USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > Warwick's Keystone commonwealth; a review of the history of the great state of Pennsylvania, and a brief record of the growth of its chief city, Philadelphia > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47
tuous experience. For the sake of his conscience he had suffered exile from his father's roof and imprisonment in the vilest dens, but fortunately his con- finements had not weakened or enervated him physically nor had they broken his liberal and tolerant spirit and better than all his persecutions and sufferings had not made him vindictive. Penn, about this time in his life must have been graceful of carriage and agreeable and polite in manner. His dress was plain without any ostentation, but it did not attract attention because of its exceptional features. There was nothing in it, when compared with the pre- vailing taste of the times that would have caused comment or special remark. His coat was without any ornaments or decorations, although no doubt, he was entitled to wear the medals won by his father in the service of his country. Penn wore both buckles and wigs, in fact, he bought four of the latter adorn- ments in one year at the cost of £4 apiece. He was most particular in having
n
WILLIAM PENN'S TREATY WITH THE INDIANS AT SHACKAMANON, JUNE 23, 1683.
his hat in good condition and it was frequently in the hands of the hatter to be ironed and pressed into shape. In speaking of dress upon one occasion he said: "Choose them by thine own eyes not another's. The more plain and sim- ple they are the better, neither unshapely nor fantastically ; for use and decency and not for pride."
"Costly thy habit as thy purse may buy But not expressed in fancy ; rich not gandy ; For the apparel oft proclaims the man."
The great painting of Benjamin West, depicting his treaty with the Indians,
33
WARWICK'S KEYSTONE COMMONWEALTHI.
shows Penn in a Quaker garb and as a fat man well advanced in years, but this was all in the imagination of the painter, for West never saw Penn, and a distinct dress was not worn by the Quakers until many years after the death of the great proprietor. No doubt, the painting representing Penn as a young man and as a cavalier, in a coat of mail and with his hair falling to his shoulders gives, so far as the features of Penn are concerned, a better idea of the great founder. Dean Swift who was a keen observer, declared that Penn "talked very agreeably and with great spirit." He is also said to have been facetious in conversation and greatly enjoyed a sally of wit. He had traveled exten- sively in Europe and while in Russia had an audience with Peter the Great. In fact he seems to have impressed all with whom he came in contact, whether king. philosopher, poet or peasant. Penn lived the life of a well bred English gentleman. His table was always well spread and well served in keeping with the home of a man of his position. His cellars were stocked with the best vintage of Canary, Claret, Sack and Madeira, and his sideboard, as was customary in those days, always held its decanter ready for the social glass. It is said, too, that he was a judge of a good horse. On his first voyage to his province he brought over two mares and a white stallion and on his second visit a colt named "Tamerlane" by the celebrated Godolphin Barb from one of the best strains of racing horses in England, of pure Arab blood. Unfortunately, there were no good roads in the province upon which he could test the speed of his blooded stock.
When Penn arrived in his province, many of the inhabitants lived in caves or holes dug in the high embankment which faced the Delaware river. The first house erected within what today is known as the city of Philadelphia, was built by George Guest in Budd's Row, near Powell's Dock. Here for many years he kept a tavern called the "Blue Anchor." It was not finished at the time of the proprietor's arrival, but, it was here as we have already said, that Penn landed when he for the first time visited the site of the future city. John Key is said to have been the first child born of English parents in Philadel- phia. Ile was born in a cave and saw the light of day before the erection of any building. He lived to an advanced age and was always known among the in- habitants as the first born. He considered it quite a distinction, and although in his later life he lived at Kennett, in Chester County, he made frequent trips afoot to the city. William Penn, in recognition of his distinction, presented him with a lot of ground.
Penn's town house stood on a piece of high ground between Front and Second streets and below Market street. It was of brick, two stories in height, with an unobstructed view of the river. It was known as the Letitia house, it being named after his daughter ; and in 1883 to save the historic relic from de- struction, it was removed to Fairmount Park, where it stands today in close proximity to Girard Avenue Bridge. Penn also began the construction of a great country mansion at a place in Bucks county, known as Pennsbury. It was about twenty miles north of Philadelphia on the Delaware and about four miles north of the town of Bristol. Here he intended to keep open house and live in the style that comported with his dignity as Governor of the Province. He had made much progress in the construction of the buildings and out houses,
34
WARWICK'S KEYSTONE COMMONWEALTHI.
