USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > Annals of Philadelphia, and Pennsylvania in the olden time; being a collection of the memoirs, anecdotes, and incidents of the earliest settlements of the inland part of Pennsylvania, Vol. I > Part 8
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of conciliation, worth more than a regiment of sharp-shooters. He was then sufficiently young for any agility ; and we remember that one of the old journalists among the Friends incidently speaks of him as having naturally an excess of levity of spirit for a grave minister. We give the fact, however, as we got it. It is by gathering up such facts of difficult belief, that we sometimes preserve the only means of unravelling at some later day, a still greater mystery. Sometimes an old song, or legendary tale confirms the whole. "A peasant's song prolongs the dubious tale !"
The same Samuel Preston says of his grandmother, that she said Phineas Pemberton surveyed and laid out a town, intended to have been Philadelphia, up at Pennsbury, and that the people who went there were dissatisfied with the change. On my expressing doubts of this, thinking she may have confused the case of Chester removal, Mr. Preston then further declared, that having, nearly 40 years ago, occasion to hunt through the trunks of surveys of John Lukens, Sur- veyor General of Bucks County, he and Lukens then saw a ground plot for a city of Philadelphia, signed Phineas Pemberton, Surveyor General, that fully appeared to have been in Pennsbury Manor; also another for the present town of Bristol, then called Buckingham. He also asserts, that from old titles which he has seen, there was a place called therein " Old Philadelphia," being on the bank of the river, next below Pottequessing Creek, i. e. Poquesink Creek, being the bank northward of the ancient "Bake-house," now Morgan's place. The same name, "Old Philadelphia," I have heard there from the old landholders.
Items of Olden Time, extracted from the Minutes of the Assembly of Pennsylvania.
1694 .- 3 mo. 24th .- A committee of eight members being appointed to inspect the aggrievances of the inhabitants of this government, report :
Ist. That the person commissioned to be the clerk of the market, hath committed several misdemeanors.
2d. That there is not an ordinary appointed in each respective county for the Probate of Wills.
4th. That there is not more than one ferry allowed over Schuylkill, near this town
5th. That seizing, or taking away the boat belonging to the inhabitants of Haverford, Radnor, Merioneth, and Darby, is an aggrievance, and of ill-tendency to the inhabitants of this province .*
1695 .- 7 mo. 9th .- The house chose Edward Shippen, Speaker, where-
* The original paper, by P. Robinson, concerning that affair, may be seen on page 314 of my MS. Annals in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
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Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement.
upon it was moved, that three members should treat with Sarah Whitpan* for to hire her room to sit in.
1696 .- The Assembly met at the house of Samuel Carpenter,t in Philadelphia.
1698 .- 3 mo. 12th .- Daniel Smith was chosen Messenger, and attested to keep secret the debates of this house, and the door in safety.
A petition was read from some of the inhabitants of Philadelphia, pray- ing to put down pewter and lead farthings; referred for further con- sideration.
3 mo. 27th .- The house met at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, being pre- vented from meeting at the time appointed by reason of a great fire, which happened in the town this morning.
3 mo. 31st .- Ordered that Jonathan Dickinson have for his labour and attendance as clerk of this present Assembly, £5-that Daniel Smith be paid 50s. as door-keeper and messenger, and that James Fox satisfy for the rent of the house where the Assembly was held.
1699-12 mo. 6th .- Adjourned to Isaac Norris' house, by reason of the extreme cold, for an hour.
Thomas Makin, voted to be clerk for this Assembly, at 4s. per day. [He was Latin teacher of Friends' Academy.]
Twenty-one pounds was voted as a provincial charge for damage done by privateers plundering the town of Lewes.
1700 .- 4 mo. 6th .- Adjourned till 8 o'clock precisely to-morrow morning; and he that stays beyond the hour to pay ten pence.
1701 .- 10 mo. 15th .- Governor's Message to the Assembly.t
FRIENDS,-Your union is what I desire ; but your peace and accommo- dating of one another, is what I must expect from you : the reputation of it is something ; the reality much more. I desire you to remember and observe what I say. Yield in circumstances, to preserve essentials ; and being safe in one another, you will always be so in esteem with me. Make me not sad, now I am going to leave you; since it is for you. as well as your friend and proprietary and Governor,
WILLIAM PENN.
1705 .- 10 mo. 19th .- Ordered, that notice of the time and place of receiving quit rents be given, by affixing notes or advertisements on the door of every public meeting-house for religious worship in each county.
