USA > Pennsylvania > Warren County > History of Warren County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers > Part 6
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
submit quietly to the new government. Armed with this letter, which was dated June 21, 1681, Markham continued his voyage to the Delaware, where he was kindly received.
As the chief officer in the province, Markham was empowered to call a council of nine citizens to assist him in the government, and over whom he was to preside. He also brought a letter addressed to Lord Baltimore, relating to the boundary between the two grants, and showing the terms of the charter for Pennsylvania. On receipt of this letter, Lord Baltimore came to Upland to confer with Markham. An observation fixing the exact latitude of Upland showed that it was twelve miles south of the forty-first degree, to which degree Baltimore claimed, and that the beginning of the fortieth degree, which the royal charter explicitly fixed for the southern boundary of Pennsylvania, would include nearly the entire province of Maryland. " If this be allowed," was sig- nificantly asked by Lord Baltimore, "where is my province ?" He returned to his colony, and from this time an active contention was waged for many years for possession of the disputed territory.
Four commissioners - William Crispin, John Bezer, William Haige, and Nathaniel Allen-appointed by Penn, accompanied Markham. The first named had been designated as surveyor-general, but he died en route, when Thomas Holme was appointed to succeed him. These commissioners, in conjunction with the governor, had two important duties assigned them. The first was to meet and preserve friendly relations with the Indians and acquire lands of them by actual purchase, and the second was to select the site of a maritime city and make the necessary surveys. That they might have a suitable introduction to the natives from him, Penn supplied them with a declaration of his purposes, conceived in a spirit of brotherly love, and expressed in such simple terms that it was supposed the children of the forest would have no difficulty in appre- hending his meaning.
Said Penn in this declaration : "There is a great God and power that hath made the world, and all things therein, to whom you and I, and all my people owe their being, and well being; and to whom you and I must one day give an account for all that we do in the world. This great God hath written His law in our hearts, by which we are taught and commanded to love, and help, and do good to one another. Now this great God hath been pleased to make me concerned in your part of the world, and the King of the country where I live hath given me a great province therein ; but I desire to enjoy it with your love and consent, that we may always live together, as neighbors and friends ; else what would the great God do to us, who hath made us, not to devour and destroy one another, but to live soberly and kindly together in the world ? Now I would have you well observe that I am very sensible of the unkindness and injustice that have been too much exercised toward you by the people of these parts of the world, who have sought themselves, and to make great ad-
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THE PROVINCE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
vantages by you, rather than to be examples of goodness and patience unto you, which I hear hath been a matter of trouble to you, and caused great grudg- ing and animosities, sometimes to the shedding of blood, which hath made the great God angry. But I am not such a man, as is well known in my own country. I have great love and regard toward you, and desire to gain your love and friendship by a kind, just and peaceable life, and the people I send are of the same mind, and shall in all things behave themselves accordingly ; and if anything shall offend you or your people, you shall have a full and speedy satisfaction for the same by an equal number of just men on both sides that by no means you may have just occasion of being offended against them. I shall shortly come to you myself, at which time we may more freely confer and dis- course of these matters. In the mean time, I have sent my Commissioners to treat with you about land, and form a league of peace. Let me desire you to be kind to them and their people, and receive these presents and tokens which I have sent you as a testimony of my good will to you, and my resolution to live justly, peaceably and friendly with you."
Although this address, or explanation, is clothed with plain and simple words, it is not probable that the savages understood its true intents and pur- poses, nor cared any more than that mythical dignitary, the Indian " Emperor of Canada," for whose enlightenment Penn at about this time had drawn up an elaborate address, which was subsequently beautifully engrossed on parch- ment. In substance this message to the aforesaid " Emperor " was a notifica- tion that he, Penn, had purchased a province in America and intended to occupy it, and wished to live upon terms of peace and amity with his neigh- bors. Certainly this was a novel proceeding on the part of Penn, since he must have been aware that the French had been in actual and almost undisturbed possession of Canada for considerably more than fifty years, and who besides him ever supposed there then existed such a personage as a savage "Emperor of Canada?" If there were such we have never read or heard of them.
