Area history: Watson's Annals, Facts And Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement Part I: Vol I

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by EVC.

USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals
               and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices
               and submitter information is included. Any other use,
               including copying files to other sites requires
               permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to
               any other sites. We encourage links to the state and
               county table of contents.
____________________________________________________________

             WATSON'S  ANNALS  of  PHILADELPHIA  and  PENNSYLVANIA

                Vol. I   Printed 1857   Written circa 1830-1850

Chapter 3.     FACTS AND OCCURRENCES OF THE PRIMITIVE SETTLEMENT

                              Pages 42 -- 104

   "PENN's instructions for settling the colony", dated the 30th of
September, 1681, had long been buried among the lumber of the Hamilton
family, and they were fortunately at length discovered among other papers,
in the year 1827.   I herein make some extracts as worthy of particular
notice and remembrance in my inquiries, to wit:
    It is addressed to three commissioners as then about to depart from
England with people for the settlement.  It refers to his cousin, William
Markham, as "then on the spot", acting as his deputy, and prepared
beforehand to receive them.  He speaks of their ability to procure supplies
on the Jersey side of the river, if the Dutch, Swedes or English already  in
the province should be immoderate in their prices, thus indicating the state
of previous population and improvements.
   He shows his expectation that the "great towne" might be located at
Upland, (i.e. the neighbourhood of Chester, thus agreeing with the
tradition), by saying, "let the rivers and creeks be sounded on my side of
the Delaware River, especially Upland, in order to settle a great towne; and
be sure to make your choice where it is most navigable, high, dry, and
healthy, and not swampy.  It would be well, he says, if the river coming
into the creek (I presume at Chester) be navigable, at least for boats, up
into the country*."   At the same time he admits the possibility of a
previously determined location, by saying, "should it be already taken up in
greater proportions, in that case they are to use their influence to have it
diminished to the size in his scheme, so that a good design be not spoiled
thereby." *Thus showing how well they fulfilled his wishes in selecting such
a preferable stream as the Schuylkill as near the city, even without his
special designation of that river, --- Surpassing too, in advantages, the
once projected site of "old Philadelphia", near the "Bake-house", the south
side of Poquesink creek in Byberry, which was abandoned, it is said, because
of the sunken rocks found there, called the "Hens and Chickens".
   The bounds of the city are not designated; (as some have often since
said) but the Liberties contiguous thereto are recommended to comprise
10,000 acres, and to be apportioned among the purchasers in parcels equal to
100 acres of the said Liberties for every 5000 acres possessed in the
country; and in cases where persons shall have a proportion of ten acres
fallen in their lot by the water side, they to abate five and take those
five acres more backward, and so proportionably for every other size.  If,
however, they could not find a site by the water side affording land enough
to allow the proportion of 100 to 5000 acres, then get what they can, even
though it were but 50 acres to a share.  Be sure to settle the streets
uniform down to the water.  Let the place for the store-house be on the
middle of the key, which will serve for market and state-houses too.  This
may be ordered when he shall come in the next season."
    " Pitch upon the very middle of the plot of the towne, to be laid facing
the harbour, for the situation of my house."  Thus designating, as I
conceive, the location of his dwelling in Laetitia Court, and intimating his
desire to have it facing the river, as "the line of houses of the towne
should be", and at least 200 paces from the river.  He proposed that each
house should be in the middle of the breadth of his ground, so as to give
place to gardens, &c.  Such as might "be a green country towne which might
never be burnt and might always be wholesome".  Finally, he recommends his
commissioners to be tender of offending the Indians; to make them presents;
and in his name to buy their lands, assuring them that "we intend to sit
down lovingly among them".
    William Penn, in his letter of the 25th of 8th mo. 1681, addressed to
James Harrison, then at Boulton, says, "my voyage is not like to be so quick
as I hoped, because the people, on whose going his resolutions and service
in going depends, though they buy, and most send servants to clear and sow a
piece of land against they come, not one fifth of them can now get rid of
their concerns here till spring.  When they go, I go.  I am like to have
many from France, some from Holland, and some, I hear, from Scotland".
    In the same letter, he annexes a power for him to sell, in England,
lands of Pennsylvania, to those who will buy.  And he adds, "a ship with
commissioners will go suddenly in five weeks".
    "I eye the Lord in obtaining the country, and as I have so obtained I
desire I may not be unworthy of his love, but do that which may answer his
kind providence and serve his troth and people, that an example may be set
up to the nations!  There may be room there, though not here, for such an
holy experiment".
