent concussions in physical and moral nature. Pennsylvania was founded by deeds of peace, and, during many years, was directed by a philanthropic spirit, and sound principles of common sense, which extinguished or controlled those passions which create the subjects of ordinary historical interest. Her annals, during that period, contain little else than the suc- cessful efforts of a peaceful people to improve their private fortunes and their political happiness. Their progress in the latter only is matter for history. But, as their efforts were confined to the narrow theatre of an obscure province, and consisted of long and abstruse discussions, they have slight attractions for ordinary readers, and impose on the historian scarce any other duty than that of accurate and perspicuous narration. In the performance of that duty a due mesne has been sought; avoiding, on the one hand, an extreme of gene- ralization, productive of vagueness and dissatisfaction, and on the other, that minuteness of detail which wearies and dis- gusts. Still it may be objected, that the extracts from the legislative journals are occasionally too full. But their pro- priety will, perhaps, be admitted, when it is considered that the principal arena of public action was the legislative hall; and that in such details alone are to be found the sources of the public measures of the province, and the character of her most distinguished citizens.
iv
PREFACE.
Subsequent to the year 1753, the policy of Pennsylvania assumed a colour analogous to that of other states. Involved in a war resulting from French encroachments, she was com- pelled not only to contribute to the general means of offence, but to provide against the inroads of her border savages, who, though long fostered by her kindness, became severe scourges to their benefactors. A detail of their barbarities would have filled many pages of the work; but their sameness would have wearied, and their cruelty have disgusted the reader. Still they could not be entirely passed over, and place has therefore been given, to an account of many instances of their brutal ferocity, in the appendix.
From 1753, the knowledge of the history of the British empire in America, becomes necessary to a proper under- standing of that of each colony. But whilst an outline of the former has been given, an effort has been made, perhaps not always successful, to resist the temptation to introduce more of it than was requisite.
Full justice has never been done to the magnanimity and ability of the Pennsylvania statesmen and warriors during the revolutionary contest. The quiet and unpretending cha- racter of her population, has caused the historian, in a mea- sure, to overlook their merit in the council and in the field. So far as the scope of this volume permitted, an attempt has been made to remedy this injustice, by detailing at length the proceedings of the colony in relation to the tyrannical taxes imposed by Great Britain, and her preliminary steps to independence. And a chief object of the author's labours, should they be continued, will be, to exhibit in full and just relief, the great and efficient part which the people of Penn- sylvania had in every stage of the revolution.
Some view of the events leading to the revolution was un- avoidable. It would have been no unpleasant task to trace these from their source through all their ramifications; to have exhibited at large the views of Great Britain in relation
V
PREFACE.
to colonization; her system of colonial restrictions, and her principles of colonial taxation, and to have given in detail the reasons, and the course of colonial resistance. But the extent allotted to this volume would not permit this indulgence, and these subjects therefore have been concisely treated.
Biographical notices of early settlers in the province will probably be sought in this volume by their descendants, and some disappointment may be occasioned by their omission. It would have been a source of pleasure to me, had I been enabled to add considerably to the collections of this kind made by Proud and Smith; but I had very little that was new to offer: and what can there be interesting to the public in the lives of men, whose chief, and perhaps sole merit, con- sisted in the due fulfilment of the duties of private life. The names of the first settlers are interesting to us only because they were the first settlers. We have no affecting tale to relate of them; no perils by flood or field; no privations in- duced by the crimes of others, or their own imprudence. The most that could be said of them is, that they were moral, re- ligious, prudent, quiet people, who, with admirable foresight, made the best advantage of their situation, and who lived in comfort, begat children, and died. All this has been said by Mr. Proud, and I have not deemed it necessary to repeat it. Due attention, however, has been paid to those persons who have distinguished themselves in Pennsylvania History, and such information as I have been able to obtain in relation to public men, has been given in the text, or in the appendix to the work. The names of the members of assembly, of the council, and of the incumbents of the other offices of the province, have been given from time to time; and as changes in office were not very frequent, it is not probable that the names of many are omitted, who were distinguished by their cotemporaries.
