History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc, Part 10

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902; Whitman, Benjamin, 1940-; Russell, N. W. (Nathaniel Willard); Brown, R. C. (Robert C.); Weakley, F. E; Warner, Beers & Co. (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1280

USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc > Part 10

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corn and carry burdens. When the young women are fit for marriage, they wear something upon their heads as an advertisment; but so, as their faces hardly to be seen, but when they please. The age they marry at, if women, is about thirteen and fourteen; if men, seventeen and eighteen; they are rarely elder." In a romantic vein he speaks of their houses, diet, hospitality, revengefulness and concealment of resentment, great liberality, free manner of life and customs, late love of strong liquor, behavior in sickness and death, their re- ligion, their feastings, their government, their mode of doing business, their manner of administering justice, of agreement for settling difficulties entered into with the pen, their susceptibility to improvement, of the origin of the Indian race their resemblance to the Jews. Of the Dutch and Swedes whom he found set- tled here when he came, he says: " The Dutch applied themselves to traffick, the Swedes and Finns to husbandry. The Dutch mostly inhabit those parts that lie upon the bay, and the Swedes the freshes of the Delaware. They are a plain, strong, industrious people; yet have made no great progress in culture or propagation of fruit trees. They are a people proper, and strong of body, so they have fine children, and almost every house full; rare to find one of them without three or four boys and as many girls-some, six, seven and eight sons, and I must do them that right, I see few young men more sober and laborious." After speaking at length of the organization of the colony and its manner of government, he concludes with his own opinion of the country: "I say little

HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

of the town itself; but this I will say, for the good providence of God, that of all the many places I have seen in the world, I remember not one better seated, so that it seems to me to have been appointed for a town, whether we regard the rivers or the conveniency of the coves, docks, springs, the loftiness and soundness of the land and the air, held by the people of these parts to be very good. It is advanced within less than a year to about fourscore houses and cottages, where merchants and handicrafts are following their vocations as fast as they can, while the countrymen are close at their farms. * * * I bless God I am fully satisfied with the country and entertainment I got in it; for I find that particular content, which hath always attended me, where God in His providence hath made it my place and service to reside."

As we have seen, the visit of Penn to Lord Baltimore soon after his arrival in America, for the purpose of settling the boundaries of the two provinces, after a two days' conference, proved fruitless, and an adjournment was had for the winter, when the efforts for settlement were to be resumed. Early in the spring, an attempt was made on the part of Penn, but was prevented till May, when a meeting was held at New Castle. Penn proposed to confer by the aid of counselors and in writing. But to this Baltimore objected, and, complain- ing of the sultryness of the weather, the conference was broken up. In the meantime, it had come to the knowledge of Penn that Lord Baltimore had issued a proclamation offering settlers more land, and at cheaper rates than Penn had done, in portions of the lower counties which Penn had secured from the Duke of York, but which Baltimore now claimed. Besides, it was ascertained that an agent of his had taken an observation, and determined the latitude without the knowledge of Penn, and had secretly made an ex parte statement of the case before the Lords of the Committee of Plantations in En- gland, and was pressing for arbitrament. This state of the case created much uneasiness in the mind of Penn, especially as the proclamation of Lord Balti- more was likely to bring the two governments into conflict on territory mutu- ally claimed. But Lord Baltimore was not disposed to be content with diplo- macy. He determined to pursue an aggressive policy. He accordingly com- missioned his agent, Col. George Talbot, under date of September 17, 1683, to go to Schuylkill, at Delaware, and demand of William Penn " all that part. of the land on the wost side of the said river that lyeth to the southward of the fortieth degree." This bold demand would have embraced the entire colony, both the lower counties, and the three counties in the province, as the fortieth degree reaches a considerable distance above Philadelphia. Penn was absent at the time in New York, and Talbot made his demand upon Nicholas Moore, the deputy of Penn. Upon hie return, the proprietor made a dignified but earnest rejoinder. While he felt that the demand could not be justly sus- tained, yet the fact that a controversy for the settlement of the boundary was likely to arise, gave him disquietude, and though he was gratified with the success of his plans for acquiring lands of the Indians and establishing friendly relations with them, the laying-out of his new city and settling it, the adop- tion of a stable government and putting it in successful operation, and, more than all, the drawing thither the large number of settlers, chiefly of his own religious faith, and seeing them contented and happy in the new State, he plainly foresaw that his skill and tact would be taxed to the utmost to defend and hold his claim before the English court. If the demand of Lord Balti- more were to prevail, all that he had done would be lost, as his entire colony would be swallowed up by Maryland.