and was employed in this work when he was unexpectedly called back to Lon- don. The mansion had its stables, brew and bake houses, as well as the garden, vineries and orchards. The house itself was wainscoted with English oak while the tables and chairs were made of the same wood. The curtains at the windows were of damask and striped linen and the couches were adorned with plush and satin cushions. The table service was of plain but massive silver, the china was delicate and the table cloths and napkins were of linen damask. In the wagon house was a large coach which, however, was seldom used and there were several sedan chairs and a calash for the female portion of the family and also side saddles and pillions to be used when the ladies preferred going horse
PENN'S HOUSE, ALSO CALLED LETITIA COTTAGE, WAS ERECTED IN LETITIA COURT, THE FIRST BRICK HOUSE IN PHILADELPHIA. NOW STANDING IN FAIRMOUNT PARK.
back. The road between his country seat and the city was so rough that rid- ing in a vehicle over it was uncomfortable and even dangerous, and when he came to the city he sometimes rode in the saddle, but, as a rule, he took the river route in a barge rowed by six oarsmen.
All this time the city was assuming a business air. Houses were going up in every direction, many of them being composed of bricks, for clay had been discovered close to the city which was of a very fine quality for building pur- poses. The harbor was filled with sailing craft and there was much water transportation. The principal landings for boats were the Blue Anchor Inn and the Pennypot House, the former at the mouth of Dock Creck, and the latter at the foot of Vine street. Grocery, butcher, dry goods and bake shops were opened, while a rope walk, tanneries, cooper, wheelwright and blacksmith
35
WARWICK'S KEYSTONE COMMONWEALTHL.
shops were established, and there were about seven taverns in the city where good, wholesome meals were served at sixpence. These public houses had been licensed by the Governor, and any proprietor or publican who charged more than a certain amount for a meal was subject to a penalty. The traveler on foot could obtain lodging for 2d. a night, while a horseman was lodged for nothing, provided he paid 6d. for his horse's keep and fodder. Cows, pigs and goats ran at large in the streets, and fences had to be erected to save the gar- dens, as also the grain and corn fields from destruction. Municipal regulations, however, were soon adopted, and among other things it was provided that pigs must have rings in their snouts to prevent them from digging and rooting up the garden and pasture lands.
Schools were established and meeting houses for public worship were pro- vided. Such were the humble beginnings of our great city. Of course, the enterprise was watched with great interest by the friends of Pen in Europe and the following letter written by Penn in his quaint style to the Committee of the Free Society of Traders of the Province of Pennsylvania residing in Lon- don, gives a full and most interesting description of the products and the re- sources of the province together with some interesting facts in relation to the aborigines. Every line of it is worth reading :
"MY KIND FRIENDS :
2003024
"The kindness of yours, by the ship Thomas and Ann, doth much oblige me; for, by it I perceive the interest, you take in my health and reputation, and the prosperous beginning of this province; which, you are so kind as to think, may much depend upon them. In return of which I have sent you a long letter, and yet containing as brief account of myself, and the affairs of this province, as I have been able to make.
"In the first place, I take notice of the news, you sent me; whereby I find, some persons have had so little wit, and so much malice, as to report my death ; and, to mend the matter, dead a Jesuit too. One might have reasonably hoped, that this distance, like death, would have been a protection against spite and envy; and, indeed, absence, being a kind of death, ought alike to secure the name of the absent, as the dead; because they are equally unable, as such, to defend themselves; but they, that intend mischief, do not use to follow good rules to effect it. However to the great sorrow and shame of the inventors, [ am still alive, and no Jesuit; and I thank God, very well. And, without injus- tice to the authors of this, I may venture to infer, that they that wilfully and falsely report, would have been glad had it been so. But I perceive many frivolous and idle stories have been invented since my departure from England which, perhaps, at this time, are no more alive than I am dead.
"But, if I have been unkindly used, by some I left behind me, I found love and respect enough, where I came; an universal kind welcome, every sort in their way. For, here are some of several nations, as well as divers judgments : nor were the natives wanting in this; for their kings, queens and great men, both visited and presented me ; to whom I made suitable returns, &c.
