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. II > Part 13
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It has been matter of surprise to some, why Penn so soon provided for a country residence, even when society for mutual benefit was so necessary in the early rise of Philadelphia. A cause may perhaps be found in his predilections for a country life, as expressed in his admirable letter of family counsel, to wit: "Let my children (he said,) be husbandmen and housewives. This leads to consider the works of God and nature, and diverts the mind from being taken up with the vain arts and inventions of a luxurious world. Of cities and towns of concourse beware. The world is apt to stick close to those who have lived and got wealth there. A country life and es- tate I like best for my children."
A letter of William Penn says, the place cost him £7000, and he intended to settle permanently there, saying, "I should have re- turned to it in '86 or '89 at furthest."
In 1705, he says, " whether I surrender to the crown, or not, shall make no difference as to my coming and inhabiting there." He says he bought there of an old Indian king. Of course it was a royalty once ! It was called Sepessin.
The original tract of Pennsbury contained, in 1684, about 3431 acres, from which were abstracted, at various times afterwards, about 1888 acres granted to others, and 400 acres besides to Arthur Cook, a public Friend of Philadelphia.
John Richardson, a public Friend, speaks in his journal of living with William Penn, at Pennsbury, in 1701-saw there a public meeting and a marriage ; also, an Indian assemblage to renew and revive former covenants with Penn before his departure for Eng- land-they held a cantico or worship, sitting around a fire, and singing a very melodious hymn, after which they joined in a dance, &c.
Having had, in my possession, the book of MS. letters from Wil
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liam Penn to James Harrison, his chief steward-i. e., his general agent of the years 1681 to 1687,-[vide the letters in form in my MS. Annals, pages 164 to 171, in the Historical Society of Pennsyl- vania.] I have here selected such extracts, as will serve to show the character of the houses, &c., once made or intended as the residence of the proprietary and his future generations, to wit :
In August, 1684, he says, he sends Ralph, his gardener, some walnut trees to set, and some seeds of his own raising, which are rare good. He urges Ralph to stick to his garden, and to get the yards fenced in, and doors to them. By an Irish ship, he says, he sends butter, cheese, shoes, &c .- Some beer at £10 a tun, and some wine.
On the 18th of 11th month, 1684-5, he says, " I have sent here- with four servants-three carpenters, and a gardener ; he had three more, but they failed him. I would (says he) have a kitchen, two larders, a wash-house, a room to iron in, a brew-house, and a Milan oven for baking, a stable for twelve horses ; all my rooms I would have nine feet high, and my stables eleven feet, and overhead half a story. What you can, do with bricks. What you can't, do it with good timbers, and case them with clap-boards, about five feet, which will serve other things, and we can brick it afterwards."-[Probably this was never done so afterwards, and furnished a cause of prema- ture decay.]
" Pray, let the court-yard be levelled, and the fields and places about house be cleanly and orderly kept: so let me see thy conduct and contrivance about grounds and farm accommodations. I hope the barge is kept safely. Let Ralph take the lower grounds of the garden, and the other, his helper, the upper grounds and courts- have too a convenient well, or pump, for the several offices.
" I desire that a pair of handsome plain steps be made at the land- ing right against the house, also the bridge more passable going to John Rowland's, unless one over the creek near the New England people may be better done.
" I would have a walk to the falls [meaning in the direction to them,] and to the point where S. H.'s son built, cleared so as two may walk a foot. It would be pleasant if the old Indian paths were cleared up.
" Pray, secure the refusal of the New England people's farms-I ave some in my eye that will buy them.
" Let there be a two-leaved door back, and have a new one in one for the front, as the present is most ugly and low. I would have a rail and banisters before both fronts. The pales will serve round, though they are sad ones."
The 19th of third month, 1685, he writes and says, "I like all thou hast sent me. I hope they go on with the houses and gardens, and let them finish that which is built as fast as they can. The par- tition between the left parlour and the great room the servants used
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to eat in, should be wainscotted up. The doors had best be large between the other parlour and the withdrawing room.