To the Society of Friends, by whom the government of Pennsylvania was chiefly administered during the period of seventy years, and by whom the foundations of its prospe-
vi
PREFACE.
rity were laid, I have endeavoured to do full justice. Their firm attachment to liberal political principles; their courage in resisting, by invincible moral force, every encroachment on the rights of conscience; their justice and kindness to the aborigines ; their unostentatious, but efficient charities, have all been noticed. If some inconsistences between their prin- ciples and their practice are discovered, they prove only that our best resolutions are not always proof against the storms of passion or the wiles of expediency.
In the compilation of the work, I have industriously con- . sulted many authorities, and have examined carefully the minutes of the assembly and council, and many files of origi- nal papers deposited in the office of the secretary of the com- monwealth at Harrisburg. Among which, a copy of the records at New York, relative to the country on the Dela- ware, from the year 1664 to the year 1681, was not the least important, since it has enabled me to give an authentic histo- ry of that period. I have also had access to some private correspondence, and manuscript collections, which have shed light upon many subjects, and to which I have given due credit. From the labours of the Historical Society of Penn- sylvania, I have received considerable aid; and it is highly probable that their exertions, if zealously continued, will rescue from oblivion all that is valuable in private collections.
The two first chapters of the work may be considered pre- fatory. The one treats concisely of the history of the shores of the Delaware until the grant to William Penn; and the other gives such a view of the Indian tribes then resident thereon, as the researches of men best acquainted with them could furnish. Both seemed indispensable to the proper un- derstanding of the subsequent pages.
It would have been easy to extend the work to two volumes. The greatest difficulty I have had, was its com- pression to the present size. In order to which, I have re- jected such matters as seemed of minor importance. In my
vii
PREFACE.
choice I may not have employed the best judgment; and may be obnoxious to the reproach of having omitted that which I should have retained. My defence is, that I have exercised an honest, if not a sound discretion; and that should the pub- lic approbation encourage me to continue my labours, I will supply, in a subsequent volume, all that I may have impro- perly omitted in this.
ert
In the language of Doctor Robinson, "I deliver this book to the world with all the diffidence and anxiety natural to an author on publishing his first performance. The time I have employed, and the pains I have taken, in order to render it worthy of the public approbation, it is, perhaps, prudent to conceal, until it be known whether that approbation shall ever be bestowed upon it."
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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Obscurity of the ancient history of America. Abundant sources of its modern history. Common origin of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Discoveries in North America by the Spaniards and Portuguese. Of the French, by Verrazano. Of the English, by Cabot, Gilbert, Raleigh, Gosnold. North and South Virginia companies formed. Voyages of Hudson. Discovery of the Delaware bay and Hud- son river. Exploration of New York bay and Hudson river. Intercourse with the natives. Commerce of the Dutch East India company with America. Protection extended by the States General to maritime adven- turers. Licensed trading company of Amsterdam. Dutch settlements at New York. Plymouth adventurers. Dutch West India company. Their operations in North America. Settlements on Delaware bay and river. Colony planted by De Vries. Destroyed by the Indians. Second voyage of De Vries. Swedish West India or South company. Swedish colony under Minuits. Under Printz. English driven from the Dela- ware by Dutch and Swedes. Swedish settlements. Governor Risingh. War between the Dutch and Swedes. Dutch power established. Dis- pute with Maryland. English settlements under patent of Sir Edward Ploeyden. New England traders and settlers. Conquest of New Nether- lands by the English. Reduction of the Dutch possessions on the Dela- ware. Government there. Rebellion of the Long Finne. Indian troubles. Incorporation of the town of Newcastle. Dispute with Maryland. New Netherlands recaptured by the Dutch. Western shore of the Delaware divided into three jurisdictions. Indian troubles. Purchases. Laws. Settlements in New Jersey. Government. William Penn becomes in- terested in New Jersey. Constitution. 1
CHAPTER II.