"For the province, the general condition of it, take as followeth :-
"The country itself, its soil, air, water, seasons and produce, both natural I. and artificial, is not to be despised. The land containeth divers sorts of earth,
1
1
36
WARWICK'S KEYSTONE COMMONWEALTH.
as, sand, yellow and black, poor and rich; also gravel, both loamy and dusty, and, in some places, a fast fat earth; like our best vales, in England; especially by inland brooks and rivers: God, in his wisdom, having ordered it so, that the advantages of the country are divided; the back lands being generally three to one richer than those that lie by navigable rivers. We have much of another soil ; and that is a black hasel-mould, upon a stony, or rocky bottom.
II. "The air is sweet and clear, the Heavens serene, like the south parts of France, rarely overcast ; and, as the woods come, by numbers of people, to be more cleared, that itself will refine.
III. "The waters are generally good; for the rivers and brooks have mostly gravel and stony bottoms ; and in number, hardly credible. We have also min- eral waters, that operate in the same manner with Barnet and North Hall, not two miles from Philadelphia.
IV. "For the seasons of the year, having, by God's goodness, now lived over the coldest and hottest, that the oldest liver in the province can remember, I can say something to an English understanding.
"First, of the fall; for then I came in: I found it, from the 24th of October, to the beginning of December, as we have it usually, in England, in September, or rather like an English mild spring. From December to the beginning of the month called March, we had sharp, frosty weather; not foul, thick, black weather, as our north east winds bring with them, in England; but a sky as clear as in summer, and the air dry, cold piercing and hungry ; yet I remember not that I wore more cloaths, than in England. The reason of this cold is given, from the great lakes, that are fed by the fountains of Canada. The Win- ter before was as mild, scarce any ice at all, while this, for a few days, froze up our great river Delaware. From that month, to the month called June, we en- joyed a sweet Spring; no gusts but gentle flowers, and a fine sky. Yet, this I observed, that the winds here, as there, are more inconstant, Spring and Fall, upon that turn of nature, than in Summer, or Winter. From thence to this present month, ( August ) which endeth the Summer, (commonly speaking) we have had extraordinary heats yet mitigated sometimes by cool breezes. The wind that ruleth the Summer season, is the south wind; but spring, fall and winter, it is rare to want the north-western seven days together. And whatever mists, fogs, or vapours, foul the Heavens by easterly or southerly winds, in two hours time, are blown away ; the one is followed by the other: a remedy that seems to have a peculiar providence in it, to the inhabitants; the multitude of trees, yet standing being liable to retain mists and vapours; and yet not one quarter so thick as I expected.
V. "The natural produce of the country, of vegetables, is trees, fruits, plants, flowers. The trees of most note, are the black walnut, cedar, cypress, chestnut, poplar, gum-wood, hickory, sassafras, ash, beech and oak of divers sorts, as red, white and black ; Spanish, chestnut, and swamp, the most durable of all. Of all which there is plenty, for the use of man.
"The fruits, that I find in the woods, are the white and black mulberry, chestnut, walnut, plums, strawberries, cranberries, hurtleberries, and grapes of divers sorts. The great red grape (now ripe ) called by ignorance, the for-grape. because of the relish it hath with unskilful palates is in itself an extraordinary
37
WARWICK'S KEYSTONE COMMONWEALTH.
grape ; and by art, doubtless, may be cultivated to an excellent wine, if not so sweet, yet little inferior to the Frontiniac, as it is not much unlike in taste, rud- diness set aside : which, in such things, as well as mankind, differs the case much. There is a white kind of Aluskadel, and a little black grape, like the cluster grape of England, not yet so ripe as the other; but they tell me, when ripe, sweeter, and that they only want skillful L'inerons, to make good use of them. I intend to venture on it with my Frenchman this season, who shews some knowledge in those things. Here are also peaches very good, and in great quantities ; not an Indian plantation without them; but whether naturally here at first, I know not. However one may have them, by bushels, for little: they make a pleasant drink; and I think, not inferior to any peach you have in England, except the true Newington. It is disputable with me, whether it be best to fall to fining the fruits of the country, especially the grape, by the care and skill of art, or send for foreign stems and sets, already good and approved. It seems most reasonable to believe, that not only a thing groweth best, where it naturally grows, but will hardly be equalled by another species of the same kind, that doth not naturally grow there. But, to solve the doubt, I intend, if God give me life, to try both, and hope the consequences will be, as good wine, as any European countries, of the same latitude, do yield.
VI. "The artificial produce of the country is wheat, barley, oats, rye, peas, beans, squashes, pumpkins, water-melons, musk-melons, and all herbs and roots, that our gardens in England usually bring forth.