11 mo. 3d .- The petition of Thomas Makin, complaining of damage accruing to him by the loss of several of his scholars, by reason of the Assembly's using the school-house so long,-the weather being cold,- ordered, that he be allowed the sum of three pounds, over and above the sum of twenty shillings this house formerly allowed him, for the same consideration.
* Robert Whitepane's great house was recommended by William Penn's letter of 1687, to be used for the offices of State. It was on east side of Front Street, below Walnut Street, and being built of shell lime, fell into premature decay.
+ Samuel Carpenter's house was situate, I presume, in Water Street, above Walnut street.
+ This letter of rare brevity, presents a surprising contrast to modern messages. VOL. I .- H
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Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement.
12 mo. 22d .- Resolved, by a majority of voices, that the county out of whose representatives the Speaker happens to be chosen, shall pay his whole salary of ten shillings per day.
1706 .- 10 mo. 14th .- The house met; the Speaker together with all the members present, took and subscribed the declarations and profes- sions of faith prescribed by law.
[Note .- The last paragraph of the declaration reads thus, viz. "And we, the said subscribing representatives, and each of us for himself, do solemnly and sincerely profess faith in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ, his eternal Son, the true God, and in the Holy Spirit, one God, blessed for evermore. And we do acknowledge the Holy Scriptures to be given by divine inspiration."]
[John Churchman, a public Friend, in his Journal, says, "I have un- derstood that it was formerly a common practice for them (the Assem- bly) to sit in silence awhile, like solemn worship, before they proceeded to do business."-He wrote in 1748.]
Minutes of the City Council, from 1704 to 1776.
The original Minutes of Council, from which the following are extracts, were unexpectedly found a few years ago by William Meredith, Esq. in the garret part of his house, at the south-west cor- ner of Tenth and Walnut streets. It had before been the residence of Edward Burd, Esqr., Prothonotary, and they had probably been once in his possession, and lost sight of after his death. The whole were comprised in several small MS. books,-since bound together and placed in the office of the City Council. The whole extracts, as originally prepared for me by my friend J. J. S. may be seen to- gether in my volume of MS. Annals, in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, with notes of elucidation, from pages 475 to 482. In what follows, only such facts are mentioned as are not elsewhere cited in other parts of this work,-to wit:
At a meeting of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council, at the house of Herbert Carey, of this city, Innholder, the third day of Octo ber, 1704,
Present, Anthony Morris, Mayor, David Lloyd, Recorder, Aldermen and Council.
The above said Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, and Common Council pursuant to the business of the day, proceeded to the election of a Mayor for the said City, for the year ensuing, and Alderman Griffith Jones is elected Mayor, Nemine Contradicente, of which he accepted, and moved that the £20 fine laid upon him, for refusing to accept of the Mayoralty the last year, may be remitted him, and it is granted, and the said fine is hereby remitted and forgiven.
At a Common Council at the Coffy House, the 1st day of December, 1704, present, Griffith Jones, Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen.
Richard Pruce, John Till, Widow Bristow, Myles Godforth, Christo- pher Lobb, Philip Wallis, &c. persons who keep teems within the city
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being sent for, now came and are admonished, (that mischief being lately committed by some of them) to take care how they drive their carts within this city, for that an ordinance will be immediately made for their regulation.
It is ordered, that John Budd and Henry Badcock do winter the Two Town Bulls, until the 1st of June next, and that they shall have £4 a piece for the same, to be paid them out of the public stock of this city, which they undertook to do.
Ordered and agreed that a Watch-house shall be built in the Market place, 16 feet long, and 14 wide.
Mem. That an ordinance be considered to prevent boyling tar into pitch, heating pitch upon the wharf, or within 20 feet of any building or hay stack.
Ordered, that the Mayor, once in every month, goe the rounds to the respective bread-bakers in this city, and weigh their bread, and seize all such as shall be deficient in weight, and dispose of the same as the law directs.
At a Common Council held at the Coffy house, 15th Dec. 1704, present G. Jones, Mayor, &c. &c.
2nd Feb'y. 1705 .- Aldermen Wilcox, Carter, &c. who were appointed by an order of the last Common Council to divide the city into wards. and to report the same to this Council, report that they have divided this city into wards, and have returned the same under their hands.
It being moved in this Council that that part of the city between Broad Street and Delaware be grub'd and clean'd from all its rubish, in order to produce English grass, which would be of great use and advantage to the inhabitants keeping cattle therein. It is ordered that some proper method be thought upon for the doing thereof by Alderman Shippen, &c.