    William Penn's letter of the 3rd of 8th mo. 1685, to "dear Thomas
Lloyd," says, "I recommend the bearer, Charles De la Noe, a French minister
of good name for his sincere and zealous life, and well recommended from his
own country.  If he is used well, more will follow.  He is humble and
intends to work for his bread, has two servants, and a genius to a vineyard
and a garden.  Let him have £40 worth of corn if he wants it.  It will be of
good savour, for a letter is come over (to England) from a great Professor
in France to  some here, to say there is no room (there) for any but
Quakers,"&c.
    "I pray J. Harrison to use the Frenchman* (a former one it is presumed)
at the Schuylkill well.  I hope a vineyard there (to have) for all this".
        *I take this Frenchman to have been an ancestor of Andrew Doz, a
very respectable citizen.  The family is now extinct.
    Penn, speaking of the Duke of Monmouth's insurrection, says, "About 300
are to be hung in the towns, and 1000 to be transported; of whom I have
begged about 20 of the king".  Would it not now be a matter of curiosity to
know what degrees of credit or renown some of these descendants now occupy
among us!
    William Penn's letter to James Harrison, of the 4th of 8th mo. 1685,
(then his steward at Pennsbury) says, "persecution is excessively high in
France; not a meeting of Protestants is left.  Many, and much wealth, will
visit your parts".  (They went generally to New Rochelle, near New York.)
    William Penn's letter to his steward speaks of sending out, for his
family purposes, beef in barrels, butter in casks, and candles, all from
Ireland !   Also a fishing net, brick-makers, masons, wheel-wrights,
carpenters, &c.  He asks from this country, as rarities, smoked shad and
beef; also shrubs and sassafras.  Some, he says, come to him to be helped
over on the terms he published for the poor.
    In the Pastorius MS., papers in my possession, I glean the following
facts of arrival and landing.  He arrived in 1683, and was the founder of
Germantown.  He came over with a ship-load from England, in the "America",
Captain Joseph Wasey, and were chased, as they feared, "by the cruel and
enslaving Turks".  He thus describes the features of the city plot: "The
fortunate day of our arrival, on the 20th of 6th mo., 1683, I was as glad to
land from the vessel every whit as St. Paul's shipmates were to land at
Melita.  Then Philadelphia consisted of three or four little cottages; [such
as Edward Drinker's, Sven Sener, &c.] all the residue being only woods,
underwoods, timber and trees, among which I several times have lost myself
in travelling no farther than from the water side (where was his cave) to
the house, now of our friend William Hudson, --- then allotted to a Dutch
baker, whose name was Cornelius Bom.  What my thoughts were of such a
renowned city (I not long before having seen London, Paris, Amsterdam,
Gandt, &c.) is needless to rehearse; but what I think now (in 1718, when he
wrote) I dare ingenuously say, viz: that God has made of a desert an
enclosed garden, and the plantations about it, a fruitful field."
    William Penn's letter of the 28th of 5th mo. 1683, to the Earl of
Sunderland, says, "I have laid out the province in counties; six are begun
to be seated, lying on the great river, and planted about six miles back.
Our town plot has a navigable river on each side,--- about 80 houses are
built, and 300 farms are settled contiguous to it.  The soil is good --- air
serene and sweet, from the cedar, pine and sassafras, with a wild myrtle of
great fragrance.  I have had better venison, bigger, more tender, and as fat
as in England.  Turkeys of the wood I had of forty and fifty pounds weight.
Fish in abundance, especially shad and rock.  Oysters are monstrous for
bigness.  In the woods are divers fruits, wild, and flowers that for colour,
largeness, and beauty, excel."
    William Penn's letter of the 16th of 8th mo. 1683, to the Free Society
of Traders, says,
      1. The province in general is as followeth, ---
      2. The air is sweet and clear; the heavens serene, like the south of
France, rarely overcast; and as the woods come by numbers of people to be
more cleared --- will refine it more.
      3. The waters are generally good; for the rivers and brooks have
mostly gravel and stony bottoms; and in number, hardly credible.  We have
also mineral waters, that operate in the same manner with Barnet and North
Hall, not two miles from Philadelphia.
      4. 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, rather like an English mild spring. From December to the
beginning of 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 clothes than in England.  The reason of this
cold is given, as from the great lakes, that are fed by the fountains of
Canada.  The winter 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 enjoyed a sweet spring; no gusts, but gentle showers,
and a fine sky.  Yet, this I observe, 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-west; 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.