VII. "Of living creatures ; fish, fowl, and the beasts of the woods; here are divers sorts, some for food and profit, and some for profit only: For food, as well as profit, the elk, as big as a small ox ; deer bigger than ours; beaver, rac- coon, rabbits, squirrels ; and some eat young bear, and commend it. Of fowl of the land, there is the turkey ( forty and fifty pounds weight) which is very great ; pheasants, heath-birds, pigeons and partridges, in abundance. Of the water, the swan, goose, white and grey ; brands, ducks, teal, also the snipe and curloe, and that in great numbers; but the duck and teal excel; not so good have I ever eat in other countries. Of fish, there is the sturgeon, herring, rock, shad, cats-head, sheep-head, eel, smelt, pearch, roach; and in inland rivers, trout, some say, salmon, above the falls. Of shell-fish, we have oysters, crabs, coccles, conchs and muscles; some oysters six inches long; and one sort of coccles as big as stewing oysters; they make a rich broth. The creatures for profit only, by skin or fur, and that are natural to these parts, are the wild-cat, panther, otter, wolf, fox, fisher, minx, musk-rat ; and of the water, the whale, for oil; of which we have good store; and two companies of whalers; whose boats are built, will soon begin their work; which hath the appearance of a considerable improvement : to say nothing of our reasonable hopes of good cod, in the bay.
VIII. "We have no want of horses; and some are very good, and shapely enough; two ships have been freighted to Barbadoes with horses and pipe- staves, since my coming in. Here is also plenty of cow-cattle, and some sheep; the people plow mostly with oxen.
IX. "There are divers plants, that not only the Indians tell us, but we have had occasion to prove, by swellings, burnings, cuts, &c., that they are of great
38
WARWICK'S KEYSTONE COMMONWEALTHI.
virtue, suddenly curing the patient ; and, for smell, I have observed several, es- pecially one, the wild myrtle; the other I know not what to call, but are most fragrant.
X. "The woods are adorned with lovely flowers, for color, greatness, fig- ure and variety. I have seen the gardens of London best stored with that sort of beauty, but think they may be improved by our woods: I have sent a few to a person of quality this year, for a trial.
"Thus much of the country; next, of the natives, or aborigines.
XI. "The natives, I shall consider, in their persons, language, manners, re- ligion and government with my sense of their original. For their persons, they are generally tall, straight, well-built, and of singular proportion; they tread strong and clever ; and mostly walk with a lofty chin. Of complexion, black. but by design; as the Gypsies, in England.
They grease themselves with bear's fat clarified; and using no defense against sun, or weather, their skins must needs be swarthy. Their eye is little and black, not unlike a straight looked Jew. The thick lip, and flat nose, so frequent with the East Indians and blacks, are not common to them: For I have seen as comely Europcons like faces among them, of both, as on your side of the sea; and truly an Italian complexion hath not much more of the white; and the noses of several of them have as much of the Roman.
XII. "Their language is lofty, yet narrow ; but, like the Hebrew, in signifi- cation, full; like short-hand, in writing, one word serveth in the place of three, and the rest are supplied by the understanding of the hearer: imperfect in their tenses, wanting in their moods, participles, adverbs, conjunctions, interjections. I have made it my business to understand it, that I might not want an Inter- preter, on any occasion ; and I must say, that I know not a language spoken, in Europe, that hath words of more sweetness, or greatness, in accent and em- phasis, than theirs; for instance, Octocockon, Rancocas, Oricton, Shak, Marian, Poquesien; all of which are names of places; and have grandeur in them. Of words of sweetness, Anna, is mother; Issimus, a brother ; Netcap, friend ; Us- queoret, very good ; Pane, bread; Metsa, eat; Matta, no; Hatta, to have; Payo, to come; Sepassen, Passijon, the names of places : Tamane, Secane, Menanse, Secatereus, are the names of persons; if one asks them for anything they have not, they will answer, Matta ne hatta; which to translate, is, not I have; instead of I have not.