The anxiety of Penn to hold from the beginning of the 40° of latitude was not to increase thereby his territory by so much, for two degrees which he

HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

securely had, so far as amount of land was concerned, would have entirely satisfied him; but he wanted this degree chiefly that he might have the free navigation of Delaware Bay and River, and thus open communication with the ocean. He desired also to hold the lower counties, which were now well settled, as well as his own counties rapidly being peopled, and his new city of Philadelphia, which he regarded as the apple of his eye. So anxious was he to hold the land on the right bank of the Delaware to the open ocean, that at. his second meeting, he asked Lord Baltimore to set a price per square mile on this disputed ground, and though he had purchased it once of the crown and held the King's charter for it, and the Duke of York's deed, yet rather than have any further wrangle over it, he was willing to pay for it again. But this. Lord Baltimore refused to do.

Bent upon bringing matters to a crisis, and to force possession of his- claim, early in the year 1684 a party from Maryland made forcible entry upon the plantations in the lower counties and drove off the owners. The Governor and Council at Philadelphia sent thither a copy of the answer of Penn to Baltimore's demand for the land south of the Delaware, with orders to William Welch, Sheriff at New Castle, to use his influence to reinstate the lawful owners, and issued a declaration succinctly stating the claim of Penn, for the purpose of preventing such unlawful incursions in future.

The season opened favorably for the continued prosperity of the young colony. Agriculture was being prosecuted as never before. Goodly flocks and herds gladdened the eyes of the settlers. An intelligent, moral and in- dustrious yeomanry was springing into existence. Emigrants were pouring into the Delaware from many lands. The Government was becoming settled in its operations and popular with the people. The proprietor had leisure to attend to the interests of his religious society, not only in his own dominions, but in the Jerseys and in New York.

CHAPTER VII.

THOMAS LLOYD, 1684-86-FIVE COMMISSIONERS, 1686-88-JOHN BLACK VELL, 1688 -90-THOMAS LLOYD, 1690-91-WILLIAM MARKHAM, 1691-93-BENJAMIN FLETCHER, 1693-95-WILLIAM MARKHAM, 1693-99.

B' UT the indications, constantly thickening, that a struggle was likely soon to be precipitated before the crown for possession of the disputed terri- tory, decided Penn early in the summer to quit the colony and return to En- gland to defend his imperiled interests. There is no doubt that he took this step with unfeigned regret, as he was contented and happy in his new country, and was most usefully employed. There were, however, other inducements which were leading him back to England. The hand of persecution was at this time laid heavily upon the Quakers. Over 1,400 of these pious and in- offensive people were now, and some of them had been for years, languishing in the prisons of England, for no other offense than their manner of worship. By his friendship with James, and his acquaintance with the King, he might do something to soften the lot of these unfortunate victims of bigotry.

He accordingly empowered the Provincial Council, , of which Thomas Lloyd was President, to act in his stead, commissioned Nicholas Moore, Will- iam Welch, William Wood, Robert Turner and John Eckley, Provincial

HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Judges for two years; appointed Thomas Lloyd, James Claypole and Robert Turner to sign land patents and warrants, and William Clark as Justice of the Peace for all the counties; and on the 6th of June, 1684, sailed for Europe. His feelings on leaving his colony are exmbited by a farewell address which he issued from on board the vessel to his people, of which the following are brief extracts: "My love and my life is to you, and with you, and no water can quench it, nor distance wear it out, nor bring it to an end. I have been with you, cared over you and served over you with unfeigned love, and you aro beloved of me, and near to me, beyond utterance. I bless you in the name and power of the Lord, and may God bless you with His righteousness, peace and plenty all the land over. *

* * Oh! now are you come to a quiet land; provoke not the Lord to trouble it. And now liberty and author- ity are with you, and in your hands. Let the government be upon His shoulders, in all your spirits, that you may rule for Him, under whom the princes of this world will, one day, esteem their honor to govern and serve in their places * * * And thou, Philadelphia, the virgin settlement of this province, named before thou wert born, what love, what care, what serv- ice and what travail has there been, to bring thee forth, and preserve thee from such as would abuse and defile thee! * * * So, dear friends, my love again salutes you all, wishing that grace, mercy and peace, with all temporal blessings, may abound richly among you-so says. so prays, your friend and lover in the truth.

