USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. I > Part 20
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In the fall, 1701, Penn got a new hand, and writes Logan that he can "neither plow nor mow," is good-natured, but swears-a heinous offense with the great founder. Hugh was steward while Jolin Sotcher was in England 1702, and Peter was assistant gardener, at £30 per annum. Between Penn's first and second visits some negroes had been purchased for him, and placed at l'ennsbury as laborers. "Old Sam" was a favorite negro, and "Sue" was prob- ably his wife. In April, 1703, Penn purchased two servants in England of Randall Janney, one a carpenter, the other a husbandman and sent them to Pennsbury. About the same time he sent over Yaff, "to be free after four years faithful service." and Joshua Cheeseman, an indentured apprentice for two years. Penn loved him because he was "a sober, steady young man, and will not trifle away his time." and, had he returned to Pennsylvania, Joshua was to have been made house steward. Logan was advised that he should "be kept close to Pennsbury." We learn that old Peter died in August, 1702, and Hugh was married that fall and left as soon as his place could be filled. that one W. Gnot left in the summer, and Barnes "was good for nothing." The "distemper" prevailed that fall. and Logan writes Penn they were short of hands. One, named Charles, left before his time was up." Stephen Gould, whose mother was
2 The Gentleman's Magasine. of a forgotten date, contains the following: "Died at Philadelphia in 1809. in her one hundred and ninth year. Susannah Warden, formerly wife of Virgil Warden, one of the house servants of the great William Penn. This aged woman was born in William Penn's house, at Pennsbury manor, March, 1701, and has of late heen supported by the Penn family." We doubt the correctness of part of this statement. In 1733 Thomas Penn purchased, of J. Warder, of Bucks county, a negro, afterwards known as Virgil. He was then twenty years of age, having been born in 1713, and was very old when he died. He and his wife lived in the kitchen at Springetts- bury. The death referred to, in the Gentleman's Magasine, was no doubt the wife of "his old negro. Virgil could not have been a house servant of William Penn, for he was
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a Penn, was clerk to the Governor, and is spoken of as "an ingenious lad, a good scholar, and something of a lawyer."
From the correspondence of James Logan with Hannah Penn we learn something of the history of William Penn's servants after his death. In a letter to her, dated May II. 1721, he says: "Sam died soon after your departure hence ( 1701), and his brother James very lately. Chevalier, by a written order from his master, had his liberty several years ago, so there are none left but Sue, whom Letitia claims, or did claim as given to her when you went to England. She has several children. There are, besides, two old negroes quite worn out, the remainder of those which I recovered near eighteen years ago, of E. Gil- bert's estate." He concludes his letter by asking for some orders about the house "which is very ruinous."
When William Penn and his family had occasion to go abroad, they trav- eled in a style benefitting their station. He was a lover of good horses, and kept a number of them in his stables. He had a coach in the city, a cumbersome affair, but he probably never used it at Pennsbury on account of the badness of the roads. He drove about the county. from one meeting to another, and to visit friends, in a calash which a pamphlet of the times styles "a rattling leathern conveniency." In August, 1700, he writes James Logan to urge the justices to make the bridges at Pennepecka and Poquessin passable for carriages, or he cannot ge to town. In his visits to the neighboring provinces and among the Indians, he traveled on horseback, and as three side-saddles are inventoried among the goods at Pennsbury, no doubt his wife and daughter accompanied him sometimes. The cash-book tells us of the expense of himself and family going to fairs, and Indian canticoes. probably gotten up to amuse the Proprie- tary. His favorite mode of travel was by water, and at Pennsbury he kept a barge for his own use, boats for the use of the plantation, and smaller boats used probably for hunting and fishing along the river. The barge was new in 1700: it had one mast and sail, and six oars, with officers and crew. among whom were George Markham, boatswain, and Michael Larzilere cockswain. It had an awning to protect the passengers from the sun, and no doubt a pennant with the Penn arms, or some other device on it. After he returned to England it was preserved with great care, and Logan had a house built over it at the landing. It was only used once again before the arrival of William Penn, Jr., 1703.
William Penn generally made his trips between Pennsbury and Philadel- phia in his barge, and he frequently stopped on the way to visit his friend Governor Jennings, at Burlington. It is related in Janney's life of Penn. that. on one occasion. Jennings and some of his friends were enjoying their pipes .. a practice which Penn disliked. On hearing that Penn's barge was in sight. they put away their pipes that their friend might not be annoyed. and en- deavored to conceal from him what they had been about. He came upon them, however. unawares, and pleasantly remarked that he was glad they had sufficient sense of propriety to be ashamed of the practice. Jennings, who was rarely at a loss for an answer, rejoined that they were not ashamed, but desired "to avoid hurting a weak brother."
