USA > Pennsylvania > Chronicles of Pennsylvania from the English revolution to the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, 1688-1748, Vol. II > Part 22
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Two short productions in 1731 began the works of
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fancy issued by the local press, viz: The Lady Errant Inchanted, a poem, by an anonymous author, and Bachelors Hall, a poem of 12 pages by George Webb, before mentioned. Webb became a barrister at the Middle Temple, London, about 1734.
It was more particularly in investigations in natural philosophy and astronomy that Philadelphia stood high, and here we see the encouragement and assistance, as well as the example, given by Logan.
Thomas Godfrey, who was a glazier by trade, occasion- ally employed by Logan, hit upon a method of using two looking-glasses in a quadrant similar to that of the modern sextant introduced by Hadley. Godfrey made his instrument about November, 1730, and it was taken on November 28 by G. Stewart, mate, aboard the sloop "Truman," John Cox, master, bound for Jamaica, and it was used by the same persons in August following, on a voyage to Newfoundland. Hadley's instrument was described by him to the Royal Society on May 13, 1731, and exhibited a fortnight later.
It was with the help of the Junto that Franklin started in 1731 the first subscription library in North America; the original subscribers, fifty in number, signing articles of association dated July 1st of that year, calling themselves the Library Company of Phil- adelphia. They were "mostly young tradesmen," says Franklin, who adds that said class of Philadelphians, from this impetus to mental improvement, "in a few years were observed by strangers to be better instructed and more intelligent than people of the same rank gen- erally in other countries." Additional names were enrolled in the course of a few years, and a charter was granted on Mch. 25, 1742. The collection now (1916) amounts to about 247000 volumes, including those of the Loganian library, united with it. Logan helped in the starting of the collection of the Library Company itself. He was not one of the original sub-
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scribers, but he offered through Thomas Godfrey to give advice as to the choice of books. This was re- ported at the meeting of March 29, 1732, and Godfrey was desired to thank Logan, "and the Committee es- teeming Mr. Logan to be a Gentleman of universal learning, and the best judge of books in these parts, ordered that Mr. Godfrey should wait on him and re- quest him to favor them with a catalogue of suitable books." George Maurice Abbot's Short History of the Library Company of Philadelphia gives the list furn- ished for the order made on March 31, the original pur- chase of books. In the Fall most of them arrived, and a rule was made that no person who was not a subscrib- ing member take them out of the library room, "Mr. James Logan only excepted."
The first lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in the American colonies was organized in Philadelphia, some time before June 24, 1731, and was known as St. John's Lodge. At a "Grand" Lodge held a year later, William Allen was chosen Grand Master.
In the course of the ten years following, the versatile Franklin started a fire company, and invented a stove. Other fire companies were started on the model of his. He kept on with the printing business. Among his publications was, anonymously, in 1735 a translation into English verse by Logan of Dionysii Catonis Dis- ticha de Moribus ad Filium.
Franklin was three days too late to print the first magazine in the American Colonies; for the American Magazine, projected and edited by John Webbe, ap- peared on Feb. 13, 1740-1, with its issue for that month, promising to be continued monthly, but only two num- bers ever were issued, whereas Franklin's General Magazine appeared on February 16, and lasted until July 27, when the sixth number came out.
In 1743, Franklin suggested an American Philosophi- cal Society with headquarters at Philadelphia, he offer-
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ing to serve as Secretary until some one more capable were found. Thomas Hopkinson, a lawyer, afterwards member of the Governor's Council, was made the Presi- dent; it was he who first communicated to Franklin, as the latter says, "the power of points to throw off the electrical fire." Seven members holding the designa- tion of botanist, mathematician, &ct., were required with the President, Treasurer, and Secretary to be residents of Philadelphia. John Bartram, the collector of botanical specimens, and Thomas Godfrey, before mentioned, are celebrated.
Franklin thought in 1743 of an academy for the edu- cation of youth, even asking Rev. Richard Peters to take charge, but, upon Peters declining, laid the matter aside until 1749.
Although Logan's connection with public affairs did not end in his service on the Supreme Bench, and he will therefore figure in later chapters, the rest of his career in these other respects may be given here. He not only corresponded with learned men, but wrote articles and papers for scientific societies, and several of his productions of this kind were printed on the Continent of Europe.
His translation of Cicero's Cato Major, or De Senc- tute, with explanatory notes was printed by Franklin in 1744. It was thought so good that it was reprinted in London in 1750, and in Glasgow in 1751 and 1758.