Of the aborigines. Their origin and progress from the west. War with, and conquest of the Alligewi. Division of the country between the Lenape and Mengwe nations. Settlement of the Lenape upon the sea- coast. Enmity between the Lenape and the Mengwe. Union of the Mengwe or five nations. Their machinations. Lenape become women. , Domination of the Mengwe. Indian population, their extensive connex- ions, their language. Government and laws. Habits and customs. Re- ligion. Revenge. Hospitality and honesty. - 43
CHAPTER III.
Claims of the Duke of York. William Penn. His views in purchasing trans-Atlantic territory. Purchase from the crown. Boundaries. Char- ter. Observations on the charter. Declaration of the king. Measures of Penn to people his province. First adventurers. Conduct of the proprietary towards the Indians. Frame of government. Territories on the Delaware. Purchase from the Duke of York. - 53
CHAPTER IV.
Arrival of the proprietary. Takes possession of the territories. Convokes an assembly. Laws. Union of the province and territories. Act of
-
ii
CONTENTS.
naturalization. The great law. Remarks. Penn's dispute with lord Baltimore concerning boundaries. Treaty with the Indians. The city of Philadelphia surveyed. Allotments to purchasers. Division of the country into counties. Judiciary. Return of the proprietary to Europe, and settlement of the government preparatory thereto. 66
CHAPTER V.
Death of Charles the second. Accession of James. Conduct of Penn. Impeachment of chief justice Moore. Proceedings against captain Ro- binson. Misconduct in the province. Attempts to convert the Indians. Penn solicited to return to the province. Relations between the pro- prietary and his people. New executive commission. Extraordinary instruction. Alarm of Indian hostility. John Blackwell appointed de- puty-governor. His administration. David Lloyd. Revolution in Eng- land. Its effect on Penn. New arrangement of the executive power of the council, jealousy of the territories, and dissolution of the union. Dis- pleasure of the proprietary. Defence of the province. Dispute with Keith. William and Mary assume the province, and appoint Fletcher governor. 85
CHAPTER VI.
Fletcher re-unites the province and territories. Demands money from the province to aid in securing the frontiers of New York against the Indians and French. The war between England and France extends to America. Proceedings of the assembly. Markham appointed deputy-governor under Fletcher. Assembly asserts its right to sit upon its own adjournments, and to originate bills. Fletcher demands further pecuniary aid. The province restored to Penn. Death and character of Thomas Lloyd. Ad- ministration of governor Markham under Penn. New constitution. State of the province. Buccaneers in the Delaware. The province accused of giving them protection. 103
CHAPTER VII.
Penn returns to the province. Yellow fever. Convenes the assembly. Disputes with the territories. Slaves and negroes. Intercourse with the · Indians. The king requires the province to grant funds for the fortifi- cations at New York. Attempt to change the proprietary to royal governments. Disputes with assembly relating to the concessions. In- corporation of Philadelphia. New constitution. Appointment of council. Andrew Hamilton deputy governor. Departure of the proprietary for Europe. Administration of Hamilton. By his death the government devolves on the council. The royal assent made necessary to the ap- pointment of the deputy-governors. 112
CHAPTER VIII.
Appointment of governor' Evans, He attempts to re-unite the province and territories. Addresses of the assembly to the queen. Oaths required by order of council. Bill for confirming the charter. Disputes between the governor and assembly. The assembly address the proprietary, and treat him with great indecorum. The province divided into two parties under Logan and Lloyd. Governor applies in vain to the assembly, for a copy of the address to proprietary. Receives the proprietary's opinion of the provincial disputes. Assembly alarmed for their popu- larity. The proprietary party is inspirited. Biles, a member of the assembly, is prosecuted by the governor. The house interfere. The governor angrily prorogues the assembly. The assembly are intimi-
iii
1
CONTENTS.