XIII. "Of their customs and manners, there is much to be said; I will begin with children; so soon as they are born, they wash them in water; and while very young, and in cold weather to chuse, they plunge them in the rivers, to harden and embolden them. Having wrapped them in a clout, they lay them on a straight, thin board, a little more than the length and breadth of the child, and swaddle it fast, upon the board, to make it straight ; wherefore all Indians have flat heads; and thus they carry them at their backs. The chil- dren will go, very young, at nine months commonly, they wear only a small clout round their waste, till they are big; if boys, they go a fishing, till ripe for the woods; which is about fifteen ; then they hunt ; and after having given some proofs of their manhood, by a good return of skins, they may marry ; else it is a shame to think of a wife. The girls stay with their mothers, and help to hoe
39
WARWICK'S KEYSTONE COMMONWEALTH.
the ground, plant corn, and carry burdens; and they do well to use them to that young, which they must do when they are old; for the wives are the true servants of the husbands; otherwise the men are very affectionate to them. XIV. "When the young women are fit for marriage, they wear something upon their heads, for an advertisement, but so, as their faces are hardly to be seen, but when they please. The age, they marry at, if women, is about thir- teen, and fourteen ; if men seventeen and eighteen; they are rarely eller.
XV. "Their houses are mats, or barks of trees, set on poles, in the fashion of an English barn; but out of the power of the winds; for they are hardly higher than a man ; they lie on reeds, or grass. In travel they lodge in the woods, about a great fire, with the mantle of dussils, they wear by day, wrapt about them, and a few boughs stuck around them.
XVI. "Their diet is maize, or Indian corn, diverse ways prepared; some- times roasted in the ashes ; sometimes beaten and boiled with water; which they call homine; they also make cakes, not unpleasant to eat. They have likewise several sorts of beans and pease, that are good nourishment ; and the woods and rivers are their larder.
XVII. "If an European comes to see them, or calls for lodging at their house, or wigwam, they give him the best place, and first cut. If they come to visit us, they salute us with an Itah; which is as much as to say, Good be to you, and set them down; which is mostly on the ground, close to their heels, their legs upright ; it may be they speak not a word, but observe all passages. If you give them anything to eat, or drink, well: for they will not ask; and be it little, or much, if it be with kindness, they are well pleased, else they go away sullen, but say nothing.
XVIII. "They are great concealers of their own resentments; brought to it, I believe, by the revenge, that hath been practiced among them. In either of these they are not exceeded by the Italians. A tragical instance fell out since I came into the country; a king's daughter, thinking herself slighted by her hus- band, in suffering another woman to lie down between them, rose up, went out, plucked a root out of the ground, and ate it; upon which she immediately died: and, for which last week, he made an offering to her kindred, for atone- ment, and liberty of marriage; as two others did to the kindred of their wives, that died a natural death. For, till widowers have done so, they must not marry again. Some of the young women are said to take undue liberty before marriage, for a portion; but when married, chaste. When with child they know their husbands no more, till delivered; and during their month, they touch no meat, they eat but with a stick, lest they should defile it; nor do their hus- bands frequent them, till that time be expired.
XIX. "But, in liberality they excel; nothing is too good for their friend: give them a fine gun, coat, or other thing, it may pass twenty hands before it sticks : light of heart, strong affections, but soon spent. The most merry crea- tures that live, feast and dance perpetually ; they never have much, nor want much : wealth circulateth like the blood; all parts partake; and though none shall want what another hath, yet exact observers of property. Some kings have fold, others presented me with several parcels of land: the pay, or pres- ents I made them, were not hoarded by the particular owners, but the neighboring
40
WARWICK'S KEYSTONE COMMONWEALTH.
kings, and their clans being present, when the goods were brought out, the parties, chiefly concerned, consulted what, and to whom they should give them. To every king then, by the hands of a person for that work appointed, is a pro- portion sent, so sorted and folded, and with that gravity, that is admirable. Then that king subdivideth it, in like manner, among his dependents, they hardly leaving themselves an equal share with one of their subjects: and be it on such occasions as festivals, or at their common meals, the kings distribute, and to themselves last. They care for little; because they want but little; and the reason is, a little contents them. In this they are sufficiently revenged on us: if they are ignorant of our pleasures, they are also free from our pains. They are not disquieted with bills of lading and exchange, nor preplexed with chan- cery suits, and exchequer reckonings. We sweat and toil to live, their pleasure feeds them; I mean their hunting, fishing and fowling; and this table is spread everywhere. They eat twice a day, morning and evening ; their seats and table are the ground. Since the Europeans came into these parts, they are grown great lovers of strong liquors, rum especially ; and for it exchanged the richest of their skins and furs. If they are heated with liquors, they are restless till they have enough to sleep; that is their cry, some more, and I will go to sleep; but, when drunk, one of the most wretched spectacles in the world!
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.