" If the cattle of Col. Lloyd are not brought home from Mary- land, dissolve the bargain, because I will supply beef from Ireland. The last I sent went by way of Barbadoes.
" Let Ralph this fall get about twenty young poplars, of about eighteen inches round, beheaded to twenty feet, to plant in the walk below the steps to the water.
I mentioned the kinds of out-houses wanted, but I know how to shift. I am a man of providence tost to and fro."
"The 11th of 5th month, 1685, he writes and says, "Tell Ralph I must depend on his perfecting his gardens-hay dust [is not this seed ?] from Long Island, such as I sowed in my court yard, is the best for our fields. I will send divers seeds for gardens and fields. About the house may be laid out into fields and grass, which is sweet and pleasant. I trust to provide myself at my coming with carpenters, husbandmen, bricklayers and makers. I hope care is had of my three mares and their colts. I intend to bring more when I come, and a fine horse. A good dairy my wife will love."
The 4th of Stb mo., 1685, he says, " I hear poor Ralph is dead. Let Nicholas then follow it (the garden) diligently, and I will reward him Do not much hiring of carpenters and joiners. That I sent will do. Assure my servants, if they prove faithful and diligent, I will be kind to them in land and other things at my return. By this ship, I purpose to send some haws, hazelnuts, walnuts, garden seeds, &c."
In another letter he says, " I have now sent a gardener (in place of Ralph, deceased,) with requisites. Let him have help of two or three men when needful. He is to have his passage paid and £30, and sixty acres of land, at three years, and a month in each year to himself; he to train me a man and a boy. There comes also a Dutchman, a joiner and a carpenter, that is to work one hundred and fifty days, and pay me £5 or £7 country money, for £7 ster- ling lent him. Let him wainscot and make tables and stands : but chiefly help on the out-houses, because we shall bring much furni- ture."
" I would have Nicholas (the gardener) have as many roots and flowers next spring, by transplanting them out of the woods, as he can."
7th of 9th month, 1685, he writes and says, "I am glad the In- dian fields bore so well. Lay as much down as you can with hay dust, and clear away the wood up the river to open a prospect up- wards as well as downwards. Get some wooden chairs of walnut, with long backs, and two or three eating tables for twelve, eight, and five persons, with falling leaves to them."
17th of 9th month, 1685, he says, " P. Ford has sent James Reed more trees, seeds, and sciences, (scions) which James, my gardener here, bought. Tell James I would have him lay in a good stock
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before he parts with any thing I send him. I would send free stones for the steps, if he had the dimensions. What you build is best done with bricks. The man I sent can make them. A better kitchen would do well, with milk-house, stable, &c., but all by de grees. There is gravel for walks, that is red at Philadelphia, neal the swamp. In what you build, let there be low lodgings over head of eight feet. Let all be uniform, and not ascu from the house. Get and plant as much quick, as you can, about fields, and lay them out large, at least twelve acres in each."
In 1686, he writes : "I send a wheelwright, who can also work as a carpenter. I should be glad to see a draft of Pennsbury, [and so might we !] which an artist would quickly make, with the landscape of the house, out-houses, their proportions and distance from each other. Tell me how the peach and apple orchards bear. Of what are the out-houses built, and how do they stand to the house. Pray don't let the fronts of the house be common. I leave thee whether to go on with my son's land above Welcome creek or no."
Such is the early history of the munificent expenditures and in .. tentions of Penn.
A letter of Wm. Penn to James Logan, of the 23d of 5th mo., 1700, then at Pennsbury, says, " That, because of an injury done his leg, he is unable to meet the council, &c., and therefore desires that four of the counsel, the collector and minister, and witnesses, to come up to him by his barge, which he will send to Burlington." He adds, too, " Let the Indians come hither, and send in the boat more rum, and the match coats, and let the council adjourn to this place. Here will be victuals." At this time he speaks also of his coach or " calash" and horses, then in Philadelphia, and of his man John (a black man) to drive it.
