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 29
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The court ordered that every landholder should improve and make passable the road from neighbour to neighbour with bridges, where needful, so that neighbours on occasion may come together-those neglecting, to forfeit 25 gilders.
Peter Putco conveys by deed his land to Harman Jansen.
The limits and division between this and New Castle county are
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The Swedes.
settled by this court, and John Moll, president of New Castle court, viz. : " This county of Upland to begin from the north side of Oele Fransen's creek, alias Steen kill, lying in the boght (bite ?) above the Vedrietige-hoeck, and from the said creek over to the Single tree point, on the east side of this river." [Who now can mark those limits by any of the names of places set down !]
The court orders that the five gilders' tax be paid within fourteen days, as a means to pay court charges, &c .; and that each person bring the same to Tinnecong island, and pay it there to Otto Ernest Cock ; and to give due notice, this shall be fixed up at the churches of Wicaco and Tinnecong.
Complaint being made by the churchwardens, that Neeles Laerson [at whose house the courts were held] had taken in some of the church glebe, with the lots which he had bought of the domine, Lasse Carolus, here in Upland towne-it is ordered he shall have his own due and restore the rest to the church.
James Sanderling, in behalf of the rest of the inhabitants of Upland, (Chester now,) complains that Neeles Laerson stops with his fence the old and usual way to the fly [to the meadow]-it is ordered that he open the way as formerly.
The court adjourns till 2d Tuesday of March.
Then follow several returns of warrants of survey put on record, as done and reported by Walter Wharton, the surveyor, and which are ordered to be sent to the office (of lands) in New York. [This name begins probably the family of that surname among us, and from his descendants came the old log-house, floated up the Delaware from Chester, and planted near the Swedes' church, and still standing in lowly style as a relic, little known of olden time. He died about the same time, and Richard Noble was made surveyor in his place.]
Some of the tracts may be thus noticed, to wit :
A tract of 100 acres, laid out for Michell Izard, called Small gain, on the north-east side of Stille's creek.
A tract of 100 acres, laid out for Anthony Nielson, alias Long, called Long, between Crum kill and Stille's kill.
A tract of 417 acres, laid out for James Sanderland and Laurens Cock, called Poetquessink, lying along that creek, &c.
A tract of 300 acres, laid out for Peter Rambo, Jr., a place on the north-east side of Pennapackes creek, called Ram's dorp.
A tract of 100 acres, laid out for Jacob Hendrickson, called Ja- cob's lot, on the east side of Crum's creek.
A tract of 200 acres, laid out for Henry Hastings, called Hastings' hope, above Poetquessink creek, next to land of James Sanderland.
A tract of 400 acres, laid out for John Test, called the Hopewell of Kent, on the south-west side of Upland creek, next to land of Albert Hendricks, called Lemoky.
At a court held at Upland the 12th and 13th of March, 1678-9, present four justices and the sheriff-
Wm. Orian vs. Johannes De Haes-complains that the account
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The Swedes
books had been miscopied to his injury, and proves by Doctor Thomas Spry, who had once posted them a year before, that altera- tions had been made ; the consequence is, that the debtors gainsay the accounts as they now stand-they therefore order nonsuit, on the ground that De Haes does not truly owe the sum claimed, for lack of a due credit.
Peter Jegou vs. Laurentius Carolus (the domine a minister)- demands by order of Capt. James Bollin, six scipples of wheat, which he sometimes promised and then would refuse-the court ordered payment.
Evert Aldrets vs. Oele Dircksen.
Wm. Clarke vs. Joseph Handley.
Actions withdrawn.
Robt. Wade vs. John Test.
Lasse Cock vs. Michell Fredericks.
Johannes De Haes, by petition, (a common mode,) shows that he has been arrested by Wm. Orian, and forced to come three times to court-on a vexatious pretence, which has already cost him 150 gil- ders the court granted his indemnification to that amount.