But the Indians found inhabiting the wilds of Pennsylvania could appre- ciate kind treatment, and, like all other savages, were always promptly on hand when presents were to be distributed. As a result they became very friendly with Penn's colonists, and were protected in their rights. When Penn came to propose his laws, one was adopted which forbade private trade with the na- tives in which they might be cheated; instead, it was required that the valua- ble skins and furs they had to sell should be exposed in the market place where all could see them and enter into competition for their purchase. He was offered 66,000 for a monopoly of trade in his province. But he well knew the injustice to which this would subject the simple-minded natives, and he refused it, saying : " As the Lord gave it to me over all amid great opposition, I would not abuse His love, nor act unworthy of His providence, and so defile what came to me clean." To his commissioners he gave a letter of instructions in which he says: "Be impartially just to all; that is both pleasing to the Lord, and
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
wise in itself. Be tender of offending the Indians, and let them know that you come to sit down lovingly among them. Let my letter and conditions be read in their tongue, that they may see we have their good in our eye. Be grave, they love not to be smiled on." Acting upon these suggestions, and by a judi- cious distribution of presents, the commissioners soon succeeded in making large purchases of lands from the Indians, situated on the right bank of the Delaware and above the mouth of the Schuylkill.
Markham and the commissioners, however, found considerable difficulty in determining upon the site for the new city. Penn had given very particular instructions about this, and it was not easy to find a tract which answered all the conditions. Their search was kept up for seven weeks. The proprietor had written, " be sure to make your choice where it is most navigable, high, dry and healthy ; that is, where most ships may best ride, of deepest draught of water, if possible to load and unload at the bank or Key's side without boating and lightening of it. It would do well if the river coming into that creek be navigable, at least for boats up into the country, and that the sit- uation be high, at least dry and sound, and not swampy, which is best known by digging up two or three earths and seeing the bottom." Further instruc- tions were that the site of the city be between two navigable streams, and em- brace at least ten thousand acres in one block. " Be sure," said Penn, "to set- tle the figure of the town so that the streets hereafter may be uniform down to the water from the country bounds. Let every house be placed, if the person pleases, in the middle of its plat, as to the breadth way of it, so that there may be ground on each side for gardens or orchards or fields, that it may be a green country town, which will never be burnt and always wholesome."
The soil was examined, the streams were sounded, and deep pits were dug, that a location might be found which would gratify the desires of the proprie- tor. All the eligible sites were inspected from the ocean far up into the coun- try. Penn himself had anticipated that Chester or Upland would be adopted from all that he had learned of the new county ; but these grounds were re- jected as unsuitable, as was also the territory upon Poquessing Creek and that at Pennsbury Manor above Bristol, which had been carefully considered; and the present site of Philadelphia was adopted as coming nearest to the require- ments of the proprietor. It did not embrace ten thousand acres in a solid block or square, but it was between two navigable streams, and the land was high and dry, being for the most part a vast bed of gravel, excellent for drain- age and likely to prove healthful. The streets were laid out regularly, and crossed each other at right angles. As the ground was only gently rolling, the grading was easily accomplished. One wide street, Market, extends from river to river through the center of it, which is crossed at right angles at its middle point by Broad street, of equal width. The name Philadelphia, mean- ing brotherly love, had been selected by the proprictor before his first colonists sailed from England.
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PENN IN PENNSYLVANIA.
CHAPTER VII.
PENN IN PENNSYLVANIA.
William Penn Sails for America -- His Advice to His Family - The Voyage - Warmly Re- ceived at New Castle- The First Assembly - Penn Visits New York and Maryland - Unsat- isfactory Conference with Lord Baltimore - The Great Treaty with the Indians - The Walk- ing Purchase - Great Influx of Colonists-Counties Formed - Meeting of the First General Assembly - Sitting of the First Grand Jury - First Conviction - Another Fruitless Interview with Lord Baltimore - Baltimore's Demand - Penn's Anxiety - His Liberal Offer - Balti- more's Adhierents Invade the Lower Counties - Penn Determines to Return to England - His Farewell to His Colonists.
