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. III > Part 4
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Annals of Philadelphia.
the false testimony was given. No person was allowed to enjoy more than one public office at the same time.
All children of twelve years of age were to learn a trade; ser- vants were to be discharged at the end of their time properly equipped. The franchises of the Free Society of Traders were confirmed. Breaches of trust were to be punished. Religious liberty was guaranteed, and the Lord's Day made one of rest. Besides the ordinary crimes, the following were to be punished : lying, drinking of healths, prizes, stage-plays, cards, dice, May games, masks, revels, bull-baitings, cock-fightings, and the like, " which excite the people to rudeness, cruelty, looseness, and irre- ligion."
These laws were to be hung up in the Provincial Council chamber, the General Assembly, and courts of justice, and read once a year. These laws were particular and precise, endeavor- ing to reach to all the needs of a thriving community.
The office of surveyor of Pennsylvania was a very important one, requiring a skilful and careful man. Penn first appointed his cousin, William Crispin, a captain under Cromwell, who sailed to America, but being prevented by contrary winds from ascend- ing the Delaware, the ship carried him to Barbadoes, where he died. If Crispin had lived he was also to have been " chief-jus- tice to keep ye seal, ye courts and sessions." Penn next ap- pointed, on the 18th of April, 1682, Thomas Holme as surveyor- general, and John Claypoole, son of James, as assistant. They sailed on the 23d, in the " Amity," Captain R. Dimond, and with them also Holme's two sons and two daughters, and Silas Crispin, the son of William, who afterward married one of the daughters of Holme and took up five hundred acres on the Pennepack Creek. Thomas Holme also took up one thousand six hundred and forty- six acres of land on the Pennepack, where Holmesburg now stands. The school now bearing the name of the Thomas Holme School, formerly known as Lower Dublin Academy, is on three acres of land given by his heirs in lieu of a sum of money left in his will.
By Holme, Penn sent a letter to the Indians, recommending him to them, as he most probably would constantly be thrown in contact with them, and breathing a spirit of peace and love, hop- ing soon to be with them, and that his people will for ever remain in peace with them.
Penn's long-cherished desire to visit his new country, which had been retarded by the great press of business on him, was now about to be gratified. Having sufficiently concluded his arrange- ments, he took passage on board the ship "Welcome," Captain Robert Greenaway, a vessel of about three hundred tons, near the 1st of September. With him sailed about one hundred emigrants, of whom some thirty died before reaching their destination. The voyage was long, and the smallpox broke out, many having taken
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Penn's Arrival in America.
sick with it. In that frightful time Penn's courage and ability were displayed, as he contributed not only to their necessities, but " his good conversation was very advantageous to all the com- pany." He left his wife and children in England, but wrote them a beautiful letter of counsel and consolation, and sent also a "Salutation to Friends in England."
The following is a list of those who sailed in the " Welcome " with Penn, as far as it can be made out :
John Barber and Elizabeth his wife.
William Bradford, the first printer. This is doubted by some; some say he came later.
William Buckman, Mary his wife, and children, Sarah and Mary.
John Carver and Mary his wife.
Benjamin Chambers ; was sheriff in 1683.
Thomas Chroasdale, his wife Agnes, and six children.
Ellen Cowgill and family.
John Fisher, his wife Margaret, and son John.
Thomas Fitzwater and sons Thomas and George. His wife
Mary and children Josiah and Mary died on the passage.
Thomas Gillett.
Robert Greenaway, the master of the " Welcome."
Bartholomew Green.
Nathaniel Harrison.
Cuthbert Hayhurst, his wife and family.
Thomas Heriott ; died on board (?).
John Hey.
Richard Ingelo.
Isaac Ingram ; died on board (?).
Thomas Jones.
Giles Knight, his wife Mary, and son Joseph.
William Lushington.
Jeane Matthews.
Hannah Mogdridge.
Joshua Morris.
David Ogden.
Evan Oliver, his wife Jean, and children, David, Elizabeth, John, Hannah, Mary, Evan, and Seaborn ; the last a daugh- ter, born at sea October 24th, 1682, almost within sight of the capes of Delaware.
Pearson ; most likely Robert, though it might have been Thomas or Edward.
John Rowland and his wife Priscilla.
Thomas Rowland.
William Smith.
John Songhurst.
John Stackhouse and his wife Margery.
George Thompson.
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Annals of Philadelphia.
Richard Townsend, his wife Anne, daughter Hannah, and son James born on the " Welcome " in Delaware River.
William Wade; died on board (?).