WILLIAM PENN."

On the 6th of December of this same year, 1684, Charles II died, and was succeeded by his brother James, Duke of York, under the title of James IL. James was a professed Catholic, and the people were greatly excited all over the kingdom lest the reign of Bloody Mary should be repeated, and that the Catholic should become the established religion. He had less ability than his brother, the deceased King, but great discipline and industry. Penn en- joyed the friendship and intimacy of the new King, and he determined to use his advantage for the relief of his suffering countrymen, not only of his sect, the Quakers, but of all, and especially for the furtherance of universal liberty. But there is no doubt that he at this time meditated a speedy return to his province, for he writes: "Keep up the peoples' hearts and loves; I hope to be with them next fall, if the Lord prevent not. I long to be with you. No temptations prevail to fix me here. The Lord send us a good meeting." By authority of Penn, dated 18th of January, 1685, William Markham, Penn's cousin, was commissioned Secretary of the province, and the proprietor's Sec- retary.

That he might be fixed near to court for the furtherance of his private as well as public business, he secured lodgings for himself and family, in 1685, at Kensington, near London, and cultivated a daily intimacy with the King, who, no doubt, found in the strong native sense of his Quaker friend, a valued ad- viser upon many questions of difficulty. His first and chief care was the set- tlement of his disagreement with Lord Baltimore touching the boundaries of their provinces. This was settled in November, 1685, by a compromise, by which the land lying between the Delaware and Chesepeake Bays was divided into two equal parts-that upon the Delaware was adjudged to Penn, and that upon the Chesapeake to Lord Baltimore. This settled the matter in theory; but when the attempt was made to run the lines according to the language of the Royal Act, it was found that the royal secretaries did not understand the geography of the country, and that the line which their language described was an impossible one. Consequently the boundary remained undetermined till 1732. The account of its location will be given in its proper place.

HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Having secured this important decision to his satisfaction, Penn applied himself with renewed zeal, not only to secure the release of his people, who were languishing in prisons, but to procure for all Englishmen, everywhere, enlarged liberty and freedom of conscience. His relations with the King fa- vored his designs. The King had said to Penn before he ascended the throne that he was opposed to persecution for religion. On the first day of his reign, he made an address, in which he proclaimed himself opposed to all arbitrary principles in government, 'and promised protection to the Church of England. Early in the year 1686, in consequence of the King's proclamation for a gen- eral pardon, over thirteen hundred Quakers were set at liberty, and in April, 1687, the King issued a declaration for entire liberty of conscience, and eus- pending the penal laws in matters ecclesiastical. This was a great step in ad- vance, and one that must ever throw a luster over the brief reign of this un- fortunate monarch. Penn, though holding no official position, doubtless did as much toward securing the issue of this liberal measure as any Englishman.

Upon the issue of these edicts, the Quakers, at their next annual meeting, presented an address of acknowledgment to the Ring, which opened in these words: " We cannot but bless and praise the name of Almighty God, who hath the hearte of princes in His hands, that He hath inclined the King to hear the cries of his suffering subjects for conscience' sake, and we rejoice that he hath given us so eminent an occasion to present him our thanks." This ad- dress was presented by Penn in a few well-chosen words, and the King re- plied in the following, though brief, yet most expressive, language: "Gentle- men-I thank you heartily for your address. Some of you know (I am sure you do Mr. Penn), that it was always my principle, that conscience ought not to be forced, and that all men ought to have the liberty of their consciences. And what I have promised in my declaration, I will continue to perform 80 long as I live. And I hope, before I die, to settle it so that after ages shall have no reason to alter it."

It would have been supposed that such noble sentiments as these from a sovereign would have been hailed with delight by the English people. But they were not. The aristocracy of Britain at this time did not want liberty of conscience. They wanted comformity to the established church, and bitter persecution against all others, as in the reign of Charles, which filled the prisons with Quakers. The warm congratulations to James, and fervent prayers for his welfare, were regarded by them with an evil eye. Bitter reproaches were heaped upon Penn, who was looked upon as the power behind the throne that was moving the King to the enforcing of these principles. He was ac- cused of having been educated at St. Omer's, a Catholic college, a place which he never saw in his life, of having taken orders as a priest in the Catholic Church, of having obtained dispensation to marry, and of being not only a Catholic, but a Jesuit in disguise, all of which were pure fabrications. But in the excited state of the public mind they were believed, and caused him to be regarded with bitter hatred. The King, too, fell rapidly into disfavor, and so completely had the minds of his people become alienated from him, that upon the coming of the Prince of Orange and his wife Mary, in 1688, James was obliged to flee to France for safety, and they were received as the rulers of Britain.