M EANTIME Penn had settled his affairs in England, and in August, 1682, in company with about a hundred planters, chiefly from his native town of Sussex, he embarked on board the ship Welcome and began the voyage across the Atlantic. Before leaving the Downs he addressed a farewell letter to his friends whom he left behind, and another to his wife and children, giv- ing them much excellent advice, and sketching the way he wished them to live. With remarkable care he pointed out to his wife how he wished his children to be educated, married, etc. " Be sure," said he, " to observe their genius, and do not cross it as to learning; let them not dwell too long on one thing; but let their change be agreeable, and let all their diversions have some little bod- ily labor in them. When grown big, have most care for them ; for then there are more snares both within and without. When marriageable, see that they have worthy persons in their eyes; of good life and good fame for piety and understanding. I need no wealth but sufficiency; and be sure their love be dear, fervent and mutual, that it may be happy for them." To his children he said : " Betake yourselves to some honest, industrious course of life, and that not of sordid covetousness, but for example and to avoid idleness. Love not money nor the world; use them only, and they will serve you; but if you love them you serve them, which will debase your spirits as well as offend the Lord. Watch against anger, neither speak nor act in it; for like drunkenness, it makes a man a beast, and throws people into desperate inconveniences."
It required nearly six weeks to comeplete the voyage, and the weather was pleasant ; but the voyagers had not been long at sea ere that loathsome disease, the small-pox, broke out among them, of which thirty died, or nearly one-third of the whole company. This, added to the usual discomforts and terrors of the ocean, to most of whom this was their first experience, made the voyage a dismal one. Here again was seen the true nobility of Penn. He contributed to the necessities of those less fortunate than himself. He moved about fre- quently among the sick, and cheered them with his presence and kind words.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
His arrival upon the coast and passage up the river was hailed with joyous demonstrations by all classes, including the Swede, Dutch, and English set- tlers, and especially by his own devoted followers, the Friends. He landed at New Castle on the 24th of October, 1682, and on the following day summoned the people to the court-house, where possession of the country was formally tendered to him; and he renewed the commissions of the magistrates, to whom and the assembled people he announced the purpose of his coming, explained the nature of good government, assured them that their civil and religious rights should be respected, and recommended that they live in sobriety and peace. He then proceeded to Upland, henceforward to be known as Chester, where, on the fourth of the following month, he called a meeting of the people, at which an equal number of votes was allowed to the province and the terri- tories. Here Nicholas Moore, president of the Free Society of Traders, was speaker. As at New Castle, Penn addressed the assembly, giving those as- sembled assurances of his beneficent intentions, for which they returned their grateful acknowledgments, the Swedes being especially demonstrative, deput- ing one of their number, Lacy Cock, to say " that they would love, serve and obey him with all they had, and that this was the best day they ever saw." One can well understand with what satisfaction the first settlers upon the Del- aware hailed the prospect of a stable government established in their own midst, after having been so long at the mercy of the government in New York, orig- inally termed New Amsterdam, with allegiance trembling between the courts of Sweden, Holland, and England.
This first assembly was conducted with great decorum, and after the usages of the British Parliament. On the 7th of December, 1682, the three lower counties (now the State of Delaware), which had previously been under the gov- ernment of the Duke of York's representative in America, the governor of New York, were formally annexed to the province of Pennsylvania. The frame of government, which had been drawn with much deliberation, was submitted to the assembly, and after some alterations and amendments was adopted, and be- came the fundamental law. The assembly was in session only three days, but the work accomplished was vast and far-reaching in its influence.
Soon after his arrival in the colony Penn made a visit to New York, and subsequently he journeyed to Maryland, where he was entertained by Lord Baltimore with great ceremony. The settlement of the disputed boundaries was made the subject of formal conference. But after two days spent in fruit- less discussion, the weather becoming severely cold, and thus rendering it im- possible to take observations or make the necessary surveys, it was agreed to adjourn further consideration of the subject until the milder weather of spring again returned.