It would be interesting to know how William Penn dressed while he re- sided at Pennsbury, a quiet citizen of Bucks county, but we have little light on this subject. The cash-book mentions but few articles purchased for the
only five years old when the Proprietary died in England. His wife may have been born. at Pennsbury.
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Proprietary's personal use, but among them are enumerated, "a pair of stock- mgs," at eight shillings, and a pair of "gambodies," or leathern overalls, at 13. 25. He incurred the expense of periwigs at four pounds each, and there is a charge "for dressing the governor's hat." The cut of his coat is not given, but we are warranted in saying that it was not "shad belly."
The heart and hand of William Penn were both open as the day, and he was noted for his deeds of charity. He distributed considerable sums to those who were needy, and several poor persons were a constant charge on his gen- erosity. At the manor he kept open house, and entertained much company. His guests were distinguished strangers who visited Pennsylvania, the leading families of the Province, and frequent delegations of Indian chiefs. In July, 1700, Penn was visited by the governors of Maryland and Virginia, whom he entertained with great hospitality. Logan was directed to prepare for their arrival, and to notify the sheriff's and other officers of the counties through which they would pass, to receive them in state. They were probably enter- tained both in the city and at Pennsbury. Among the visitors at Pennsbury was Deputy-Governor Hamilton and Judge Guest. In August, 1700. the daughter of Edwin Shippen was a visitor at the manor, returning to Philadelphia in a boat with John Soteher.
The contemporaries of Penn have left but little record of domestic life at the manor. Isaac Norris says, in a letter written while the Penns resided at Pennsbury: "The Governor's wife and daughter are well; their little son is a lovely babe; his wife is extremely well-beloved here, exemplary in her station, and of an excellent spirit, which adds lustre to her character, and she has a great place in the hearts of good people." And again: "Their little son has much of his father's grace and air, and hope he will not want a good portion of his mother's sweetness." The "lovely babe" was John Penn, the eldest son of the founder, by his second wife, and was called "the American," because lie was born in this country, at the manor house, the 31st of 11th month, 1699. Mrs. Deborah Logan says: "A traditionary account, heard in my youth from an aged woman, an inhabitant of Bucks county, has just now occurred to my memory. She went, when a girl, with a basket containing a rural present to the Proprietary's mansion, and saw his wife, a delicate and pretty woman, sit- 'ting beside the cradle of her infant." In the summer of 1700 the Provincial council met at the manor house; Penn had hurt his leg and could not go to them, hence he caused them to be met with a boat at Burlington, and brought to him. His wife wrote Logan to get "a little more oil from Ann Parsons," to apply to the injured limb of the Governor. This was probably the occasion of an Indian treaty, as he orders rum and match coats to be bought for it. There is a tradition, that when the Indians came to visit at Pennsbury, William Penn joined them in their sports and games, and ate hominy, venison and roasted acorns with them. He is said to have matched them in strength and agility, and no less than nineteen Indian treaties were concluded, and conferences held at Pennsbury. When William Penn, jr., was there. 1703. a large deputation of chiefs came to see him. Thomas and John Penn had several conferences with them at the manor house before the treaty at Durham, 1734, and in May. 1735, they again met the Indians there to consider the terms of the "Walking Pur- chase."
We have record of several marriages at Pennsbury. The first was that of William Berry, Kent county, Delaware, to Naomy Wally, the daughter of Shad- rack Wally, Newtown, the oth of September, 1686; the second was that of John Sotcher to Mary Lofty, 1701, and the third and last of which we have account
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was the marriage of Clement-Plumstead, Philadelphia, to Sarah Righton, formerly Riddle, March, 1704. The latter was attended by William Penn, jr., and Judge Mompesson. About the Ist of September, 1700, William Penn sent a couple of young tame foxes to John Askew, a merchant of London. No doubt they were Bucks county foxes, and possibly their descendants yet contribute to the sport of England's nobility and gentry. In the summer, 1701, Penn visited the Susquehanna to confer with the Indians, no doubt passing up through the county and crossing the Lehigh between its mouth and Bethlehem or in that region. He returned by way of Conestoga. The manor was not free from the depreclations of horse thieves, and while Penn resided there one John Walsh drove off his roan mare and colt and a brown gelding, which gave him occasion to write to John Moore, to get the thief indicted, for "it is too much a practice to think it no fault to cheat the Governor."