But while the interests of the colony were thus prospering at court, they were not so cloudless in the new country. There was needed the strong hand of Penn to check abuses and guide the course of legislation in proper chan- nels. He had labored to place the government entirely in the hands of the people-an idea, in the abstract, most attractive, and one which, were the entire

HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

population wise and just, would result fortunately; yet, in practice, he found to his sorrow the results most vexatious. The proprietor had not long been gone before troubles arose between the two Houses of the Legislature relative to promulgating the laws as not being in accordance with the requirements of the charter. Nicholas Moore, the Chief Justice, was impeached for irregular- ities in imposing fines and in other ways abusing his high trust. But though formally arraigned and directed to desist from exercising his functions, he euc- cessfully resisted the proceedings, and a final judgment was never obtained. Patrick Robinson, Clerk of the court, for refusing to produce the records in the trial of Moore, was voted a public enemy. These troublee in the government were the occasion of much grief to Penn, who wrote, naming a number of the most influential men in the colony, and beseeching them to unite in an endeavor to check further irregularities, declaring that they disgraced the province, " that their conduct had struck back hundreds, and was £10,000 out of his way, and £100,000 out of the country."

In the latter part of the year 1686, seeing that the whole Council was too unwieldy a body to exercise executive power, Penn determined to contract the number, and accordingly appointed Thomae Lloyd, Nicholas Moore, James Claypole, Robert Turner and John Eckley, any three of whom should consti- tute a quorum, to be Commissioners of State to act for the proprietor. In place of Moore and Claypule, Arthur Cook and John Simcock were appointed. They were to compel the attendance of the Council; see that the two Houses admit of no parley; to abrogate all laws except the fundamentals; to dismiss the Assembly and call a new une, and finally he solemnly admonishes them, " Be most just, as in the sight of the all-seeing, all-searching God." In a letter to these Commissioners, he says: "Three things occur to me eminently: First, that you be watchful that none abuse the King, etc. ; secondly, that you get the custom act revived as being the equalest and least offensive way to support the government; thirdly, that you retrieve the dignity of courts and sessions."

In a letter to James Harrison, his confidential agent at Pennsbury Manor, he unbosoms himself more freely respecting his employment in London than in any of his State papers or more public communications, and from it can be seen how important were his labors with the head of the English nation. "I am engaged in the public business of the nation and Friends, and those in au- thority would have me see the establishment of the liberty, that I was a small instrument to begin in the land. The Lord has given me great entrance and interest with the King, though not so much as is said; and I confess I should rejoice to see poor old England fixed, the penal laws repealed, that are now suspended, and if it goes well with England, it cannot go ill with Pennsyl- vania, as unkindly used as I am; and no poor slave in Turkey desires more earnestly, I believe, for deliverance, than I do to be with you." In the sum- mer of 1687, Penn was in company with the King in a progress through the counties of Berkshire, Glocestershire, Worcestershire, Shropshire, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and Hampshire, during which he held several religious meetings with his people, in some of which the King ap- pears to have been present, particularly in Chester.

Since the departure of Penn, Thomas Lloyd had acted as President of the Council, and later of the Commissioners of State. He had been in effect Governor, and held responsible for the success of the government, while pos- Bessing only one voice in the disposing of affairs. Tiring of this anomalous position, Lloyd applied to be relieved. It was difficult to find a person of sufficient ability to fill the place; but Penn decided to relieve him, though

HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

showing his entire confidence by notifying him that he intended soon to ap- point him absolute Governor. In his place, he indicated Samuel Carpenter, or if he was unwilling to serve, then Thomas Ellis, but not to be President, bis will being that each should preside a month in turn, or that the oldest mem- ber should be chosen.