It is ordered that the Cryer take an account of all the inhabitants of this city keeping cows, and give an account of their names, and number of cows they keep upwards of two years old.
9 April, 1705 .- James Bingham is this day admitted a freeman, paying for the same 31. 2s. 6d, which he accepted and signed.
Samuel Savage is admitted a freeman, and paid for the same 11. 2s. 6d. Matthew Robinson is admitted a freeman at 2s. 6d.
(Similar notices are of constant occurrence.)
1st June, 1705 .- Alderman Masters, Alderman Jones, Tho's. Pascall. &c. &c. not appearing at this Council, are fined 3s. a piece.
It is ordered that Alderman Carter and John Parsons do oversee the Repairs of the Old Cage, to be converted into a Watch house for present occasion.
29 Dec'r. 1705 .- A petition from Joh. Cropp, for an Ordinance, to en- courage him for setting up a public Slaughter House-and settling the rate for Killing Cattle, &c. therein was read.
Ordered, that the Treasurer pay to Solomon Cresson 10s. for the mak- ing of 12 Watchmen's Staves and 2 Constables Staves; and also 3s. to Enoch Story for the painting of three Constables Staves.
Ordered, that the Beadle collect from the Inhabitants of this city, the sum of 6d for every Milch Cow by them kept, and pay the same to the Treasurer.
Ist October, 1706 .- Alderman Story, refusing to accept of the office o'
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Mayor, therefore, he is fined by this Common Council, the sum of Twenty pounds.
This Council p'ceeded to another Vote for the Election of the Mayor, and Alderman Nathan Stansbury was elected by a Majority of Votes, who accepted thereof.
13 Jan'y. 1707 .- Wm. Carter, Thos. Masters, Joseph Yard, and John Redman, are appointed to view the Hollow in the head of Chesnut st. Crossing the fifth street, and take the best methods for making good the same, and giving the water a free passage.
11 Feb'y. 1708 .- T. Masters, Mayor. Ordered, that this Corporation do treat the Govr. as usual upon the Arrival of ye sd. Governour, and that the Treasurer defray the charge out of the publick money.
22 July, 1712 .- Sam'l Preston, Mayor. Thomas Griffiths, Thomas Redman, and Samuel Powel, are appointed regulators of the Partition 'valls within this city.
Ordered that an ordinance be drawn, grounded upon a law of this Pro- vince, for the Ascertaining the Dimensions of casks, and for true Packing of meats for Transportation, and Alderman Hill is desired to think of a fit person for that office.
14 Aug't. 1713 .- Jonathan Dickinson, Mayor. It being very Dificult to Convict such as suffer their Chimneys to take fire contrary to a law of this Province. It is therefore ordered that if the offender will pay the forfiture without further Trouble, he shall have Ten Shillings abated him.
30 Sept. 1713 .- William Hill, the Beadle of this city, having lately in a heat broke his Bell, and given out that he would continue no longer at the place, but now Expresses a great Deal of Sorrow for so doing, and humbly Desires to be Continued therein During his Good Behaviour. And the Premises being Considered, And the Vote put, whether he Should Continue the Place any Longer or No, It past in ye affirmative.
25 Oct. 1714 .- Geo. Rock, Mayor. Ordered that the Mayor, Recor- der, Aldermen and Common Council wait upon the Governour on Wed- nesday next, at the houre of Twelve in the forenoon, in order to proclaim the King, and afterwards present the Mayor Elect to the Governour to be Qualified.
8 Novr. 1714 .- Ordered that an Ordinance be drawn to oblige the sel- lers of Meal and grain in the Market, to Expose their Meal under the Court House, by opening their sacks mouths, That the Inhabitants may see what they buy.
It is ordered that the sum of Fifteen pounds, and ten shillings, Expen- ded in the entertainment upon the Proclaiming the King, beyond the sum of Fifteen pounds, the Mayor voluntarily expended out of his own Pocket, be repaid the Mayor out of the stall rents.
14 Sept. 1716 .- The price of Indenture for Apprentices within this City being now under Consideration. It is agreed and order'd that three Shillings be paid to the Town Clerk for ye Indenture, and one Shilling and sixpence to the Recordr fr the Inrolment.
29 Decr. 1718 .- Samuel Powel being required to Pay his stall rents, prays a discount, he being considerable out of pocket in Building of the Bridge over ye Dock in Walnut St. It is the opinion of the Board that such discount may be inconvenient.
15 July 1719 .- Edward Howel is appointed to Clear the Square at the
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ffront of the Court House, for which he is allowed fforty shillings p. ann to be paid quarterly.