Already, as we learn from Richard Hockley's letter of Dec. 5, 1743, Logan had announced the intention of giving his library to the public, and of erecting a build- ing 60 ft. front to hold it. At that date, he and Thomas Godfrey, we are also told, were very busy "inspecting into a comet that has appeared for 3 weeks past." Logan put up the building for the library facing Del- aware 6th north of Walnut St. (in the block of ground now covered by the Curtis Building). The deed of trust which he had prepared, adding, moreover, a small en-
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dowment, he cancelled, in preparation for a new deed, which was never executed by him; but his will dated Nov. 25, 1749, spoke of his gift of the books to the City, the building, and 35l. annual endowment, and requested Richard Peters to assist in the placing of the books in the building. Logan was the first named of the original trustees of the Academy (afterwards the College of Philadelphia, and now known as the University of Pennsylvania), and left 500l. to it in his will. He offered for its site part of his lot fronting on 6th Street near the library building: but the Whitefield building was preferred.
Logan died at Stenton on Dec. 31, 1751, and was buried in the Friends' ground at Fourth and Arch. His heirs on Aug. 28, 1754, conveyed the library prop- erty to Israel Pemberton Jr., William Allen, Richard Peters, and Benjamin Franklin and their successors chosen by the surviving trustees, as trustees with Logan's two sons, William and James, and from said sons' death certain representatives of the Logan family. William Logan, the Councillor, acted as Librarian until his death in 1776, adding by his will all the 1300 books bequeathed to him by his uncle, Dr. Logan of Bristol, not duplicates of those already in the Loganian library, and giving such as were duplicates to the Library Com- pany of Philadelphia. The Loganian library was made an adjunct to the other in 1792, and the Directors of the Library Company with the heir male of the family and his two appointees are now under Act of Assembly the trustees of the Loganian.
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CHAPTER XXIII.
JOHN, THOMAS, AND RICHARD PENN.
Compromise between the branches of the Found- er's posterity, and release of power to sell govern- ment-Agreement between the sons of the second wife-The newly recognized Proprietaries and Gov- ernors-in-Chief-They buy handsome guns for some Indians, and have portraits painted of others -Anxiety about the Shawnees -- Thomas Penn ar- rives, and meets chiefs of the Six Nations-Dela- wares release the Schuylkill Valley as far as the Kittatinny Mountains-Death of Shawnee visitors -Ganawese on war path -- Border disturbance- Gordon appointed afresh-Quarrel with Hamilton -Gordon takes oath in Virginia-Question with the Assembly-A Roman Catholic chapel-Death of Mrs. Gordon-Visit of John Penn-The Zenger trial in New York-The discontinuation of the Court of Chancery-Thomas Penn offends nearly everybody-Death of Gordon-The Coun- cil, with Logan as President, administers the government-The Germans at Conejohela, and Maryland's expedition against them-The Six Nations release the land southeast of the Kit- tatinny Mountains, and make further covenants -Borderers' enterprise to conquer Conejohela as Marylanders-Capture of Cresap-Movements of Higginbotham, and willingness of the Quaker government to maintain the Penn claim with bloodshed-The Shawnees-The Walking Pur- chase.
The elder branch of the Founder's posterity, by means of the claim to the soil and government, finally wrested from the sons of the second wife some compensation, or
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owelty, for the inequality in the Founder's will. Springett Penn, son of William Jr., having died with- out issue, Springett's heir-at-law, his brother William, obtained £5500 for all general right to the soil and gov- ernment; and, by lease and release of Sep. 22 & 23, 1731, he, for that sum, and his aunt Lætitia Aubrey, widow, his mother Mary Penn, and his sister Gulielma Maria with her husband Charles Fell, for 10s. each, conveyed the said premises to John, Thomas, and Richard Penn, excepting Pennsbury and the three tracts of 10,000 acres devised to Lætitia, William, and Gulielma, and all real estate by the Founder's deed or grant. Earl Poulett was directed, as surviving Trustee for sale of the government, to release his powers. Although this direction was not complied with until 1743, when his son and heir, the second Earl, executed the release, John Penn, as entitled to a moiety, Thomas Penn, as entitled to one fourth, and Richard Penn, who allowed the two others to hold the remaining fourth in trust for him, were now recognized as Governors-in-Chief and Proprietaries of Pennsylvania and exclusively entitled to the family claim to the Governorship and Propri- etaryship of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex on Dela- ware.