Penn foresaw that the executive power, to be efficient, must be lodged' in the hands of one man of ability, such as to command the respect of his people. Those whom he most trusted in the colony had been so mixed up in the wran- gles of the executive and legislative departments of the government that he deemed it advisable to appoint a person who had not before been in the col- ony and not a Quaker. He accordingly commissioned John Blackwell, July 27, 1688, to be Lieutenant Governor, who was at this time in New England, and who had the esteem and confidence of Penn. With the commission, the proprietor sent full instructions, chiefly by way of caution, the last one being: ' Rule the meek meekly; and those that will not be ruled, rule with authority." Though Lloyd had been relieved of power, he still remained in the Council, probably because neither of the persens designated were willing to serve. Having seen the evils of a many-headed executive, he had recommended the appointment of one person to exercise executive authority. It was in con. formity with this advice that Blackwell was appointed. He met the Assembly in March, 1689; but either his conceptions of business were arbitrary and im- perious, or the Assembly had become accustomed to great latitude and lax discipline; for the business had not proceeded far before the several branches of the government were at variance. Lloyd refused to give up the great seal, alleging that it had been given him for life. The Governor, arbitra- rily and without warrant of law, imprisoned officers of high rank, denied the validity of all laws passed by the Assembly previous to his administration, and set on foot a project for organizing and equipping the militia, under the plea of threatened hostility of France. The Assembly attempted to arrest his proceedings, but he shrewdly evaded their intents by organizing a party among the members, who persistently absented themselves. His reign was short, for in January, 1690, he left the colony and sailed away for En- gland, whereupon the government again devolved upon the Council, Thomas Lloyd, President. Penn had a high estimation of the talents and integrity of Blackwell, and adds, " He is in England and Ireland of great repute for ability, integrity and virtue."

Three forms of administering the executive department of the government had now been tried, by a Council consisting of eighteen members, a commission of five members, and a Lieutenant Governor. Desirous of leaving the government as far as possible in the hands of the people who were the sources of all power, Penn left it to the Council to decide which form should be adopted. The majority decided for a Deputy Governor. This was opposed by the mem- bers from the provinces, who preferred a Council, and who, finding themselves outvoted, decided to withdraw, and determined for themselves to govern the lower counties until Penn should come. This obstinacy and falling out be- tween the councilors from the lower counties and those from the province was the beginning of a controversy which eventuated in a separation, and finally in the formation of Delaware as a separate commonwealth. A deputa- tion from the Council was sent to New Castle to induce the seceding members to return, but without success. They had never regarded with favor the re- moval of the sittings of the Council from New Castle, the first seat of gov- ernment, to Philadelphia, and they were now determined to set up a govern- ment for themselves.

HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

In 1689, the Friends Public School in Philadelphia was firet incorporated, confirmed by a patent from Penn in 1701, and another in 1708, and finally, with greatly enlarged powers, from Penn personally, November 29, 1711. The preamble to the charter recites that as "the prosperity and welfare of any people depend, in great measure, upon the good education of youth, and their early introduction in the principles of true religion and virtue, and qualifying them to serve their country and themselves, by breeding them in reading, writing, and learning of languages and useful arts and sciences suitable to their sex, age and degree, which cannot be effected in any manner so well as by erecting public schools," etc. George Keith was employed as the first mas- ter of this school. He was a native of Aberdeen, Scotland, a man of learning, and had emigrated to East Jersey some years previous, where he was Surveyor General, and had surveyed and marked the line between East and West New Jersey. He only remained at the head of the school one year, when he was succeeded by his usher, Thomas Makin. This was a echool of considerable merit and pretension, where the higher mathematics and the ancient lan- guages were taught, and was the first of this high grade. A school of a pri- mary grade had been established as early as 1683, in Philadelphia, when Enoch Flower taught on the following terms: "To learn to read English, four shillings by the quarter; to write, six shillings by ditto; to read, write and cast accounts, eight shillings by the quarter; boarding a scholar, that is to Ray, diet, lodging, washing and schooling, £10 for one whole year," from which it will be seen that although learning might be highly prized, its cost in hard cash was not exorbitant.

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History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc, Part 10

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902; Whitman, Benjamin, 1940-; Russell, N. W. (Nathaniel Willard); Brown, R. C. (Robert C.); Weakley, F. E; Warner, Beers & Co. (Chicago, Ill.) Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1280

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902; Whitman, Benjamin, 1940-; Russell, N. W. (Nathaniel Willard); Brown, R. C. (Robert C.); Weakley, F. E; Warner, Beers & Co. (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1280