The above letter seems to indicate an assemblage or gathering for a treaty. It would seem there must have been a plurality of such Indian assemblages ; for, in 1701, John Richardson, in his journal, tells of his being there when many Indians and chiefs were then to revive their covenants with Wm. Penn, before his return home. There they received presents, and held their cantico or worship, by dancing around a fire prepared on the ground.
In 1703-4, when young William Penn came to this country, there assembled as many as one hundred Indians, and nine kings, at Pennsbury, to greet his arrival there.
It may further serve to give us a more direct insight into house- hold economy and domestic concerns of such a man as Penn, and as marking the state and style of the grandees of olden time, to give here a list of the furniture and plate, which once was deposited at Pennsbury, to wit:
J. F. Fisher got from Stoke Pogis, of John Penn, two papers con- taining an account of what goods and plate Penn had at Pennsbury. and left there on the 3d of 10 mo., 1701, to wit:
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In the best chamber, sundry tables, stands, cane chairs, a bed and bedding, and a suit of satin curtains, &c.
In the next chamber, a bed and bedding, six cane chairs, a sunt of camblet curtains, &c.
In the next chamber, one wrought bed and bedding, six wooden chairs, &c.
In the nursery, one pallet bedstead, two chairs of master John's, and sundries, &c.
In the next chamber, one bed and bedding, one suit of striped linen curtains, four rush-bottomed chairs, &c.
In the garrets, four bedsteads, two beds, three side saddles-one of them my mother's, two pillions.
In the lower rooms. Best parlour, two tables, one couch, two great cane chairs and four small ditto, seven cushions-four of them satin, three others green plush, and sundries more.
The other parlour, two tables, six chairs, one great leather chair, one clock, a pair of brasses, and other mentioned things.
In the little hall, six leather chairs, five maps.
In the great hall, one long table and two forms, six chairs, pewter dishes, five mazarins, two cisterns, and sundries others.
Linen and plate, damask, Irish diaper, fine Dutch diaper, huga- bag, five sideboard cloths, one large tankard, one basin, six salts, one skillet, five plates, seven spoons, two forks, two porringers, &c., small articles. A chest of drawers containing an invoice of linen, all marked W. P H.
In the closet and best chamber, bed and bedding, two silk blankets and white curtains, also two damask curtains for windows, six cane chairs, one hanging press.
In the kitchen, a grate iron, one pair of racks, three spits, one pair of great dogs, &c.
I see also another paper entitled, " Plate carried to Pennsylvania," from which I extract some of the items: one large tankard, one caudle cup, three tumblers, six spoons, two forks, three chafing dishes, with things to burn spirits, one large plate with the Springet arms, that Springet's grandmother gave him, one little strong-water bottle, G. M. S., one save-all, G. S., six spoons with a cross, six egg spoons, W. P. G., six porringers, G. W. P., eighteen spoons, G. W. P., six forks with W. P.'s arms, one skillet, J. P. M., one sucking bottle, M. P .- W. P., one sugar dish, J. J. M., one large chafing dish with gridiron, a top, which Letitia's grandmother Penington gave her, also one skimmer, from the same to her, one large plate with the Springet arms, that Springet's grandmother Penington gave him. (Several other items are named.)
In conclusion, we add hereto three original letters of Penn, to John and Mary Sacher, while overseeing his concerns at Pennsbury. They are so primitive, frank and friendly, as to set the spirit of the man before us, while we read them.
- -
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Lond. 12, 8 mo., 1705.
Honest John and Mary .- My reall love is to you, and desire you and your little ones preservation heartily, and I know so does my dear wife and loving mistress. We are all, through the Lord's mercy, well, save little Hannah at Bristoll, whose arme has a weak- ness. She is a sweete childe, as Thomas and little Margaret.