William Penn was much interested in agriculture, and loved a rural life. He designed the island neighboring to Pennsbury, now Newbold's or Biddle's island, for feeding young cattle and a stud of mares. In the conveyance of an island to Thomas Fairman, it was stipulated that Penn should mow it for his own use, and keep hogs on it until it was drained and improved.
The presence of the Proprietary was now required in England, and he made his arrangements to return in the fall of 1701, and John Sotcher was to bring him from Philadelphia, among other things, "his hair trunk, leather stockings and twelve bottles of Madeira wine." He thought at first of leaving his wife and daughter behind, but they protested and he took them with him. "Previous to embarking for England, William Penn assembled a large cont- pany of Indians at Pennsbury, to review the covenants they had made with him. The council was held in the great hall of the manor house. The Indians declared they had never broken a covenant, which they made in their hearts and not in their heads. After the business had been transacted Penn made them presents of match coats and other articles, and afterward the Indians went out into the courtyard to perform their worship. John Richardson, a distinguished English Friend, who was traveling in Pennsylvania, spent two or three days at the manor house and witnessed the council, etc., and thus described their worship :
"First they made a small fire, and then the men without the women sat down about it in a ring, and whatever object they severally fixed their eyes on. I did not see them move them in all that part of their worship, while they sang a very melodious hymn, which affected and tendered the hearts of many who were spectators. When they had thins done they began to beat upon the ground with little sticks, or make some motion with something in their hands, and pause a little, till one of the elder sort sets forth his hynin, followed by the company for a few minutes, and then a pause : and the like was done by another, and so by a third, and followed by the company as at the first, which seemed exceed- ingly to affect them and others. Having done, they rose up and danced a little about the fire, and partaking with some shouting, like triumph or rejoicing." When asked what they understood by eternity or a future state, they explained. through the interpreter, that those who had been guilty of theft, swearing, lying, murder, etc., went into a very cold country, where they had neither good fat venison, nor match coats, but those who died innocent of these offenses went into a fine warm country where they had good fat venison, and good match coats. They explained their idea of God by making several circles on the ground, each succeeding one being smaller, when they placed Penn in the mid- dle circle so that he could see over all the others. He was made to represent the Almighty overlooking all the earth.
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When William Penn was making his arrangements to return to England, he proposed leaving Pennsbury in charge of John Sotcher and Mary Lofty.3 John came to America with Penn, 1701, and stood to him in the double relation of servant and friend. He and Mary equally enjoyed the confidence and respect of the great founder, and Penn wrote him repeatedly with directions for the management of the estate. He said they are "as good servants as any in America." At Falls meeting, September 4, 1701, Jolin announced his intention of taking Mary to wife, and Joseph Kirkbride and Mary Sirket were appointed to examine the matter and report at the next meeting. William Penn, present at the meeting, stated that as he proposed leaving his affairs at Pennsbury in their hands, and, as the season hurried his departure, he desired to see the mar- riage accomplished before he left the country. The meeting was adjourned one week to give the committee time to examine the case and report, and Phineas Pemberton, Joseph Kirkbride, Richard Ilough and Samuel Dark were ap- pointed to draw the certificate. The committee making a favorable report, and a certificate from Penn and his wife being read, the monthly meeting, held the Sth of October, gave its consent to the marriage. The certificate bears date October 16, and is witnessed by some of the leading men of the Province, includ- the Governor, wife and daughter.' The marriage took place at Pennsbury, and is the only one William Penn is known to have attended in this county.ª Letitia made the bride a present of a chest of drawers that cost £7. Penn and his wife took a certificate from Falls meeting, while their daughter Letitia took Iers from Philadelphia. The latter set forth, that to the best of their knowledge "she is not under any marriage engagement."
John and Mary Sotchers had four children, Hannah. Mary, Ann and Robert. Hannah married Joseph Kirkbride, 1720, Mary, Mahlon Kirkbride, 1724, Ann married Mark Watson, 1728, and Robert married Mercy Brown out of meeting, 1731. and was dealt with. They were the great-grandparents of the mother of the late Anthony Burton, Bristol, who had preserved the marriage certificate. The wife of the late Doctor Cernea, Buckingham, was a descen lant through the Kirkbrides. John Soteher went to England, 1702, to receive a legacy left him by his brother, leaving his wife in charge of Pennsbury. He was a member of Assembly, 1722, and.died, 1729. He was in Penn's service about ten years, and on leaving, 1709. probably moved onto a plantation near by in-
3 This name is found written Lofty, Loftie, and Loftus, but Lofty is probably the correct spelling.
4 In addition to the Penns were the following signatures: Samuel Jennings. Pain- eas Pemberton. Joseph Kirkbride, Joseph Langdale, Richard Gore, Joseph Shippen. Solo- mon Warder, William Hackett, Richard Cocks. Richard Hough, James Logan, Peter Worrell, Job Bunting, Samuel Burges, John Burges, and several women.