Under date of May 8, 1732, these three made an agreement that they would devise their respective shares to their eldest sons in tail male, and, on failure of the eldest son's issue, to the other sons in order of birth in tail male. If any of the parties died without leaving male issue, or his sons died before attaining twenty-one years, or without male issue, the share of the party so dying was to go to the survivors or sur- vivor and his and their heirs as the party dying should appoint, or, for want of appointment, to the survivors equally and their respective heirs in tail male, and for want of such heirs to the survivor in fee. It was pro- vided that any one of the parties dying without issue
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could leave his share to either of the others as he might see fit. Power was given to charge in certain contin- gencies the share of one dying with certain sums, which are somewhat indicative of the value then estimated or soon expected for the estate by the parties. John could charge his share with £6000 for each of his younger children, and Thomas and Richard could charge theirs with £3000 for each of their younger children. If, how- ever, John's children should all be girls, the estate passing to their uncles was only to pay £10000 among said girls, and only £8000 if there should be only one daughter : if Thomas's or Richard's children should all be girls, the charges for them could be only half as much. Under certain powers and contingencies, sums or life annuities could go to the widow of a party dying, to certain appointees of a certain class, to Lætitia Aubrey, and to the children of Mrs. Freame. In case of the death of a party leaving his heir in tail male a minor, the survivors could sell in fee. A party to this agreement could sell in fee his entire share, allowing the others the option of buying at the highest price offered. Notwithstanding a power of revocation, this agreement remained unaltered until the death of John. Shortly after its date, the two Proprietaries in England were willing to sell the whole for £60000.
Of the three Proprietaries and titular Governors, Richard, the youngest, may be dismissed from consid- eration with a few words, "without prejudice" to any claim which may be made that he had at least ordinary ability. He seems to have shown some independence of his brothers in marrying Hannah Lardner, of a Church of England family without wealth, and in following her into that Church, and having their children brought up as Churchmen. His recommendation obtained an office for his brother-in-law Lynford Lardner. Owing to Richard being free to qualify by oath and tests, when John and Thomas had scruples against doing so, John
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was at times upon the point of providing for Richard with the position and some of the emoluments of acting Governor, if the family could have the advantage of restraint by Thomas upon the administration. How- ever, the youngest Proprietary never came to Pennsyl- vania, and was never more than the minority stock- holder, and his connection with its history was being joined in documents with his brothers.
The head of the Proprietary family, John Penn, the eldest son of the Founder by his second wife, has been mentioned in the chapter on Penn's Second Marriage and Second Visit as called "the American," and as having been born in "the slate roof house" in Phila- delphia. He remained throughout life a Quaker. With uncertain prospects, it was necessary for the Founder's sons by his second wife to prepare to earn a living; so John was brought up to the linen trade in Bristol. He made his home with his mother in London after his father's death, and at Feens in Berkshire subsequent to her death. John never married. As will be men- tioned, he spent about a year in Pennsylvania. During at least the latter part of the time, he was in bad health. Having, before arrival, obtained a release of all the remainder or reversionary interest in his tract known as 12000 acres at Manatawny, he had it resurveyed, whereby it was found to contain 14060 acres, comprising, according to William J. Buck's History of Montgomery County, printed with Scott's atlas, all of the present township of Douglass and the upper portion of Potts- grove, having the Frankfurt Land Company's land on the east. John Penn sold this by lease and release of June 19 & 20, 1735, to George McCall of Philadelphia, merchant. It bore for a time the name of Douglass. The Assembly made on Sep. 20, 1735, an address to John Penn, in anticipation of his departure, saying: "That humility, justice, and benevolence which has ap- peared in thy conduct since thy arrival here has very
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deservedly gained thee the esteem and affection of the people." Subsequently, while the popular feeling was stronger against Thomas Penn, there was no dis- position to overlook John's part in the general action of the family. He was in control of the affairs of Penn- sylvania until his death, as far as they could be con- trolled by absent Proprietaries and titular Governors.
Thomas Penn, the second son of the Founder by his second wife, was apprenticed to a "mercer" in London in early life, and afterwards was in business as such in Lombard St., London, retiring therefrom after the death of his partner. Thomas Penn, without intending a long stay, came to the dominion, in response to the desire of many persons for the presence of one of the family, as well as because of the expediency of having the real estate managed in detail by a party in interest on the spot with discretionary powers. During several years' residence, except while John also was there, Thomas spoke for the family, although under general instructions. For two years, from the death of John until the close of these Chronicles, as also for about twenty-seven years more, until his own death, Thomas Penn was in control. The preservation and develop- ment of the great estate may lead some to credit him with much business capacity, but he lacked the qualities of a diplomatist and a politician, which his position re- quired.