I doubt not your care and good husbandry, and good housewifery, to make that place profitable to me, after the hundreds, yea thou- sands, yt have been sunk there from the beginning. Though if that could be lett, to one yt would not misuse it, and you upon a plantation for my deare Johnne, I should like it better, and pray tell James (Logan) so; for I think I have spent too much there already. Johnne grows a fine childe, tall, brisky as a bird, his mother's limbs, but my countenance, and witty, as others say, and as healthy as any of them. Let me hear from you how Sam and Sue attend, and if the black boy and little Sue begin to be diligent. The Lord be with you, and all his humble and faithful ones, on both sides the water. Farewell : your reall friend,
WM. PENN.
Lond. 18, 3 mo., 1708.
John Sacher-Loving friend .- I had thy letter with satisfaction, and glad to hear of thy and family's welfare. I am glad to hear of the good condition of poor Pennsbury, beloved of us all, and there, in the will of God, we wish ourselves. If thou leavest it, give J. Logan an acct. of ye fruit of thy labour, as acres cleared, and fence, and of both plow and sow land. Likewise, deliver all ye plate, linnen and household stuff into his possession and care. [This may account for my Penn-chair received from Mrs. Logan.] I bless God, we are all alive and well, save our dear sweete Hannah, whom the Lord took four months ago, at 43 years, the wittiest and womanliest crea- ture that her age (of 4}) could show, but His holy will be done. Thy loving friend,
WM. PENN
To Honest Mary .- I had thine by our frd. Mary Dannester, with the pair of gloves to Johnne, which both pleased and fitted him well. I was well pleased to heare of yr well doing while at that place of my pleasure, poor Pennsbury, which I like for a place better than I have ever yet lived at, and I hope since 'tis lett, (which to be sure James (Logan) does to our advantage,) it will be kept as it deserves, and be fitt to receive me, if the Lord please to make way for our coming thither again. My dear father has been dangerous ill, which hurry'd me to Bristoll lately. There I saw thy brother, who has three children, and thrives in person and trade.
With true love to thee and thy husband, and honest friend Jane, remain thy friend, W. P.
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Pennsylvania Inland .- Lancaster.
Græme Park. Mrs. Hart, an aged lady, remembered the park when, in the affluence and circumstance of the Græme family, it was stocked with deer, and when all the woods, of five hundred acres, was cleared of underwood, and through the whole were several open avenues, (since grown up.) One place only was left uncleared, called the thicket. The place was surrounded by privet hedge. Miss Stedman, who dwelt with, and survived Mrs. Furguson, the talented daughter of Doctor Græme, retained all the poetic and other papers of Mrs. Furguson, and at the death of Miss Stedman, the papers fell into the hands of Mr. Smith, of Lehman and Smith, druggists in Philadelphia. Mrs. Furguson was a remarkably ready talker, even when a very aged woman, and always talked well. She was habitually called " Lady Furguson" by the neighbours of Græme Park. This same place was sold to French, in 1836, as a poor farm, at a very small price. Sic transit gloria mundi! Mrs. Furguson, it will be remembered, was the lady who was employed. as it was said, to offer the British bribe to Governor Read.
Historical Notices of Lancaster, and Lancaster County.
Lancaster was laid out as a town in 1728.
In 1729 Lancaster county was erected out of part of Chester county The German settlers, in consequence of the new county being formed, applied to the proper authorities for leave to enjoy the rights and privileges of British subjects, which was granted. The law con- taining their names and their petition is signed by Emanuel Zimmer- man, (now Carpenter,) in behalf of others. A large number of Irish emigrants settled at Pequea, also sundry Welsh.
A court house and prison is begun at Postlewaite's, and £300 were lent by the governor upon bills of credit to defray the same. £300 additional were afterwards lent to the same object.
1730, Stephen Atkinson built a fulling mill at great expense upon the Conestoga, but the inhabitants on the upper part of the creek assembled and pulled down the dam, as it prevented them from rafting and fishing. Mr. Atkinson then altered his dam with 20 feet passage for boats and fish.