14 Decr. 1719 .- Wm. Fishbourne, Mayor. William Pawlet exhibits an acct of 2s. 6d. for a Bell Rope, 2s. for a Key for a Padlock, 2s. 3d. for smith & Carpenters work about ye Bell, & 4s. for a Double Bell Rope, which is allowed, and the Treasurer ordered to pay him.
The Mayor and Alderman Hill, in Conjunction with the Regulators, are requested to Imploy Jacob Taylor to run out the Seven Streets of this City, and that they cause the same to be staked out, to prevent any In- croachment that may happen in building, for ye want thereof.
11 May, 1720 .- Wm. Fishbourne, Mayor .- The draught of the intend- ed bridge to be built over the Dock in the Second street, being laid before ye Board by Alderman Redman, And whether a Bridge of the width of Second street, or one of seventy five foot in the clear, would be most con- venient. A majority of the Board Inclined to the latter, whereupon the Mayor, Alderman Hill, &c. are requested to agree with the workmen for the doing thereof, and report the same at the next Council.
28 Novr. 1720 .- The Mayor, Recorder, Alderman Logan, Alderman Carter, are desired to Treat with James Henderson, who Now petitions to be a Publick Chimney Sweeper of this City, in Relacon to his Terms and his Capacity of performing itt.
Feby 4, 1722 .- Jas. Logan, Mayor. Schuylkill fferry being now again under consideration of the Board, It is the unanimous opinion that appli- cation be immediately made to Assembly for an Act to Vest ye said Ferry in ye Corporation, and to have sole Management and Direction thereof. It is Ordered that the Mayor, Recorder, Alderman Hill, &c. prepare and present a petition for that purpose without delay.
Aug. 19, 1723 .- J. Logan, Mayor. Ordered that Mary Whitaker be paid two shillings pr week for sweeping the Court House and Stalls twice a week for ye time past, and such further time to come as she shall con- tinue the same.
The Mayor desires ye company of the Board to a Public Dinner with him now provided at the Plume of Feathers.
Sept. 30, 1723 .- Alderman Fishbourne, Geo. Fitzwater and John War- der, are requested to Imploy persons Immediately for the Opening of the High street to the New Ferry.
25 Sept. 1727 .- C. Read, Mayor. William Chancellor applying to this Board for the sum of thirteen pounds ten shillings, due to him for ma- king the fflag Presented to the Gov'r by this Corporation, the Mayor is desired to pay him for the same out of the Moneys in his hands belong- ing to the Corporation.
6 Feb'y. 1728 .- T. Lawrence, Mayor. A motion being made that a fflag staff should be Erected on Society Hill, the old one being rotten and taken down, and there being a necessity for ye same to be done immedi- ately, Ordered that one be provided upon this emergencie at the charge of the Corporation.
22 March, 1728 .- Richard Armitt Represented to this Board that many Hucksters in this City buying provisions in the Market, and often meet the people coming to Markett at the ends of the street, and then buy up provisions, which might be prevented by appointing an Hour both Winter and Summer. for the Ringing the Bell. The Board took the same into
6
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consideration, and order that Ordinance of this city should be forthwith put in execution and published for suppressing the sd practice.
16 May, 1728 .- The Board having heard that a Lottery was Intended to be Erected by Samuel Keimer in this city, during this present Fair, he having sett fforth several printed papers for that purpose, the Board sent for the sd Keimer, who came and having heard what he had to say in behalf of the sd Lottery. Ordered that no Lottery be kept during the said ffair.
7 Oct. 1729 .- The Keeping of a Tavern in the Prison being under the Consideration of this Board, they are of opinion that the same is a great Nuisance and ought to be suppressed and that the Removal thereof be recommended to the Magistracy.
28 Sept. 1730 .- Edward Nicholls now applying to the Board for leave to make a Vaultt before his house at a corner of Chesnutt street, the Board upon the sd application do allow the sd Edward Nicholls to make a Vault paying Twelve pounds p ann. as a rent or acknowledgment to the Corporation.
Isaac Norris and Daniel Radley are desired to get the common shore near the Bridge in Second st. Immediately repaired.
17 April, 1732 .- C. Hasel, Mayor. The Board taking under Consid- eration the frequent and tumultous meetings of the Negro Slaves, espe- cially on Sunday, Gaming, Cursing, Swearing and committing many other Disorders, to the great Terror and Disquiet of the Inhabitants of this city In order not only to prevent such Meetings and Disorders for the ffuture, but also to prevent Children and white Servants meeting in such great numbers on the sd day to play Games and make disturbances and noise in the City, It is by this Board thought necessary that an ordinance be forthwith drawn and prepared to prevent the same.