The new Proprietaries were not undertaking to be philanthropists, but were simply landlords and dealers in real estate, occasionally, to be sure, assisting move- ments and institutions, churches included, tending to the improvement of their property. To offset the im- pression of sordidness, Thomas in particular had no ingratiating manners. Perhaps he should be excused, as shy and not brought up to play the part of a prince. Overwhelmed by the great reception which he met at his landing, it is reported that when, to respond, he
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took a glass of wine in his hand, he trembled so much that he was scarcely able to hold it, and only at length recovered himself to return the compliments (Watson's Annals). In 1732, any one putting the Proprietary af- fairs in order, had to face an enormous number of tres- passers and delinquents. With the rest of the popu- lation, including many persons of consequence with unhappy dispositions, Thomas was unable to make use of the very considerable loyalty to the feudal lords and hereditary rulers; a loyalty of which the forms were long preserved in public addresses by language which would be deemed sufficient for a king by modern per- sons of American ideas, who regard the language used to a king as little short of blasphemy. The old differ- ences with William Penn had been forgotten, the men opposed to him had died, and his memory was justly revered for having provided the inhabitants with such a goodly land and such civic blessings. His children were naturally objects of affection, and the coming of one to live in the colony, and perhaps some day to ad- minister the government without a deputy, was the fruition of the immigrants' hope. The first disappoint- ment was experienced by individuals, rather than the public, from his indifference, seclusiveness, and neglect of them. It was at least a year from his arrival before he had appeared at any gathering in Bucks County, or even dined with Langhorne, the head of the County Court. An anecdote is told of Thomas Penn's discourt- eous coldness. When the Rev. Hugh David of Gwynedd called on him, having prepared a poem of welcome re- ferring to the descent which William Penn had claimed from the Welsh Tudors, Thomas Penn spoke three sentences : "How dost do?" "Farewell." "The other door." Mr. David did not hand him the poem. To be sure, there were some persons whom Thomas Penn made his companions, relatively young, and with- out weight in the community. Chief among these was
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Robert Charles, whose sole importance was being the Lieutenant-Governor's secretary and son-in-law, be- coming Provincial Secretary and Clerk of the Council. The circle thus formed, moreover, was not a pattern in behavior, the Governor-in-Chief and some compan- ions being guilty of a "riot." Thomas Penn, Roger Fraam, Robert Charles, William Attwood, James Sherly, William Chancellor, and Thomas Sharp, all of Philadelphia, went over to Newtown, Gloucester Co., New Jersey, and there entered a lot of Joseph Mickel (Mickle), a Quaker, beat him severely, and entered his house, and spoiled his goods. The warrant for their arrest, dated Nov. 19, 1737, is printed in Penna. Archives, 1st Series, Vol. I, p. 546. What conduct and circumstances, before or after this, turned against Thomas Penn one element of the population after an- other, will appear in the course of this narrative. The bitter feeling against him is a noteworthy phenomenon of Pennsylvania history, and may almost be said to have been the cause rather than the result of the dis- putes with the Proprietaries. For some measures as agent of the others, he has probably been John's scape- goat. To the inhabitants of the colony, feeling no re- spect or liking for a person of Thomas's characteristics, the stern enforcement of the family rights seemed to be his act, while the far away senior Proprietary, who had, in a short visit, made a favorable impression, might be supposed more benevolent. Yet Thomas could claim, that, in the exercise of his discretion, he had shown consideration. He once wrote that he could law- fully have seized more than 1000 houses and settle- ments, and thus have gained the value of the improve- ments, the residents having taken the land without the Proprietaries' consent, but that he had always given to the residents the opportunity to purchase at a valuation as vacant. To be sure, where a whole district had been occupied by "squatters" who would defend themselves,
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he was unable to evict. To several persons, and partic- ularly the next Lieutenant-Governor after Gordon, Thomas Penn showed at times more generosity than John. Although John presented an air-pump to the Philadelphia Library, it was Thomas's doing that the Proprietaries gave the Company a lot, 60 ft. front on the south side of Chestnut west of Delaware 8th by 255 ft. deep, whereon to build the library, he offering to have the value charged against him, if the brothers ob- jected to the gift.