In 1731 a great excitement was caused throughout the settlements, by the shameful murder of three Indians, by the settlers on Swatara creek. This creek was called after a town in Ireland, by Mr. Pat- terson, one of the original settlers.
In 1732 a violent contest for a member of assembly took place between Andrew Galbraith and John Wright. On that occasion Mrs. Galbraith rode throughout the town at the head of a numerous band of horsemen, friends of her husband. In consequence of her activity, her husband was elected.
In 1734 an Episcopal church was built in Conestoga, fifteen miles from Lancaster. The same year a Lutheran church was huilt in Lancaster.
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The seat of Justice is removed from Postlewaite's to Lancaster, which last place, Hamilton laid out at the request of the proprie- taries.
In 1739, at the request of the Scots Presbyterian ministers and people, they were excused from " kissing the book," when giving their evidence on oath ; the practice being contrary to the doctrine and worship of the church of Scotland.
In 1742, a number of Germans stated that they had emigrated from Europe by an invitation from the proprietaries, and being a .- tached to the Omish doctrines, and that being conscientious as to oaths, they cannot procure naturalization by the present laws. Whereupon a law was made in conformity with their request. [These Omish people wear long beards like the Dunkards, but have no places of worship, save their own private houses, and always re- tiring to a private and retired place, when inclined to pray. They have been excused from juries, in criminal cases, from their known inclination to acquit in cases of taking life.]
In 1743, at an election to supply the vacancy of Thomas Linley, the Irish compelled the sheriff to receive such tickets as they approved, and to make a return accordingly. The assembly cancelled or so altered the return as to give the seat to Samuel Blunston.
Note .- The proprietaries, in consequence of the frequent dis- turbances between the governor and Irish settlers, after the orga- nization of York and Cumberland counties, gave orders to their agents to sell no lands in either York or Lancaster counties to the Irish; and also to make advantageous offers of removal to the Irish settlers on Paxton and Swatara, and Donegal townships, to remove to Cum- berland county, which offers being liberal, were accepted by many. " Du verfluchter Irischer" used to be a frequent ejaculation of re- proach in former days.
In 1774, Murhancellin, an Indian chief, murdered John Arm- strong and his two men on Juniata, and was apprehended by Cap- tain Jack's party, but released after a confinement of several months in Lancaster prison.
This year a treaty was made with the Indians, in Lancaster, by Conrad Weiser, interpreter and agent, &c.
John Musser complained to the governor that the Indians barked his walnut trees, which stood in the town, designing the bark as covers to their cabins ; he asked £6 for damages, and was granted £3.
In 1745, the Episcopal church was partly completed.
In the year 1745, the German pastor of the Lutheran church (built in 1734) united a portion of his congregation with the Mo- ravians. A great ferment was excited among the Lutherans. The Lutherans alleged that they were compelled to hear a doctrine which they did not approve, or else to resign their church.
The " dark swamp," once in the centre of Lancaster, was attempt- ed to be cleared of wood, and a drain made to carry off the water.
In 1749, James Webb complained to the general assembly of
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the undue election and return of a member from Lancaster county, and stating it was done by violence, and by many persons voting five to ten times severally, making 2300 votes out of 1000! The election was confirmed, but the managing officers were brought to the house and reprimanded.
In 1751, at a large meeting held at Lancaster, it was resolved that a house of employment should be erected specially for the use of settlers, who had severely suffered from the hardships of new settlers and from the hostilities of Indians. A farm was procured and also implements for manufacturing, &c. They made stockings there, which soon gave celebrity to Lancaster in that article.
In 1758, the freemen of the county, by reason of the badness of the roads to Philadelphia, in spring and fall, pray to be excused from attendance there in the supreme court, and request a county court in lieu thereof.
In 1759, in consequence of the distracted state of the country by Indian cruelties and French hostilities, a barrack was erected in Lancaster, to contain 500 men, for the security of the country.