Thomas Walmesly, his wife Elizabeth, and six children.
Nicholas Waln.
Joseph Woodroofe.
Thomas Wrightsworth and wife.
Thomas Wynne, " chirurgeon."
Dennis Rochford and his wife Mary, the daughter of John Heriott, another passenger ; also, two daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Rochford, who died at sea.
John Dutton and his wife.
Philip Theodore Lehnman (or Lehman).
In addition to the above, and the names of those who came over in vessels previously mentioned, the following were among those who came over before the end of the year 1682 :
Richard Barnard.
John Beales (or Bales), who married Mary, the daughter of William Clayton, Sr., in 1682.
John Blunston, his wife Sarah, and two children.
Michael Blunston.
Samuel Bradshaw.
Edward Carter and his son Robert.
John Churchman.
William Cobb, of Cobb's Creek fame.
Thomas Coburn, his wife Elizabeth, and their sons William and Joseph.
Richard Crosby.
Elizabeth Fearne, widow, with her son Joshua and daughters Elizabeth, Sarah, and Rebecca.
Richard Few.
Henry Gibbons, his wife Helen, and family.
John Goodson, Penn's commissioner.
John Hastings and his wife Elizabeth.
Joshua Hastings and his wife Elizabeth.
Thomas Hood.
Valentine Hollingsworth.
William Howell and his wife Margaret.
Elizabeth Humphrey, her son Benjamin and daughters Anne and Gobitha.
Daniel Humphrey.
David James, his wife Margaret, and daughter Mary.
James Kenerly.
Henry Lewis, his wife Margaret, and family. Mordecai Maddock.
Thomas Minshall and his wife Margaret.
Thomas Powell.
Caleb Pusey, his wife Ann, and his daughter Ann.
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The Laying Out of the City.
Samuel Sellers.
John Simcock, Jr., and Jacob Simcock.
John Sharples, Jane his wife, and his children Phobe, John, James, Caleb, Jane, and Joseph. Thomas, also on board, died at sea in July. The family arrived at Upland in August.
Christopher Taylor.
Peter Taylor and William Taylor.
Gabriel Thomas.
Thomas Usher.
Thomas Vernon.
Robert Vernon.
Randall Vernon.
Ralph Withers.
George Wood, his wife Hannah, and his son George and other children.
Richard Worrell or Worrall.
John Worrell.
Thomas Worth.
CHAPTER VII. THE LAYING OUT OF THE CITY, 1682.
IT will be necessary now to see what had been done under the administration of Lieutenant-Governor Markham, who had ar- rived in Philadelphia not far from the 1st of July, 1681; also what had been done by the commissioners sent out by Penn, and by Thomas Holme, surveyor-general, who had been kept very busy in laying out the town and locating lots for purchasers.
Markham had an interview with Lord Baltimore at Upland, at which he discovered that by the grant to Penn the land to commence at twelve miles' distance northward from New Castle would not embrace the Swedish settlements on the Delaware; the error originated from a mistake as to the distance of the fortieth degree of northern latitude from New Castle. Upland, which was some distance above New Castle, is itself twelve miles south of the fortieth degree of latitude. To gain possession of what he supposed had already been granted him, Penn negotiated with the duke of York, and succeeded in obtaining from him a cession of all the duke's right and title in the lands granted by the king ; a deed for New Castle and all the land lying about it within a compass or circle of twelve miles; and a deed for all the tract of land on the Delaware River and Bay, beginning twelve miles south of New Castle and extending to Cape Hen- lopen, or Whorekills-the latter upon payment to the duke yearly of one half of all the rents, issues, and profits. Thus
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Annals of Philadelphia.
Penn rested content, and was not disturbed as to his boundaries until claims were afterward made by Lord Baltimore.
Markham not long after his arrival, in carrying out his in- structions, selected nine men for a Provincial Council; August 3d, 1681, it was organized. The new Upland court under the Proprietary government met on the same day as the old one had adjourned to-September 13th. The manner of proceeding was changed, and jury trials were held. Governor Markham pre- sided at several after terms of this court, and on July 15, 1682, he purchased for Penn a large tract of land from the Indians above the falls of the Delaware, which included the present county of Bucks, and where the Proprietary located his mansion of Penns- bury. The laying out of the city with the commissioners Haige (or Haigue), Allen, and Bezer also kept Markham busy during the spring and summer of 1682. In this matter they were as- sisted by Thomas Fairman, and Hollingsworth was one of the assistant surveyors to Captain Thomas Holme. By a long ac- count rendered to Penn by Thomas Fairman we learn that Markham, Haige, Holme and his children, and Penn lived a while with Fairman in his mansion; the latter also af- terward using it until the Letitia House was finished .* By the fall of this year the surveys were sufficiently completed for many lots to be drawn for, and the plan laid out was nearly in accordance with the original drawing of Thomas Holme. The original idea was to carry the city over the Schuylkill, but it was abandoned, probably in 1684. The position of Centre Square on Broad street was also changed; the original idea of Penn was to have it equidistant from both rivers, and to have the market-, state-, meeting-, and school-houses there.