      5.  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,
plums, strawberries, cranberries, whortleberries, and grapes of divers
sorts.  There are also very good peaches, 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
finding the fruits in 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 consequence will be
as good wine as any of the European countries of the same latitude, do yield.
      6. 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.
      7. 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, rackoon, 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 gray;
brands, ducks, teal, also the snipe and curlew, and that in great numbers;
but the duck and teal excel; nor so good have I ever eat in other countries.
Of fish, there is the sturgeon, herring, rock, shad, cats-head, sheeps-head,
eel, smelt, perch; and in inland rivers, trout, some say salmon, above the
falls.  Of shell-fish, we have oysters, crabs, cockles, conchs, and mussels;
some oysters six inches long; and one sort of cockles as big as the 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 a 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.
      8.  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 plough most with oxen.
      9. There are divers plants, that not only the Indians tell us, but we
have occasion to prove, by swellings, burnings, cuts, &c., that they are of
great virtue, suddenly curing the patient; and, for smell, I have observed
several, especially one, the wild myrtle; the others I know not what to
call, but they are most fragrant.
      10.  The woods are adorned with lovely flowers, for colour, greatness,
figure 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.  This much of the country.
    By some MS. papers of the Pemberton family once in my possession, I
ascertain that the Harrison and Pemberton families (intermarried) came over
together, among 50 passengers, in the ship Submission, Captain James Settle,
from Liverpool.  The terms of passage were four pounds five shillings for
all persons over 12 years of age;  for all children two pounds two shillings
and sixpence; and for all goods, thirty pounds per ton.  Their contract
was, "to proceed to Delaware river or elsewhere in Pennsylvania to the best
conveniency of freighters."  It may serve to know the execution of such
voyages, to learn, that by distress of weather, they were landed in the
"Potuxen river in Maryland", whence they came to the place of Philadelphia,
and proceeded thence to Pennsbury neighborhood, where they settled and
occupied places of distinguished trust.
    When James Harrison and his son-in-law, Phineas Pemberton, first entered
Philadelphia on horse-back, from Choptank in Maryland, the latter records
that at that time (November, 1682) they could not procure entertainment
there for their horses; "they therefore spancelled them, (by leathern
hopples I presume), and turned them out into the woods".  They sought them
next morning in vain, and after two days search (think what a wide range
they must have enjoyed ! ) they were obliged to take a boat to proceed up
the river to Bucks county.  One of those horses was not found till the
succeeding January !
    We are indebted for a primitive story of much interest, to Deborah
Morris, of Philadelphia, a pious lady of the Society of Friends.  She died
about 40 years ago, at about the age of 93.  She having fine affections for
the relics and the incidents of the primitive settlers, made the codicil of
her will peculiar by some of the memorials she there perpetuated, by
connecting the history with the gifts which she there wills to her
descendants.  The facts are best told in her own simplicity of language, and
her habitual pious feelings, to wit: --- "The large silver old-fashioned
salver, I give to my nephew, Thomas Morris, was given to my dear parents by
my mother's aunt, Elizabeth Hard, a worthy good woman, [she being the first
orphan ever left in charge of George Fox's Society of Friends in England],
whose sweet innocent deportment used to give me high esteem and regard for
the ancient people.  She came from England with William Penn and other
Friends.  My grandfather and wife came two years before her, and settled in
the Jerseys, but when she heard her sister designed to Philadelphia, they
removed thither also, and just got settled in a cave on the bank of the
river, where is now called the Crooked Billet wharf, (so named from an
ancient tavern on the wharf, about 100 feet northward of Chestnut Street,
having a crooked billet of wood for its sign) when my dear aunt (Hard)
arrived; which she esteemed a divine providence thus to find her sister,
whom she had not seen for some years, thus ready to receive her in the cave.