James Sanderling in behalf of Marmaduke Randell, by petition, shows that the estate of Walter Wharton, deceased, is indebted for house rent, in Upland, 80 gilders, which are ordered paid; also, that he owes to himself 128 gilders-which he also deemed fully proved, and ordered paid.
Edmund Draufton vs. Dunck Williams-on a demand of 200 gilders for teaching Dunck's children to read the Bible-employed one year, and was to have that sum by agreement, even if they learned sooner-judgement ordered.
Wm. Clarke, of Neshaminies vs. Jan Hendrickson-the plaintiff having entered no declaration ; upon request of defendant, the plain tiff is nonsuited.
Pelle Dalbo vs. Laurentius Carolus, (the domine) for 55 gilders, for sheriff and Marshal's fees-judgement ordered.
Rodger Peddrick & Wm. Hews, joint partners with the rest of the inhabitants of Marrities-hoek, (Marcus-hook,) by their petition, desire that the land there, 1000 acres, be laid out and equally shared, between all the partners, by dividing equally to each the proportions of good and bad land. The court orders, that the petitioners, or those who are dissatisfied with the division, as of old hath been, may at their proper cost have the same surveyed and shared.
Moens Staeckt, by petition, complains that Andries Boen left open the fence of his land, at Calkoen's creek, to his injury-ordered that he make his fence good within four days.
Dunck Williams, by petition, prays a grant of four acres of marsh land, back of his land, at Nieshameenie's creek, in the woods above the king's path-granted.
John Shackerly vs. Jan Claasson, for a debt. 325 gilders judge- ment ordered.
Peter Rambo, Senr., claims a tract of land, at Wiccaco, under a
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The Swedes.
grant of this court, but which three of the Swenson's-to wit. : Oele, Swen, and Andries,-declare will invade the precincts of their patent. It is ordered that the Swenson's retain their land, and if there be any surplus, it may go to P. Rambo.
Rodger Peddrik & Hans Oelsen, appear, and transport (assign) their several lands, at Marrities-hoek, to Jan Hendricksen and Wm. Clayton.
Jans Justassen appeared, and verbally acknowledged his deed of transport of land to Albert Hendricks, lying between Harwicke creek and Middle creek.
In consequence of sundry persons, who were assessed 5 gilders per head, for defraying public expenses, it is ordered, that if they do not pay the same within eight days, they shall severally pay 25 gilders.
Neeles Laersen (at whose house the courts were held) was ordered to make, or leave a lane or street, from Upland creek to "the house of defence, or country house," (block-house,) between this and the next court day, and in default to be fined.
The court was adjourned to second Tuesday in June, and after- wards adjourned again to Sept. 6, and then again to Nov., 1679.
At a court held at Upland, 25th and 26th Nov., 1679 .- Present four justices.
Peter Bacom vs. Capt. Xtopher Billop (Christopher B.) complains that Capt. Billop, (who voyages in a boat from St. Jonses to Bur- lington, 50 miles,) had taken and used his horse for four months, he claims 3 gilders per diem ; also for his services six weeks, 420 gilders. The defendant not appearing, though called in three seve- ral courts, is adjudged to pay 1080 gilders. [In this and other actions James Sanderlin acts as attorney ; so, also, at times, does Edmund Cantwell; but, whether they serve as attorneys in law or as in fact, does no appear; but it would seem as if they act as attorneys in fact, by reason of the absence of the principal.]
James Crawford, of St. George's creek, vs. John Test.
Michel Izard (often spelt Yzard) appeared in behalf of the plain- tff; but the plaintiff not having entered any declaration, and not appearing the next day by himself or attorney, it was, upon the request of the defendant, nonsuited.