dated and divided. The proprietary party triumph in the election of a new assembly. Labours of the assembly. Evans attempts to establish a militia. Devises a stratagem to test the principles of the Quakers. Conduct of Logan. Fort at Newcastle, and duty imposed for its sup- port. Becomes grievous to the province. Enterprise of Richard Hill and others. The governor endeavours to prevail on the house to pass a militia bill. Judiciary. A new assembly favourable to the popular party. Debates on the judiciary bill. The governor threatens to establish courts by his ordinance. Remonstrance of assembly. Conference. Governor takes offence at the manner of Lloyd. The assembly take part with their speaker. Lloyd's apology to the house. The assembly impeach Logan. Governor declines to try the impeachment. The assembly remonstrate with the proprietary on the conduct of Evans, Logan, and the grievances of the province. Continuance of the disputes. Provincial trade in- terrupted by privateers. Efforts of Evans to induce the assembly to defend the province. Unwise proceedings of the assembly. Recall of Evans. - 129
.
CHAPTER IX.
Arrival of governor Gookin. Complaints of the assembly. Call upon the house for military supplies. Penn's instructions to the governor. Logan attacks Lloyd. Proceedings of the assembly. Logan arrested. Gover- nor dissolves the assembly. Produces a change of counsels. Attack and capture of Fort Royal. Enterprise upon Canada. Assembly grant two thousand pounds. Acts for securing the government, and prohibit- ing the importation of slaves. Proprietary sells his government to the crown. Address of the governor to the assembly. First edition of the laws. Laws repealed by the privy council. Governor publishes an or- dinance re-establishing the courts. Death of queen Anne. Accession of George I. Address of the assembly. Conduct of governor Gookin. Stat. 1. Geo. I. relating to oaths. Governor quarrels with Logan and Norris. His recall. Death and character of William Penn. His will. 156
CHAPTER X.
Popular principles of Sir William Keith. Favourable disposition of the assembly. Fiscal concerns. Inspection laws. Court of Equity. Mi- litia. Change in the assembly. Increase of foreigners. Indian disputes. An Indian murdered. Servants. Want of a circulating medium. Re- medies proposed. Paper currency. Committee of Grievance. Gratitude of the assembly to Keith. Fugitives from justice. Further emission of paper. Counterfeit bills. Impediments by the crown to the passage of private acts of assembly. Indian complaints. Proprietaries disapprove Keith's conduct. Logan divides the council against him. Pretensions of the minority. Logan removed from council. Hannah Penn repre- hends Keith. Letters from Gouldney and Gee. Keith's reply. Com- municates his instructions and correspondence to the assembly. Is re- moved. His character. 179
CHAPTER XI.
Governor Gordon's address to, and reception by, the assembly. Keith's intrigues. Shad fisheries. Death of George I. Murder by the Indians. Indian expenses. Foreign emigrants. County of Lancaster formed. Paper currency. Fraud in the loan-office. Sugar trade. Provincial agency. Attack on the freedom of the colonies in parliament. Assem- bly claim the right of appointment to office. Visit of the proprietaries.
iv
CONTENTS.
Abolition of the court of equity. Death of governor Gordon. His cha- racter. His administration. Logan president of council. 204
CHAPTER XII.
George Thomas governor. Disputes on the Maryland boundary. Andrew Hamilton's address to the assembly. His death and character. Land office. Irregular settlements. War with Spain. Governor Thomas' military efforts. Disputes with the assembly. Forces required from the province. Embarrassment of the assembly. Number of troops furnished. Enlistment of servants. The merchants urge the assembly to contribute to the war. Money granted. Declined by the governor, who sends troops to the West Indies. George Whitfield. Governor recommends armed vessels. Limitation of exports. Departure of Thomas Penn. Election. Governor reproves John Kinsey, speaker of the assembly. Benevolence to the king. Passengers. Lazaretto. Violent disputes between the governor and assembly. John Wright. Election proceed- ings. Riot. Reconciliation. War with France. Military association formed by Franklin. Indian skirmish. Murder of Armstrong. Treaty at Lancaster. Enterprise on Louisburg. Shawanese Indians. French intrigues. Measures of governor Thomas. Proposed attempt on Canada. Death of John Penn. Governor Thomas returns to Europe. His charac- ter and administration. 222
CHAPTER XIII.