5 Watson, in his "Annals of Philadelphia," says that Amor Preston, the ancestor of the Prestons of Bucks county. married his wife at or near Pennsbury, in the presence of William Penn and many Indians, and gives her statement of his appearance and behavior. This account has been accepted, but on investigation I find it not true. In December, 1710, Amor Preston married Esther Large, on anthority granted by Falls mecting. ar 1 as Penn had then been nine year, in England, he could not have been present at the cerem ny. As the marriage is on record in the meeting, the date no doubt is correct. The error in this statement throws doubt on all Mr. Watson says about Mrs. Preston. We shall have more to say on this subject in a future chapter.
6 She probably came from Bristol, England. where she had a brother settled in trade.
-
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tended for John Penn, Jr. When Sotcher and Logan had their first settlement, 1705, there was due the former £65, Pennsylvania currency.
William Penn took passage in the ship Dolmahoy, for London, November. 1701, after a residence of nearly two years at Pennsbury manor house. He engaged the whole of the cabin for himself and family, at fifty guineas. They went down the river in a yacht to New Castle, where the ship lay, accompanied by James Logan and other friends. They were safe on board the 3d, whence Penn addressed his parting instructions to his faithful secretary. Logan was charged to send all the goods at the town house up to Pennsbury, except enough to furnish a room for himself ; and he was requested "to give a small treat" in the Proprietary's name to the gentlemen of Philadelphia for a beginning to a better understanding. His lovely seat on the Delaware was in the thoughts of William Penn to the last, for at the foot of these instructions he writes: "Remember J. Sotcher and Pennsbury." Had he realized at that moment that he had left his home in Bucks county forever, sadder yet would have been his thoughts as he sailed down the Delaware. The Dolmahoy had a safe passage. reaching Portsmouth in thirty days. Among the bills Penn left unpaid. for Logan to settle, were the butcher's £60 and the baker's. £80. so much was he straitened for money. Among the articles Penn left at Pennsbury, were two pipes of Madeira wine, and, in a letter to Logan, dated September 7, 1705, he wants one of them sent to him in England.
Among the distinguished persons who visited Pennsbury after Penn had left was Lord Cornbury, Governor of New York, June, 1702, who came to Burlington to proclaim Queen Anne. Governor Hamilton and party met him at Crosswicks, and invited him to visit Pennsylvania. Logan, who was up at Peunsbury, hastened down to Philadelphia to provide for his entertainment. and a dinner, "equal to anything he had seen in America," was prepared for him and his retinne. He lodged at Edward Shippen's, and the next day he dined there with his company. On his return up the river from Burlington to the falls, on the 24th, he paid a visit to Pennsbury. Logan sent up wine and "what could be got." and was there to receive his guest. Lord Cornbury was attended up the river by four boats besides his own, including the Governor's barge, and arrived about ten in the morning with a suite of fifty persons. James Logan. in a letter to Penn, says of the dinner : "With Mary's great diligence and all our care, we got really a handsome country entertainment, which, though much inferior to those at Philadelphia for cost, etc., yet, for decency and good order, gave no less satisfaction." In September, 1704, Lord Cornbury again visited Pennsbury accompanied by his wife, when they were entertained by William Penn. jr. At this period the manor was noted for its apple orchard, and the quality of its "pearmains and goklen pippins." Within recent years the owner exhibited "Pennsbury pippins" at our agricultural fairs.
In 1703. William Penn sent his son William, a will youth, to Pennsylvania. hoping the associates of the father would have a good influence over him. He carne commended to the care of James Logan, to whom Penn wrote: "Take him immediately away to Pennsbury, and there give him a true state of things, and weigh down his levities, as well as temper, his resentments, and form his understanding since all depends upon it, as well for his future happiness, as in measure the poor country. Watch him, outwit him, and honestly over-reach him for his own good. Fishing, little journeys (as to see the Indians. etc. ). will divert him; no rambling to New York, nor mongrel correspondence."