The names of the streets put down on the original plan were also changed after Penn's arrival; thus, Valley street, on ac- count of its being in a ravine, became Vine street; Songhurst street (after John Songhurst) became Sassafras street, now called Race street ; Holme street (after Thomas Holme) changed to Mulberry street, now Arch street; High street bore its name until a recent period, when it popularly became Market street ; Wynne street (after Thomas Wynne), now Chestnut street ; Pool street (as it crossed a pool at Dock Creek) became Walnut street ; Dock street (because it ran down to the dock) became Spruce street; Sixth street was originally Sumach street.
The distances from the Delaware and the Schuylkill to Broad street were respectively 5088 feet, and Broad street 100 feet, making a total of 10,276 feet between the two rivers, divided mostly into squares of 396 feet. The distance from Cedar (now
* By the record of Friends, November, 1682, we observe, "Thomas Fairman, at the request of the governor, removed himself and family to Tacony, where there was also a meeting appointed to be kept, and the ancient meeting of Shak- amaxon removed to Philadelphia."
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The Laying Out of the City.
South) street to Vine street, the original boundaries of the city, was 5253 feet, divided thus: from Cedar to Pine, 652; to Spruce, 468; to Walnut, 821; to Chestnut, 510; to Market, 497; to Arch, 663; to Race, 614; to Vine, 612; and five streets of 50 feet each = 250 feet; Market street, 100 feet, and Arch street, 66 feet. Thus, the city extended, as Holme officially declared, two miles from east to west, and one mile from north to south. It contained an area of nearly two square miles, or 1280 acres, instead of 10,000, as originally proposed by Penn. Of course, the first purchasers did not get their ten acres of city lots for every five hundred in the country, but got their two per cent. of the city and Northern Liberties combined, as a large tract was laid out and called the Liberties. Penn in his original instruc- tions had suggested this might be the case.
Holme says of his plan : "In the centre of the city is a square of ten acres ; at each angle are to be houses for publick affairs, as a Meeting House, Assembly or State House, Market House, School House, and severall other buildings for publick concerns. There are also in each quarter of ye city a square of eight acres to be for the like uses as the Moorfields in London, and eight streets besides the High street that run from front to front, and twenty streets besides the Broad street that run across the city from side to side; all these streets are fifty foot in breadth."
As most of the houses were built on the river-bank, and to- ward the southern side of the city, and as the Schuylkill never became the river of commerce that Penn expected, Centre Square was too far from the dwellings for the public buildings, and they were therefore never erected there. A meeting-house was after- ward erected near there, but as it was too far out of town, it be- came disused, was suffered to decay, and was torn down.
The founders of the city built on Front street mostly, as the view from the Bank, then high above the river, was very attrac- tive. The following are some of the earliest names between Cedar and Vine streets on Front street : William Penn, Jr., Free Society of Traders, James Boyden, Francis Borrough, Robert Knight, John Reynolds, Humphrey South, Sabain Cole, Thomas Baker, James Claypoole, Alexander Parker, Robert Greenway, Samuel Carpenter, Charles Taylor, John Love, Nathaniel Allen, Edward Jefferson, Charles Pickering, Thomas Bearne, John Willard, Letitia Penn, William Bowman, Griffith Jones, Thomas Holme, John Barber, George Palmer, John Sharples, Francis Plumsted, William Taylor. On the west side of Second street were-John Moon, Andrew Griscomb, John Fisher, Isaac Mar- tin, William Carter, John Southworth, Richard Inglion. On Walnut street, Nehemiah Mitchell, Thomas Jones, William Tan- ner, Edward Blake. On Chestnut street, Thomas Rouse, David Brint, Richard Townsend. On Arch street, Thomas Barry,
4
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Annals of Philadelphia.
George Randall. On the Schuylkill was but one house, Jacob and Joseph Fuller's.
CHAPTER VIII.
PENN'S MANAGEMENT OF AFFAIRS UNTIL HIS DEPARTURE, 1682-1684.