Peter Jegou vs. Thomas Wright and Godfrey Hancock, in an action of trespass on the case. The plaintiff declares that, in 1668, he obtained a permit and grant of land, called Leusy point, lying over against Matinagcom island and Burlington, where he settled a house of entertainment for travellers, and there continued till 1670, when he was plundered and utterly ruined by the Indians, " as is well known to all the world," and having thus to seek his livelihood elsewhere. It hath since come to pass, that by the arrival of "these new-comers, called Quakers, out of England," these defendants, Thomas Wright and Godfrey Hancock, have forcibly entered upon nis said lands, and there planted corn, mowed hay, cut timber for
21*
.25
for iba ved. 200 yel hey otif lain
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houses, &c. The defendants having declared themselves very willing to abide the verdict of the court; the court, after a full hearing and examination of the papers, do decree, that inasmuch as said Jegou had Gov. Cartret's grant, and had had possession, " before ever the land was sold by Sir John Berckley unto Edward Billing, and for tha. said Jegou had also bought the land, and paid the Indians for the same, he was of right entitled to the land. [This same question had before been presented before the authorities in Burlington, " who making nothing of it, the case by their consent and these defendants, was removed to this court at Upland." Thus showing how very accommodating and simple were then the princi- ples of " equal justice."]
James Sanderlin vs. John Peers, attaches tobacco for an unsettled debt of 163 gilders.
Ephraim Herman, declares his purpose to desist (decline) his grant of land before given, so that it may lay open to others, whereupon it is requested and granted to Laers Laerson and Oele Coeckoe, (Cocke ?)
John Test vs. Elizabeth Kinsey, demands restitution of five beavers left in her trust. [In this case John Ashton presents him- self as her attorney, in her absence ; but upon her coming, he desires to be dismissed and that she may manage the suit herself. He says, that she is his mistress-of course, making him to be her attorney or representative in fact, only.]
John Test acknowledges conveyance of his land, in Upland, to Richard Friends, of Weymouth, in England ; whereupon James Sanderlin as attorney (in fact) conveys the same tract to Stephen Chambers, of the same Weymouth.
James Sanderlin and Laurens Cock convey their tract of 417, at Poetquessinck, to Walter, James and Francis Forest.
Jonas Nielson makes proof in court, that he had expended 106 gilders in the burial of Peter Veltscheerden and Christian Samuels, who were murdered by the Indians at Tinnagcong island, in 1672. Ordered paid.
John Test declares his conveyance of his tract at Lamoco, at the head of Upland creek, to Richard Boverington and John Grub, also his tract, called Hopewell of Kent, to the same persons.
It being represented to the court, by the churchwardens of Tin- nacong and Wicaco churches, that the fences about the church- yards and the church buildings are much out of repair, and that some of the members are negligent to repair the same. The court orders that they be empowered to summons the members to meet and to do the said repairs, and that whosoever neglects shall forfeit 50 gilders severally, to be levied out of their goods. Court ad- journed to second Tuesday of March next.
At a court held the 10th March, 1679-80 .- Present six justices.
Thomas Kerby vs. Gilbert Wheeler, claims for work done at four gilders per diem, from October to January. The defendant says he
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worked not so long. The debates of both being heard, the court adjudges payment for seventy days, at 50 stivers per day.
At same time, Robert Drawton claims for sixty-three days, and the court adjudges fifty-four days at 50 stivers.
Andries Boen vs. Edward Williams, had contracted for thirteen hundred pounds tobacco, payable in Maryland, which the defendant shunned to deliver, and having found a horse of his now in Upland, has attached the same, and now asks a decree of the court for its sale, &c., which was ordered, and appraisers appointed to value the same.
Harmon Ennis vs. Andries Homman, demands the hire of a pair of oxen for one year, 45 gilders. The court adjudged 23 gilders for a shorter time.
Several actions are withdrawn, or, by the advice of the court, mutually settled.
The court declares, that whereas it incurs needful expense for diet, &c., and at same time the law allows 2s. 6d. for every judge- ment by it given, it therefore resolves, that the under sheriff shall collect the same from forty persons named, at 2s. 6d., severally, to the amount of £5. [We thus see at what low prices they gave their services and attention.] The court adjourned to meet the second Tuesday in June next.