3d July, 1738 .- A Draught of an Ordinance for the better regulation of the more Effectual suppressing Tumultuous meetings and other disor- derly doings of the Negroes, Mullatos, and Indian servts. and slaves within this City and Liberties thereof was read and several amendments made and it was ordered to be left to the further Consideration of the Board at their meeting.
18 June 1741 .- C. Hasel, Mayor. The Board having taken into Con- sideration the Currency of the English Half pence and the Disquiet that is among the Inhabitants, occasioned by some persons refusing to take them, thought proper that a Declaration should be made publick by the Board, that the sd halfpence shd be taken at fifteen to the shilling, which is ad- judged to be nearest to such value, as might discourage too great a quantity being Imported, and at the same time prevent their being carried away, and a Proclamation for that purpose was ordered to be drawn, and that the same should be published in the City by the Beadle.
17 Aug. 1741 .- C. Hassel, Mayor. Frequent complaints having been made to the Board that many disorderly persons meet every ev'g. about the Court house of this city, and great numbers of Negroes and others sit there with milk pails, and other things, late at night, and many disorders are there committed against the peace and good government of this City. The Board having taken the same into consideration, Do order that all persons depart thence in half an hour after sunset, and that the Constables of the s'd city be charged by the Magistrates to disperse all persons that
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shall meet there after the time aforesaid, and if they refuse to depart, to bring all refusir.g before any of the Magistrates of this city, to answer their refusal and misbehaviour.
The Board having taken into consideration the great danger the Inhabi- tants of this city are in by means of Carts and Carriages driving thro' the streets at the Market Place on Market Days, to prevent the mischief that may Ensue, It is ordered that proper Iron Chains be provided to stop the passage of Carts and Carriages through the Market Places, which chains are to be put up on Market days, at Sun Rise, and continue till Ten o'clock in the Summer and Eleven in the Winter in the fforenon.
4 May, 1743 .- William Till, Mayor. Complaints being made that several Persons have Erected stalls in the Market Place with Merchants' goods on Market Days, and very much Incumber the Market, It is order- ed that ye clerk of the Market remove all such stalls, who shall vend such goods, that the Market place may be kept free and open.
23 Octr. 1744 .- E. Shippen, Mayor. The Board having taken into consideration the Defenceless state of this City in case of an Invasion by the Enemy, Are of opinion that a Petition to the King be forth with pre- pared, Setting forth the defenceless state of the said city, and requesting His Majesty to take the defenceless condition of the Inhabitants into con- sideration and to afford them such relief as his Majesty shall think fit.
A petition to his Majesty being ready prepared was offered to the Board by the Recorder, which was read and considered, which petition was approved of.
1st October, 1745 .- Alderman Taylor, refusing to serve the office of Mayor, is fined the sum of thirty pounds ; and the Board proceeded to a new election, and chose Joseph Turner by a majority of votes, who hav- ing also refused to execute the said office, was fined the sum of thirty pounds ; and then the Board proceeded to a new election, and Alderman Hamilton was elected by a Majority of votes.
Oct. 7, 1746 .- James Hamilton, Esq., Mayor, represented to the Board, that as it had been customary for the mayors of this city at their going out of office, to give an entertainment to the gentlemen of the corpora- tion, he intended in lieu thereof to give a sum of money equal at least to the sums usually expended on such occasions, to be laid out in something permanently useful to the city, and proposed the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds towards erecting an Exchange, or some other public building.
18th Sept., 1747 .- W. A. Attwood, Mayor. It was represented by the Mayor to the Board, that as the time of election of a Mayor for the en- suing year is at hand, and of late years it has been a difficulty to find per sons willing to serve in that office, by reason of the great trouble which attends the faithful Execution of it. He therefore moved, that for the future, some allowance be made to the Mayor of this city, out of the stock of the corporation, for the support of the dignity of that office, and as some compensation for the trouble. The Board taking the same into consideration, the motion was approved, and the question being put, whether one hundred pounds per annum should be allowed, and paid out of the corporation stock, for these purposes for three years to come, it passed in the affirmative.
6 Oct. 1747, P. M .- W. A. Attwood, Mayor. Alderman Morris, the Mayor Elect, not being present, Charles Willing, and Saml. Rhoades
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were appointed to wait on him to acquaint him the Board had chosen hin Mayor for the year ensuing.
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