ON the next day after the arrival of Penn at New Castle (Oc- tober 27th, 1682) he was put in possession of the town and fort and twelve miles' circle of land by the attorneys of the duke of York, and the inhabitants pledged in writing their submission and obedience to his government. Six justices were appointed, and November 2d was set down for the session of the court; at which were present, Penn, Markham, Holme, Haige, Symcock, and Brassie of the Council, and the justices. Penn made a speech, giving the terms of his purchase and hints for the future conduct of the settlement.
Two days after his arrival he proceeded up the river, stopping at Upland, and as he lay in the stream is reported to have turned to his friend Pearson and said, " Providence has brought us here safe : thou hast been companion of my perils. What wilt thou that I shall call this place ?" Pearson answered "Chester," in remembrance of the city whence he came. Penn replied it should be so called, and that he would give one of his new counties the same name.
In a few days he sailed up to the new city, and landed from a boat at the mouth of Dock Creek, where George Guest had built a house, and which was long known afterward as the Blue An- chor Tavern. The first printed record of his being in the city is found in the records of the Society of Friends : "At a monthly meeting the 8th of 9th month [November], 1682. At this time Governor William Penn and a multitude of Friends arrived here and erected a city, called Philadelphia, about half a mile from Shakamaxon, where meetings, etc. were established."
It will be observed that this is also the first time the name of the city, " Philadelphia," appears. When or why the name was given has been variously stated. His acquaintance with the Scriptures. and the definition of the word, " brotherly love," had perhaps the most effect in recommending it to him.
Penn sent two persons to Lord Baltimore in November " to ask of his health, offer kind neighborhood, and agree upon the better to establish it." In the mean while he went to New York to visit the governor and colony there belonging to the duke of York, perhaps partly to fulfil a duty to his friend the duke, to inform him through an eye-witness of its progress, appearance, etc., and partly to see the country for himself, his former charge of the estate in New Jersey creating an additional interest. He
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Penn's Management of Affairs until his Departure.
probably returned before Captain Greenaway, who had discharged his cargo, sailed for England. He was known to have been at Upland on the 29th. And about this time he laid out three counties-Chester, Philadelphia, and Bucks. Undoubtedly, he was very busy, visiting different parts of the country, conferring with officers and citizens, visiting the Indians, and making and ratifying treaties with them, thus thoroughly informing himself, that he might send home true and intelligent word of the state of the country, its affairs and prospects, and ordering things that would be needed.
At this time also it has been supposed was made a great treaty with the Indians, and tradition says under the Great Elm at Shakamaxon. Certainly, with tradition in its favor, some re- marks in his own letters, and the natural desire between himself and the Indians to come together at the earliest moment, it may be supposed such an occurrence at this time should happen. In all his previous arrangements the Indians were constantly thought of, and even addressed. His own coming was several times al- luded to, when he said he would be with them personally. Ben- jamin West in his great painting of the Treaty, and Birch in his admirable engraving, have permanently fixed in the public mind the facts of the traditions of the particular tree, the names of the Indian chiefs and other parties present, articles of dress worn, etc. The style of costume in which West painted Penn is absurd, as it was not worn for many years after, nor is Penn represented as sufficiently young, he being then an athletic young man of thirty-eight.
Penn in a letter of August, 1683, alludes to several meetings held for treaties with the Indians; describes their style and ac- tions ; alludes to the Indians apologizing that they had not com- plied with him the last time; praising their wit in "any treaty about a thing they understand ;" and describes the strong terms of love and friendship the Indians used; and concludes, the chiefs did "command them to love the Christians, and particu- larly to live in peace with me and the people under my govern- ment; that many governors had been in the river, but that no governor had come himself to live and stay here before; and having now such an one that had treated them well, they would never do him or his any wrong." (See WATSON, Vol. I. p. 134 et seq. ; also pp. 104, 105 of this volume.)
In 1682 arrived twenty-three vessels, most of them with immi- grants, many of whom were Quakers. The provident character of these taught them to bring many of the necessaries of life ; many had money, and while some sought shelter in New Castle, Upland, or Burlington, the majority as rapidly as possible took up land and erected log houses in the new city. Some lived temporarily in caves in the Bank until their houses were erected. Of course, many privations had to be endured in such a new
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Annals of Philadelphia.
country, but they were free from persecution for their opinions. Fortunately, provisions were plentiful and cheap.