Presidency of Anthony Palmer. Insults from the enemy in the Delaware bay. Indian transactions. Military efforts. Peace. Disputes between the council and assembly. Governor Hamilton. Indians. Removal of settlers from unpurchased lands. French encroachments. Indian ex- penses. Dispute with the proprietaries. Death of John Kinsey. Ben- jamin Franklin member of assembly. Pennsylvania hospital. French proceedings on the Ohio. Assembly refer their consideration to the governor of New York. Paper currency. Imports and exports of Penn- sylvania. Disputes between the governor and assembly on the money bills. Washington's journey to Venango. Instructions of the British ministry to the colonies. Conference with the Six nations at Albany. Lands purchased. Confederacy of the colonies proposed. Its fate. Subterfuge of the assembly to avoid military appropriations. Advance and defeat of colonel Washington. French remarks on his attack of Ju- monville. The governor attempts in vain to obtain funds from the as- sembly. Resigns. Character of his administration. Laws enacted. 255
CHAPTER XIV.
Robert Hunter Morris governor. Instructions from the ministry. Pro- ceedings of the French and Indians. Proceedings of assembly. Indians. Arrival of general Braddock. Claims the assistance of the province. Frivolous dispute excited by the governor. Application for assistance from Massachusetts. Conduct of assembly thereon. Non-intercourse law. Convention of governors at Annapolis in Maryland. Plan of the campaign. Expedition against Nova Scotia. Cruelty towards the neu- trals. German redemptioners. Braddock's expedition. Proceeding of the assembly. Propose to tax the proprietary estates. Visit from the Indians. New disputes between the governor and assembly. Devasta- tions on the frontiers. General defection of the Indians. Causes of this defection. Supply bill. Petitions of the people. Donation by the pro- prietors. Measures of defence. Plan of the campaign for 1756. En- listment of servants. Dispute on the renewal of the excise. Proprietary
V
CONTENTS.
instructions. Bill for regulating the soldiers. Declaration of war against the Shawanese and Delawares. Remonstrance of the Quakers. Indians. Suspension of hostilities against them. Declaration of war in Europe. Lord Loudon commander-in-chief. Proposition to continue the embargo. Treaty at Easton with the Indians. Removal of governor Morris. 287
CHAPTER XV.
Favourable reception of Governor Denny. Communicates the proprietary instructions. "Excise. Resolutions of the assembly on the proprietary instructions. Franklin's report thereon. Petitions to the king. Hear- ing before the council. Militia law condemned. The conduct of the Quakers reproved. Their difficulties. Embargo. Quartering of troops. Provincial forces. Attack on Kittanning. Money bill. Disputes. House resolve to send commissioners to England. Franklin and Norris chosen. Instruction to commissioners. Military operations. Grant of money by parliament to New England colonies. Troops raised in Pennsylvania. Council of governors convened by lord Loudon. Plan for the campaign. Failure of the expedition against Louisburg. Montcalm captures Ticon- deroga and Crown Point. New levy of troops by the province. Affair of William Moore. Singular resolutions of the assembly. Thomas Leech elected speaker. Financial estimate and revenue. Apathy of the pro- vince. Spirit of Pitt. Plan of campaign. Abercrombie repulsed from Ti- conderoga. Captures Frontignac. Treaty with the Indians. Provincial forces. Relaxation of the governor's opposition to tax the proprietary estates. „Altercation between the governor and provincial commission- ers. Progress of general Forbes. Capture of fort Du Quesne. Pro- vincial measures. Indian treaty. Plan of campaign. Forts and fleet of the French on Champlain captured. Niagara taken. Siege of Quebec. Rejoicings on its capture. Proceedings and success of Mr. Franklin. Re-appointment of James Hamilton deputy-governor. 332
CHAPTER XVI.
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