During his journeyings Penn did not forget to preach the gospel wherever there were people to hear him. On his return from Maryland he said: “I
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PENN IN PENNSYLVANIA.
have been also at New York, Long Island, East Jersey, and Maryland, in which I have had good and eminent service for the Lord." And again he says : " As to outward things we are satisfied -the land good, the air clear and sweet, the springs plentiful, and provisions good and easy to come at, an innumerable quantity of wild fowl and fish; in fine, here is what an Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would be well contented with, and service enough for God, for the fields are here white for the harvest. Oh, how sweet is the quiet of these parts, freed from the anxious and troublesome solicitations, hurries, and perplexities of woeful Europe ! Blessed be the Lord, that of twen- ty-three ships, none miscarried; only two or three had the small-pox ; else healthy and swift passages, generally such as have not been known ; some but twenty-eight days, and few longer than six weeks."
Early in November, during the season known in this latitude as the Indian summer, Penn determined to visit the site of the proposed new city chosen by his commissioners. Accordingly he embarked in an open barge with a number of his friends and was rowed up the Delaware to the present site of Philadel- phia, which the natives called Coaquannock. The scattered settlers had gath- ered to see and welcome the proprietor, and when he stepped upon the shore they extended a helping hand in assisting him up the rugged bluff. Three Swedes had already taken up tracts within the limits of the boundaries chosen for the city, but they were given other valuable lands in exchange, and readily relinquished their claims.
Still Penn did not consider that he had as yet any just title to the soil, holding that the Indians were its rightful possessors, and until it was fairly acquired by purchase from them his own title was entirely void. Hence he sought an early opportunity to meet the chiefs of the tribes claiming possession, and cultivate friendly relations with them. Tradition fixes the first great treaty, or confer- ence, at about this time-November, 1682-and the place under the elm tree known as "Treaty Tree,"1 at Kensington. The letter which Penn had sent by the hands of his commissioners had prepared the minds of these simple-hearted inhabitants of the forest to regard him with awe and reverence. His coming, doubtless, had for a long time been awaited, and when at length the day came, the bands from far around had all assembled. It is known that at least three tribes, or nations, were represented-the Delawares, the Shawanese, who were mostly located along the Lower Susquehanna, and the Mingos, who claimed relationship with the Five Nations.
1 The memory of the " Great Treaty " was long preserved by the Indians, and the novel spectacle was reproduced on canvas by the genius of Benjamin West. In this picture Penn is represented as a corpulent old man clad in Quaker garb, whereas he was at this time but thirty-eight years of age, tall and active, and not at all inclined to corpulency. The "Treaty Tree " was preserved and guarded from injury with almost superstitious care. During the Revolutionary War, when Philadelphia was occu- pied by the British troops, and their details were scouring the country for fire wood, General Simcoe had a sentinel posted at this tree to protect it from mutilation. It stood until 1810, when it was blown down, and it was then ascertained, by its annual concentric accretions, to be two hundred and eighty- three years old. The Penn Society erected a substantial monument on the spot where it stood.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
In making his purchases from the Indians Penn drew up his deeds for land in legal form, and had them duly executed and recorded, so that in case dis- putes should arise in the future, his proofs of purchase would be definite and positive. Of these purchases there are two deeds on record executed in 1683. One is for land near Neshaminy Creek, and thence to Pennypack, and the other for lands lying between the Schuylkill and Chester Rivers, the first bearing the signature of the great chieftain Taminend. In one of these purchases it is pro- vided that the tract "shall extend back as far as a man can walk in three days." Tradition says that Penn himself, with a number of his friends, walked out halt of this purchase with the Indians, that no advantage should be taken of them by making a great walk, and to show his consideration, and that he was not above the toils and fatigues of such a duty. They began at the mouth of the Neshaminy and walked up the Delaware. In one day and a half a spruce tree near the mouth of Baker's Creek was reached, when Penn concluded that this would include as much land as he would want for the time being. A line was then run and marked from the spruce tree to Neshaminy, and the remainder left to be walked out when it should be wanted. They proceeded after the In- dian manner, walking leisurely, sitting down sometimes to smoke their pipes, cat biscuit and cheese, and drink a bottle of wine. In the day and a half they walked a little less than thirty miles. The balance of the purchase was not walked until September 20, 1733, when the then governor of the province offered a prize of five hundred acres of land and £5 sterling to the man who would walk the farthest. As a result a distance of eighty-six miles was cov- ered, in marked contrast with the kind consideration shown by the original proprietor.