At a court held the 8th June, 1680 .- Present four justices.
Gunla Andries, widow of Peter vs. Jonas Nielson, petitions to be put in possession of land, at Kingsesse-the court orders the same.
Upon the petition of Thomas Fairman, (the after owner of the Treaty-tree premises) to have a grant of 200 acres-the court orders the same where he may choose.
It being represented to the court, by the constable, that Claes Cram, lives in adultery with the wife of Bank Salung-it is ordered they shall desist, and in case of non-compliance, they shall be appre- hended for the next court to act upon.
Richard Noble, the surveyor, [he became a sheriff under Penn,] made report of seven surveys of land, made by him for individuals named, that they may be sent to the office in New York government.
The court order, that as their former sittings at Upland creek, (Chester,) is at the lower end of the county, they will thereafter, for " the most ease of the people," meet and sit at the towne of King- sesse in the Schuylkill.
Gunla Andries petitions, that her title to land, before disputed and now settled, may be translated from the Dutch and be put on the record of the court in English-granted. A part of her said land is designated by 25 " Schrett of fence."
Peter Andries alleges, that the houses of Swen Gunnarson are standing upon his land. The court orders their removal. The witnesses are Oluff Stilla, (Stille) and Otto Ernest Cock .-- Court adjourned.
At a court held at Kingsesse, Oct. 13, 1680 .- Present five justices
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Claes Cram vs. Hans Peters, in an action of slander, saying he was a thief, &c. Witnesses being examined, and the defendant not being able to make any proof-the court adjudge that he shall declare himself a liar, and the plaintiff an honest man, and pay 20 gilders.
Moens Peterson vs. Hans Jurian, in an action for slander. Wit- ness proved the wrangling of the parties, and that the defendant said. You have broken my calf's leg, and Thou art a gallow's thief; other witnesses being needed the case was adjourned.
Hans Jurian vs. Moens Staecket, for assault and battery, done at his own door, making him bloody, and calling for a gun to shoot him. The court bind him over to keep the peace for one year, on a penalty of £40.
John Stille vs. Dirk Jansen, alleges, that the defendant has marked and taken his pigs, found in his cripple or swamp. The defendant allows the fact, but denies that they could have been any other than his own. The court allows a mistake, and orders a return of them with costs of suit.
Andries Inckhooren (Inkhorn) vs. Andries Homman, complains that the defendant pulled him by the beard and twisted his neck, and demands the reason and a reparation. A. H., being a consta- ble, answered that he went to his house in pursuit of a whore and a rogue, and was obstructed by him, when he therefore pushed him aside. The court ordered a nonsuit.
Otto Ernest Cock (Justice) vs. M. P. Staecket, in an action of slander-had called him a hog-thief-the defendant says if that he did, it was in his drink, and humbly asks his pardon-and there- upon the justice said he was satisfied, and the suit was dismissed with paying costs.
Hans Moensen and Peter Jocum vs. Peter Rambo, Senr., com- plains that Rambo holds his Marsh land, and asks restitution. Wit- nesses declare that they knew Captain Hans Moens, to have mowed the hay on some part of that fly. The court orders the first patent under Governor Lovelace to possess the title, and that the defendant shall possess. [This was at Schuylkill falls, and I have the deed.] The court appoint John Cock and Lasse Dalbo to be overseers of roads and fences, for one year. Adjourned to second Tuesday of March.
At a court at Kingsesse, March 8, 1680-1 .- Present three justices. Several tracts of land granted, and some conveyed by deed.
At a court at Kingsesse, June 14, 1681 .- Present three justices.
Justice Henry Jones, and Justice George Browne, both fined £10, for non-attendance, as justices, according to law; George Brown afterwards declared he was hindered by the freshet in the creek
Several actions mutually settled or withdrawn.
Claes Jansen brings in the ear-marks for his cattle, and desires they may be recorded-granted.