A petition of 1763, by settlers along the Conestoga, complains of its dams, as destroying the former fishery of shad, salmon and rock fish, which were before in abundance, and the tributary streams had plenty of trout,-all now gone.
In 1764 occurred the terrible massacre of the Indians in the prison of Lancaster, where they were placed for security. A company of fifty men from Paxton, with blackened faces, armed and mounted, entered the town in full gallop, went to the prison and effected their cruel purposes. They had before destroyed the town of Conestoga manor, murdered six of the Indians, and burnt the place!
The Ephrata institution near Lancaster has hitherto been little understood; prejudice has served to distort facts in the case, so that, from Carey's Museum,-in an article written by a British officer, down through Hannah Adams' " View," &c., Buck's Theological Diction- ary, and even the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, there has been a succession of misconceptions and mistatements concerning the community. They had nevertheless traits of character, which might redound more to the credit of the state and themselves than has been hitherto appreciated. For many years the institution was the seat of learning and the fine arts; and many families of Philadelphia and Baltimore resorted thither to have their children educated; and well the children loved the brotherhood. It contained some of the most learned men of the colony. Peter Miller, the prior, was em- ployed by the government, and translated the Declaration of Inde- pendence into seven different languages, to be sent to the courts of Europe. They had one of the first printing presses in the state; and for a period of twenty years, did more book-printing than was done elsewhere in the whole province; and more original works were written and printed at Ephrata, during the time it flourished, than in any province of the union! The first Sabbath school too, on
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record, was established there: for as early as 1740, full forty years earlier than Robert Raikes' much applauded system was known in England, this one at Ephrata was begun by Ludwig Strecker and others, which continued under good auspices, down to the year 1777.
Music was much cultivated; BEISSEL was a first rate musician and composer. In composing sacred music he took his style from the music of nature; and the whole, comprising several large volumes, are founded on the tones of the Æolian harp-the singing is the Æolian harp harmonized. It is very peculiar in its style and con- cords, and in its execution. The tones issuing from the choir imi- tate very soft instrumental music; conveying a softness and devotion almost superhuman to the auditor. Their music is set in two, four, five, and seven parts. All the parts, save the bass, are led and sung ex- clusively by females, the men being confined to the bass, which is set in two parts, the high and low bass-the latter resembling the deep tones of the organ, and the first, in combination with one of the female parts, is an excellent imitation of the concert horn. The whole is sung on the falsetto voice, the singers scarcely opening their mouths, or moving their lips, which throws the voice up to the ceiling, which is not high, and the tones, which seem to be more than human, at least so far from common church singing, appear to be entering from above, and hovering over the heads of the assembly. Their singing so charmed the commissioners who were sent to visit the society by the English government, after the French war, that they requested a copy to be sent to the Royal family in England; which was cheerfully complied with, and which I understand is still preserved in the National Library. About twelve months afterwards a box was received of three or four feet long, and two or two and an half wide, containing a present in return. What the present was is not now certainly known-none having seen it but FRIEDSAM and JABEZ, who was then prior, and into whose care it was consigned. It was buried secretly by him, with the advice of BEISSEL. It is supposed, by a hint given by JABEZ, that it was images of the king and queen, in full costume, or images of the Saviour on the cross, and the Virgin Mary; supposing, as many in this country have erro- neously thought, that the people of Ephrata possess many of the Catholic principles and feelings. The king, at whose instance they were sent, was a German, and we may presume that he considered that they retained the same views as the monastic institutions of Europe. They have nearly a thousand pieces of music, a piece being composed for every hymn. This music is lost entirely now, at Ephrata-not the music books, but the style of singing: they never attempt it any more. It is, however, still preserved and finely executed, though in a faint degree, at Snowhill, near the Antietam creek, in Franklin county, of this state; where there is a branch of the society, and which is now the principal settlement of the Seventh Day Baptists. They greatly outnumber the people of Ephrata, and
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