All sons of William Penn had been brought up, whether by him, or by his widow, to consider the Indians; and various tribes of them for some years be- fore Thomas Penn's visit were looking forward to the coming of one of the sons-in fact of the American-born one-to deal for land. If Proprietaries John, Thomas, and Richard became mean and penny-wise, there was a contrast to this in Thomas's bringing over as a present a gilt and japanned gun for the head man of each of the Six Nations, just as there was another instance of pleasing extravagance in the Proprietaries' flattery of Teeshakomen and Lappawinzo, Delaware chiefs here- inafter mentioned, by having their portraits painted in 1735 by Hesselius, which portraits, presented by Gran- ville Penn in 1834 to the Historical Society of Pennsyl- vania, are supposed to be the only ones for which any Pennsylvania Indians ever sat. Gordon and his Coun- cillors, learning in 1731 of various aggressive steps of the French endangering British interests in North America, were particularly concerned that a French gentleman had been residing some time among the Shawnees, had taken some of the chiefs to Montreal on a visit in 1730, and also in 1731, and had introduced a gunsmith to work for the tribe gratis. As to the Dela- wares, Sassoonan dwelt at Shamokin, not so near the French, but 300 men were distributed on Kythenning (Kittanning) River and Connumach (Conemaugh)
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Creek and Choniata (Juniata) River. It was deter- mined to apply to the Six Nations both to keep the Shawnees in alliance, and to induce them to return to the neighbourhood of the English settlements. Shikal- lima coming to Philadelphia with the broken-hearted Sassoonan, as mentioned in the last chapter, the former was sent to the Six Nations to ask them to make a visit. Lieut .- Gov. Gordon and the Penn real estate agents laid out in November, 1731, a tract of 10000 to 15000 acres around the principal town where the Shawnees had been last seated, between the Conegogwainet and Shawnee Creeks west of the Susquehanna, to accommo- date the Shawnees and such others as might think fit to settle there. The Shawnee chiefs were also invited to a conference.
Thomas Penn landed at Chester, Pa., on August 11, 1732, and was waited upon there the next day by the Lieutenant-Governor, all the Councillors who could take so long a ride, and "a very large number of gentle- men," and, after dinner, was escorted to Philadelphia, being met on the way and welcomed by the Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen, accompanied by "a great body of people." He at first stayed at the Lieutenant- Governor's house.
On the 18th, eleven Seneca, five Cayuga, and four (including Shikallima) Oneida chiefs arrived, in an- swer to Gordon's request of the preceding year. After "a few days being spent in mutual civilities," Thomas Penn had meetings with the chiefs in the presence of Gordon and his Council, and spoke through Conrad Weiser as interpreter. The speaker for the Indians presented "Brother Onas" with a fine painted mantle of dressed otter skins, and put it over his shoulders. Although it was disclosed by the visitors that the Six Nations and the French had buried the hatchet, and that the Governor of Canada had, about five years be- fore, spoken of a coming war between the French and
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the English, and had asked the Six Nations to be neu- tral, the information gained was on the whole satisfac- tory : the Six Nations had answered that in such a war they would assist the English; the Six Nations had strengthened themselves with alliances, and brought over certain tribes to trade with the English instead of the French; the French interpreter at Allegheney had been notified that the lands on the Ohio belonged to the Six Nations, and, as he had not removed, the Six Nations were appealing to the French Governor; the Six Nations had never intended to hurt the Shawnees, and had told Kakowwatchy to turn his face to Penn- sylvania, and Sassoonan that the Delaware Indians must come back from the Ohio. It was pointed out to the chiefs, that, as the Six Nations were the heads of all the Indians in those parts, and the Shawnees were under their protection, the Six Nations should join the Pennsylvania government in engaging the Shawnees to return. The chiefs, after two days consideration, asked the Province to cooperate by not letting its traders go to the Ohio. It was agreed between the Pennsylvanians and the chiefs that both the Shawnees and the traders be allowed to remain until the following Spring, and also that Shikallima and Conrad Weiser be employed in all messages between the government and the Six Nations. There having been complaints of the treaty being made in secret, two meetings at the end were held before a large audience in the "great Quaker Meeting House;" and articles agreed upon at the earlier meet- ings were recapitulated, including the prohibiting of warriors from molesting English subjects, and includ- ing the sending back of runaway negroes; and the league of friendship was renewed and extended to all the allies of the Six Nations. With the six guns brought by Thomas Penn, and with considerable quan- tity of clothing and material, powder, bullets, flints, kettles, tools, &ct., these Indians departed.
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