The petition of Magister Jacobus Fabritius, (the domine,) prays that the signers towards his maintenance shall be compelled-granted
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The Swedes.
Wm. Warner and Wm. Orian, purchasers of land of the Indians, lying in Schuylkill, (Blockley now,) being 335 gilders, pray that the other settlers there shall repay them their several proportions say eight persons, 1500 acres-granted.
An individual at the Falls, is fined £4 for selling liquor to the Indians. Adjourned to second Tuesday of September, 1681, and in mean time, the government is changed and transferred to Wm. Penn, by an order, recorded, from Anthony Brockholls, acting governor of New York, under date of 21 June, 1681, and commanding the peo ple to obey " William Markham, deputy governor," under the new government of Pennsylvania.
A list of sundry of the lands applied for and granted gratis, by the court of Upland, acting under the government of Sir Edmund Andross, from 1676 to 1681, to wit:
At court of 11th September, 1677.
Ephraim Herman (clerk of the court) and Pelle Rambo, 300 acres each, up the river, between Pennepekan and Poequessin creeks.
Christian Claesse, 100 acres next to Michel Shoemaker's land.
Jan Schoeven, 100 acres up the west side of the Schuylkill.
Richard Ducket, 100 acres up the east side of the Schuylkill.
John Mattson, Swen Lom, Lace Dalboo, 100 acres each, at Weis- sakitkonk, now Wissahiccon.
Pelle Dalboo, 200 acres, just above Tacaminik.
Jan Claasson, Paerde Cooper, 300 acres in Nishamminies creek, next to land of James Sanderling, two miles up.
Thomas Jacobse, 100 acres up Nishamminies creek, next to Claassen's.
William Jeacox, 100 acres up Nishamminies creek, next to Claas- sen's.
Lace Cock and James Sanderling, 100 acres each, up above Poequessink.
Captain Hans Moens, 300 acres up Pennepak creek.
Anthony Nealson and Michell Yzard, each 100 acres up above, in Cromkill.
Benjamin Goodman, 100 acres up Schuylkill, next to Richard Ducket's.
Laers Laersen and Hans Peterson, 100 acres each, up above the Mill in Amesland creek, and the place called Moherhuling.
At a court of 13th November, 1677
Peter Rambo, 250 acres, between the land of Wicaco and land of Jurian Hartsvelder.
Lace Coleman, Pelle Laersen and Peter Erickson, 100 acres each, near the Falls of the Schuylkill.
Andries J. Inckhoeren, 200 acres in the Schuylkill, just before Beaver island.
Lace and Oele Dalbo, 200 acres in the Schuylkill, just before Beaver island.
At a court of 3d April, 1678.
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Thomas Nassitur, 200 acres. William Warner, 200 acres.
At a court of November 12th, 1678.
Oele Coecker, 300 acres. Henry Tedway, 300 acres.
Matthias Claassen Holstein, 100 acres. Edmund Draufton, 100
acres.
William Orian, 100 acres. Ephraim Herman, 100 acres.
Matthew Allin, 100 acres.
At a court of 12th March, 1678-9.
John Snowden, 100 acres. Hendricks Jacobs, 100 acres.
Jacobus Fabritius, 300 acres. Jurian Hartsvelder, 100 acres.
At a court of 20th March, 1679.
William Woodmancy, 100 acres. Peter Nealson, 100 acres William Clayton, 200 acres. At a court of 8th June, 1680
William Clarke, 200 acres. Peter Cock, 200 acres. Thomas
Fairman, 200 acres. Neeles Jonassen, 200 acres. Joseph Hardly 100 acres. Richard Tucker, 100 acres.
[The foregoing present about half of the whole list, and are here given as specimens.]