The first legislature of Pennsylvania met in General Assembly at Chester on the 4th of December, and consisted of delegates from Bucks, Philadelphia, and Chester counties. The session lasted three days, and there were passed an act of union, annexing the three lower counties, Newcastle, Jones, and Whorekill (after- ward Kent and Sussex), to the Province, and naturalizing the Dutch, Swedes, and other foreigners ; and the Great Law, a general system of jurisprudence in sixty-nine chapters, embracing most of the laws previously agreed upon in England. The "for- eigners " gladly welcomed the new rule as being just. The days of the week and names of the month were to be called by the first, second, etc., beginning with Sunday and March.
After the session of the legislature was closed, Penn met Lord Baltimore at West River, and held a conference with him about their boundaries. Also in December he "cast the country into townships for large lots of land." He appointed sheriffs and officers for each county, issued writs for the election of members of the Provincial Council, and directed the sheriffs to notify all the freemen of their right to appear in the Assembly. But the freemen of the six counties (three for Pennsylvania-Phila- delphia, Bucks, and Chester-and the "three lower counties" afterward constituting Delaware) preferred to send twelve mem- bers from each to represent them-three for the Council and nine for the Assembly-or eighteen for the Council and fifty-four for the Assembly; in all, seventy-two. The Council met at Philadelphia on the 10th of 1st month [March], 1683, and the Assembly was met by Penn two days afterward .*
Amongst the most important business done was the ordering of seals for the counties-for Philadelphia, an anchor; for Bucks, a tree and vine; for Chester, a plough ; for New Castle,
* Whether Penn's Council met in the unfinished house of George Guest, near the Blue Anchor, and the first Assembly of Pennsylvania met in the Swedes' Church, as the only building large enough to hold fifty-four men, is unknown. But the next Council, and those for many years after, met in "Penn's Cottage" in Letitia Court, which was finished in the fall of 1683, thus establishing a pre- cedent of meeting at the governor's residence, which practice was continued until they removed to the State House in 1747.
The Assembly for years wandered from place to place for their meetings. Shortly after Penn's arrival a rough Friends' meeting-house was built, and after- ward in the same vicinity, in Front street above Arch, the "Bank Meeting- House," where the Assembly met for twelve years. In 1695 they met in Whit- pain's big house, in Front between Walnut and Spruce, and the next year in the " Carpenter " mansion or "Slate-Roof House." In 1701 they returned to Whit- pain's mansion. After the new charter extorted from Penn in 1701, and the Council was no longer a part of the legislature, the number of members of the Assembly was reduced-first, by the secession of the representatives of the three lower counties, or Delaware; and second, by the terms of the charter-to twelve, though shortly after raised to twenty-six members. They then occupied Makin's schoolhouse, and afterward private dwellings. In 1728 they resolved to build a State House for their sessions, which finally took shape.
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Penn's Management of Affairs until his Departure.
a castle ; for Kent, three ears of corn ; for Sussex, a wheatsheaf ; and the adoption of a new charter or " Frame of Government." By this the Council was reduced to eighteen and the Assembly to thirty-six members, though they might be increased to seventy- two and two hundred. This charter continued in force till 1696, but both were superseded by the "Charter of Privileges" of 1701.
It seems odd at this day that the Assembly and Council should have had cognizance of so many minor matters, some of which seem very ludicrous. One Anthony Weston having presented a paper which was deemed disrespectful to the Council, he was whipped in the market-place three days, ten lashes each day. William Clayton was ordered to build " a cage 7 foot high, 7 foot long, and 5 foot broad " for evil-doers. A law was proposed " to incourage making Linnen cloth ;" another for wearing two sorts of "cloaths" only, for winter and summer wear; another for " Young Men's Marrieing at or before a certain age ;" another for "Makeing of severall sorts of Books;" another for " Persons that put water into Rum ;" a case was also tried before the Coun- cil of two women for witchcraft.
In January, 1683, the Grand Jury made a presentment that " the swamps at the Blue Anchor be made passable for footmen ; that Coquenakur Creek [Pegg's Run], at the north end of the city, be also made passable for footmen ; that the bridge called the Coanxen [Cohocksink], going to Shakamaxon, be bridged ; that the bridge at Tankanner [Tacony or Frankford Creek] be bridged or cannowed ; that the King's road from Sculkill through Phila- delphia to Neshaminey Creek may be marked out and made pass- able for horses and carts, where needful, and to ascertain, with Chester and Bucks, where to fix the ferries of those creeks; and the want of a county court house." Also, against stumps in the streets ; against ships firing guns on First Day ; the want of rings for the snouts of swine, etc.
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