There they dwelt together until they could build.  I remember, whilst
writing, one passage among many others which she related, which I have often
pleasingly thought of, as it has raised my hopes, increased my faith and
dependence on that arm which never failed our worthy ancestors.  It was with
them supporting through all their difficulties, and many attended them in
settling a new country. In hopes of its being as profitably remembered by my
cousins as myself I'll repeat it, to wit: --- All that came wanted a
dwelling, and hastened to provide one.  As they lovingly helped each other,
the women set themselves to work they had not been used to before; for few
of our first settlers were of the laborious class, and help of that sort was
scarce.  My good aunt (Hard) thought it expedient to help her husband at one
end of the saw, and to fetch all such water to make mortar of, as they then
had to build their chimney. At one time, being overwearied therewith, her
husband desired her to forbear, saying, `thou, my dear, had better think of
dinner'; on which, poor woman, she walked away, weeping as she went, and
reflecting on herself for coming here, to be exposed to such hardships, and
then not know where to get a dinner, for their provision was all spent,
except a small quantity of biscuit and cheese, of which she had not informed
her husband; but thought she would try which of her friends had any to
spare.  Thus she walked on towards her tent, (happy time when each one's
treasure lay safe therein), but was a little too desponding in her mind, for
which she felt herself closely reproved; and as if queried with, ---'didst
thou not come for liberty of conscience, --- hast thou not got it, --- also
been provided for beyond thy expectation?'  Which so humbled her, she on her
knees begged forgiveness and preservation in future, and never repined
afterwards."
    "When she arose, and was going to seek for other food than what she had,
her cat came into the tent, and had caught a fine large rabbit, which she
thankfully received and dressed as an English hare.  When her husband came
into dinner, being informed of the facts, they both wept with reverential
joy, and ate their meal, which was thus seasonably provided for them, in
singleness of heart.  Many such providential cases did they partake of: ---
and thus did our worthy ancestors witness the arm of divine love extended
for their support".  [She lived to be 93 years of age].
    In memory of the foregoing moving recital, the said Deborah Morris wills
to her beloved uncle, Luke Morris, a silver tureen, (once a sugar-box, and
supplied with the addition of handles), marked  A.M.__S. M.__D.M., which had
once been his grandfather's, but made chiefly interesting to the present
reader, by the additional fact, that it had engraved upon it the device of
the cat seizing upon and bearing off the rabbit, according to the preceding
recital.
    I have heard some other facts connected with the above incidents, told
me by Mrs. Nancarro, who had taken soup out of that tureen.  She had heard
them among some of the Morris family descended of Anthony Morris of Penn's
day.  But the story is already sufficiently long.

 William Penn's letter of 1683, thus describes some of the earliest facts
of Philadelphia, to wit: --- the names of the streets are mostly taken from
the things which spontaneously grow in the country.
   There is a fair key of about 300 feet square, (a little above Walnut
Street), built by Samuel Carpenter, to which a ship of 500 tons may lay at
her broadside.  Others intend to follow his example.  We have also a
rope-walk, made by B. Wilcox.  (Mayor of the city) There inhabits most sorts
of useful tradesmen; divers brickeries going on; many cellars already stoned
or bricked, and some brick houses going up.  The hours for work and meals
for labourers are fixed and known by ringing of bell.  After nine at night
the officers (all private citizens serving in turns) go the rounds, and no
person, without very good cause, suffered to be at any public house, except
as a lodger.
   Robert Turner, in his letter to William Penn of the 3d of 6mo. 1685,
describing the progress of Philadelphia, speaks thus: --- "The towne goes on
in planting and building to admiration, both in the front and backward,
about 600 houses are now as cheap to build as wood.  Many brave brick houses
are going up with good cellars.  Humphrey Murray, (Mayor) from New York, has
built a large timber house with brick "chimnies".  After naming several
persons who have built, he adds, "all these have balconies; we build most
houses with them".
   "Last winter great plenty of deer were brought in, by the Indians and
English, from the country.  The Germans manufacturing linen finely".
   The first Isaac Norris was married in Philadelphia, after the manner of
Friends, in a private house in Front street, a little northward of the
Drawbridge.  I have learnt, that when the Society was but small, it was the
practice of the Friends to hold their week-day meetings in private houses;
from that cause Isaac Norris was so married.
   Colonel Coxe, the grandfather of the late Tench Coxe, Esqr., made an
elopement in his youth with an heiress, Sarah Eckley, a Friend.  What was so
singular in their case was, that they were married in the woods in Jersy by
fire light, by the chaplain of Lord Cornbury, the then Governor of New
Jersey.  The meeting of the chaplain there seemed to have been accidental.
The fact gave some scandal to the serious friends of her family.  A letter
of Margaret Preston, of 1707, which I have seen, thus describes her umbrage
at the fact, saying: --- "The news of Sarah Eckley's marriage is both
sorrowful and surprising, with one Colonel Coxe, a fine flaunting gentleman,
said to be worth a great deal of money, --- a great inducement, it is said,
on her side.  His sister Trent was supposed to have promoted the match.  Her
other friends were ignorant of the match.  It took place in the absence of
her uncle and aunt Hill, between two and three in the morning, on the Jersy
side, under a tree by fire light.  They have since proselyted her, and
decked her in finery."