The Swedish documents sent by our minister, Mr. Russell, from Stockholm to the Philosophical Society, present two old deeds from Queen Christina, for lands at Chester and Philadelphia, of which 1 have a copy, to wit :
Donation to Captain John Amundson Besh, made by decree of Queen Christina, dated Stockholm, August 20th, 1653,-"that in consideration of the zeal and fidelity of the brave and courageous Captain John A. Besh, and because he has engaged to serve us with equal zeal so long as he shall live, we therefore accord and grant to himself, his wife, and to his heirs, and their heirs, a tract of land in New Sweden extending to Upland Kyll, to keep and possess the same for ever as his inviolable property." [This tract of land is said to be considered as beginning at, and appertaining to, what is now called Marcus Hook, and extended up to Chester, built upon Upland creek.]
At same time and date, a similar grant of the queen, is made to Lieutenant Swen Shute, as follows, to wit: August 20th, 1653 :
For and in consideration of the good and important services rendered to us, by the brave and courageous Lieutenant Swen Shute, and because he has engaged to serve us faithfully so long as he shall live, we therefore give and grant to himself, his wife, and his heirs, a tract of country in New Sweden, viz .: Mockorhultey-kyll, as far as the river, together with the small island belonging thereto, viz. : the island of Karinge, and Kinsessing, comprehending also Passuming, to keep and possess the same for ever, as his inviolable property. [This tract of land is given to the person and name of him who was the proper original owner of the locality called Philadelphia, and covered the ground known by the name of Wiccaco. His name in time came to be called Swan, and afterwards Swanson, i. e., son of Swan.]
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The earliest dates of these Swedish papers are 1640, and seem to refer to an earlier colonization.
The early Dutch and Swedes' papers published in Hazard's Re- gister, from the MS. in the Historical Society, are not interesting to me for extracts. Besides these, were several extracts from the Minutes of Council, extracted by Mr. Sargent.
I here add some facts concerning Tinicum, once a place of head quarters to the Swedish authorities, to wit :
Tinicum consists of big and little Tinicum islands. The larger is nine miles round, three long, and one and a half wide, and has twenty- six houses. It was on this island stood the fortress of New Gotten- burg, and near it Printz's hall, (the mansion of Governor Printz,) and sundry houses and grounds of the Swedes. The house occupied by the governor is said by tradition to be the same now standing on the upland. It bears many interior marks of great antiquity, much of it was burnt by fire in 1822. The island now is worth 150 to 200 dol- lars an acre, and the whole island is worth $400,000, but in 1696, it was all sold for £500. It originally contained but five hundred acres, but now, by embanking and reclaiming from the water, it contains twenty-seven hundred acres, and is rendered much more healthy, and free from fevers and ague. The smaller island, "little Tinicum," fronts the other, out in the Delaware, was dry and embanked before the revolution, but in 1777 our people opened the banks to river invasion, to prevent its use by the British against Mud fort, and it still is flooded in high tides.
The following few facts concerning the Swedes, the earliest culti- vators of our soil, may be worthy of some brief notices, to wit: Penn's letter says the Swedes and Fins came soon after the Dutch; while the latter pursued traffic the others turned to husbandry, settling chiefly about the freshes of the river Delaware. Such as Penn saw them, they were a plain, strong, and industrious people, but had, made no great improvements. Their houses were full of fine children.
Numbers of Swedes lived about Kensington and on Gunner's creek, before the arrival of Penn. They had grants of land from Alexander Henoyon, the governor of New York, as early as 1664, that is the date of the deed to old Peter Cock for Shackamaxon. On that creek, three-fourths of a mile from its mouth, now so dimi- nished, they once built large sloops, and afterwards a brig at its mouth.
The Swedes dwelt in numbers on Tinicum, calling the place New Gottenburg At their church there, the first corpse ever buried was Catharine, daughter of Andrew Hanson, October 24, 1646.
All the Swedes, settled along the Delaware, used to go in their canoes from long distances to the church upon Tinicum island. They did the same in visiting the primitive log church at Wiccaco, almost all their conveyances were preferred by water. There was a store upon Darby to which they always went by water, even when the land route was often nearest.
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