During the first year of Penn's stay in the province the country along the Delaware from the falls of Trenton to Chester, a distance of nearly sixty miles, was rapidly taken up and peopled. They were for the most part Friends, and devotedly attached to their religion and its proper observances. They were, morally, of the best classes, and though they were not generally of the aris- tocracy, yet many were in comfortable circumstances, had valuable properties, were of good families, educated, and had the resources within themselves to live contented and happy. They built meeting-houses, established schools, were provident and industrious, and had come hither with no fickle purpose. Many brought servants with them, and well-supplied wardrobes, and all nec- essary articles which they wisely judged could not be procured in a new coun- try.
In a brief period ships with colonists from London, Bristol, Ireland, Wales, Cheshire, Lancashire, Holland, and Germany came, to the number of about fifty. Among those who were particularly conspicuous at the time was a com- pany of German Friends from the Palatinate, and a sufficient number of the descendants of the ancient Britons from Wales to people four townships. The
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latter were also Friends, and to-day their descendants are among the most worthy and respected citizens in Philadelphia and vicinity. Such a large in- crease in population caused a scarcity in many kinds of food, especially of meats. More time was required for bringing forward flocks and herds than for producing grains; but Providence seems to have provided for them, in a measure, for it is recorded that the " wild pigeons came in such great numbers that the sky was sometimes darkened by their flight, and, flying low, they were frequently knocked down as they flew, in great quantities by those who had no other means to take them, whereby they supplied themselves, and having salted those which they could not immediately use, they preserved them, both for bread and meat." The Indians, too, often furnished them with game, for which they would accept no compensation.
In 1682 the counties of Bucks, Chester, and Philadelphia were organized, also the three lower counties, or, as they were then termed, the " territories " of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex. Sheriffs were appointed and writs issued for the election of members of a General Assembly - three from each county for the Council or Upper House, and nine from each county for the Assembly or Lower House. The members elected convened and organized for business at Philadelphia, on the 10th of January, 1683. As an example of the crude and impracticable propositions brought forward by some of these newly-fledged law-makers, the following may be cited as specimens : That young men shall be obliged to marry at or before a certain age; that two sorts of clothes only shall be worn - one for winter and the other for summer. The session lasted twenty-two days.
On the 2d of February, 1683, was summoned the first grand jury to sit in Pennsylvania, to inquire into the cases of some persons accused of issuing coun- terfeit money. The Governor and Council sat as a court. One Pickering was convicted, and sentenced as follows: " That he shall make full satisfaction, in good and current pay, to every person who shall within the space of one month, bring in any of this false, base, and counterfeit coin, and that the money brought in shall be melted down before it is returned to him, and that he pay a fine of forty pounds towards the building a court-house, stand committed till the same be paid, and afterward find security for his good behavior."
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During the early part of 1683 there was great activity throughout the col- ony, and especially in the new city, in selecting lots and erecting dwellings, the surveyor-general, Thomas Holme, laying out and marking the streets. In the center of the city was established a public square of ten acres, and in each of the four quarters one of eight acres. A large mansion, which had been un- dertaken before his arrival, was built for Penn, at a point twenty-six miles up the river, called Pennsbury Manor, where he sometimes resided, and where he often met the Indian sachems.
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