7 Mary Sotcher, the housekeeper.
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Logan carried out the instructions, and young Penn was soon under the peace- ful roof at Pennsbury. He brought two or three couple of choice hounds, "for deer, foxes and wolves," and his father wrote to have John Sotcher quarter them about "as with young Biles, ete." Young Penn received the congratula- tions of his father's friends ; and, when the Indians heard the young Proprietary had arrived, they sent a deputation of an hundred warriors, with nine kings to Pennsbury, to tender their welcome. They presented him some belts of wam- pum in proof of their good will. He must have made a favorable impression, for Samuel Preston wrote Jonathan Dickinson. "our young landlord, in my judgment, discovers himself his father's eldest son; his person, his sweetness of temper and elegance of speech are no small demonstrations of it." He spent most of his time in Philadelphia, where he played some wild capers. Neither the devotion of Logan, the interest of his father's friends in his welfare, nor the pure atmosphere of Pennsbury, had the desired effect. He fell again into evil habits, and returning to England in the fall, 1704, died in disgrace in France, a few years later. The waywardness of this favorite son almost broke his father's heart.
After Penn's return to England, Pennsbury was an ever abiding presence in his mind, and for years he looked forward to his return and making it his per- manent residence. It was evidently the home of his affections. It was the text of much of his correspondence with Logan. He wrote him. June 4, 1702: "Pennsbury! I would be glad to hear how things are there; the family, fruit, corn and improvements." He wants Logan to keep up things at Pennsbury, and orders fruit and other trees planted in the fields, at the distance of forty or fifty feet apart, so as not to hurt the grass nor corn. He continued to send ou !! shrubs and trees and gave directions how to plant them. In 1705 he writes to Logan, "not so much neglect the gardens at Pennsbury as to let them run to ruin ;" and again, not to let him be put to any more expense on account of Pennsbury, but only "to keep it in repair and that its produce may maintain it." The manor could not have been very profit- able as a farm. for. 1705. John Sotcher could not make his own wages out of it, though Logan wrote Penn that with that exception it cleared itself. Penn evidently expected to return as late as 1708, when he wrote to James Logan, "let William Walton, that comes from Bristol. keep all in order till we come."
Penn did not live to re- turn to his beloved Penn- sylvania, for which he longed for years, but PENN'S BURIAL PLACE. spent the remainder of his days in England. surrounded by a sea of troubles and vexa- tions. He died between two and three o'clock on the morning of
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30th of July, 1718, and his body was brought from Rushbe Jordan's, in Bucks, on 5th of August, and there buried in the presence of a large concourse of spectators. Ilis grave is marked by a stone with his name and date of death. His second wife, Hannah Callowhill, was buried in the sante grave. In close proximity are ten other tombstones marking the resting place- of his family and friends, with them Isaac Pennington, the son of a Lord-Mayer of London, and Thomas Ellwood, who read to Milton in the cottage at Chalfant. after he was struck with blindness, and who suggested to him the writing of "Paradise Regained." It has been thought their persecutions while in life in.duced these Friends to select this quiet place for burial.
Pennsbury house was kept up several years after Penn went to England. 1701, waiting his return to spend the remainder of his days there. The furniture was long preserved,s but was finally sold and distributed through Bucks county and elsewhere. But few pieces can be traced at this late day. Samuel Coats, Philadelphia, purchased William Penn's secretary of John Penn, but we do not know what became of it. After the death of James Logan many of the goods at Pennsbury were sold at public sale by an agent of the family. . 1 gold-headed cane that belonged to the Proprietary was bought by a farmer of Bucks county. The clock that marked the time in the great hall at Pennsbury stands in the Philadelphia Library, while Penn's chair is at the Pennsylvania Hospital. Mrs. Alfred Blaker, Newtown, has one of the parlor chairs, elab- orately carved, with a high, straight back, and a venerable look. One chamber, in particular, was kept handsomely furnished and hung with tapestry, for the accommodation of the family descendants should any of them return. This room came to be looked upon with curiosity and suspicion, and was called "a haunted chamber." It became musty from non-use, and the rich hangings covered with dust and cobwebs. Another room was kept furnished for the agent of the family when he visited the estate, and the beds and linen are described as having been excellent. Visitors generally carried away some relic of the place, and bits of curtains and bed covers may yet be found in the collec- tions of the curious. Mrs. Deborah Logan? remembered visiting the house on one occasion, with her mother, and bringing away a piece of old bed-spread of holland, closely wrought with the needle in green silk, and said to have been the work of Penn's daughter Letitia. For many years Pennsbury was a place of resort for strangers who wished to view the home of the founder of Penn- sylvania, who spread their refreshments under the large walnut trees that had shaded Penn and his family. The building fell into premature decay from injury received from leakage of the leaden reservoir on the roof. It was pulled down to rebuild just before the Revolution, but the war prevented it.
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