   In the early period of Philadelphia it was very common for the good
livers to have malt-houses on their premises for making home-made strong
beer; there were such at J. Logan's at Pennsbury, and at several others,
even till 70 years ago.
   Professor Kalm, the Swedish traveller, who visited Philadelphia in
1748-9, relates what he heard of Nils Gustafson, an old Swede of 91 years of
age; he said he could well remember the state of the country at the time
when the Dutch possessed it, and in what case it was before the arrival of
the English.  He had himself brought a great deal of timber to Philadelphia
at the time it was built.  He still remembered to have seen a great forest
on the spot where Philadelphia since stands.
   Kalm states some facts of the city of his own observation, such as, that
whenever he walked out beyond the streets, he saw numerous grape vines
growing in every direction near the city.  He speaks of the red cedar being
once so abundant as that all posts of fences were made of it, in some places
even to the very rails.  Several of the canoes, the most common kind of boat
in use, were sometimes made of red cedar.
   Several houses were of tiled roofs, and several of stone of a mixture of
black or gray glimmer, i.e., having isinglass therein; these he said did not
make moist walls.  Water Street, in his time, ran along the river, southward
of the High Street, --- the northern part being a later work.  The greatest
ornament of a public kind he then saw in the city, was "the Town Hall, (the
State-house) having a tower with a bell."  It was then greater than Christ
Church; (not then fully built up) for he says, "the two churches then in
Elizabethtown surpassed in splendour any thing then in Philadelphia !"
   He spoke of minks being sometimes found living in the docks and bridges
at Philadelphia, and there destroying numbers of the rats.  They were
generally along the Delaware in the hollow trees.
   Many of the ancient houses which he saw still in Philadelphia had been
built of stone, and had the lime made from oyster-shells; this caused them
always to have wet walls for two or three days before a rain, so that great
drops of water rested on them; they were indeed good hygrometers, but much
complained of ; they fell into premature decay, and are since gone.
   One fact related by Mr. Kalm attaches with peculiar force to
Philadelphia; he was much surprised with the abundance and hardness of our
laurel tree, called by the settlers and Indians the spoon tree, because the
latter made of it their spoons, trowels, &c.  Linnaeus has called it Kalmia
latifolia, after the name of Kalm, who took it home to Sweden in the form of
a spoon made by an Indian, who had killed many stags on the spot where
Philadelphia now stands, --- they subsisted on its leaves in the winter season.
   Old George Warner, a Friend, who died in Philadelphia in 1810, aged 99
years, gave a verbal description of Philadelphia as he saw it at his landing
here in the year 1726. The passengers of the ship, having the small pox on
board, were all landed at the Swedes' Church, then "far below the great
towne"; there they were all generously received by one Barnes, who treated
them (such as could receive it) with rum, --- the first Warner had ever
seen.  Barnes led them out to the "Blue House Tavern"; (which stood till the
year 1828, at the south west corner of South and Ninth Streets, near a great
pond), they then saw nothing in all their route but swamps and lofty
forests, no houses, and abundance of wild game.
   There they remained till recovered; then he was conducted to the
"Boatswain and Call Tavern", (in aforetime the celebrated "Blue Anchor Inn")
at the Drawbridge, north-west corner.  In all this route he saw not one
house, and the same character of woody waste.  At that time, he knew but of
three or four houses between that place and the Swedes' Church, and those
houses were in small "clearings" without enclosures.  Northward from the
Drawbridge, as high up as High Street, there were but two wharves then
built; say, the one of Anthony Morris, the other belonging to the Allen
family in more modern times.
   In walking out High Street, he much admired the very thrifty and lofty
growth of the forest trees, especially from beyond the Centre Square to the
then romantic and picturesque banks of the Schuylkill.  The only pavement he
then noticed, was near the old Court House, and the then short market house,
extending from that house westward, about a half a square in length.
   As this venerable old gentleman possessed his faculties to the last, he
would have proved a treasure to one in my way of inquiry.  It was indeed a
mental fund to himself, to have had in his own person so much observation of
the passing scenes he must have witnessed in such a changeful city;
contrasting its infant growth with its rapid improvements as late as the
year of his death !  He was of course in his 15th year when he arrived ---
just at an age when the imagination is lively, and the feelings are strongly
disposed to observation.
   Holmes' "Portraiture of Philadelphia", done in 1683-4, as a kind of city
platform, shows the localities first chosen for buildings at that early
time.  It shows about 20 cabins constructed on the river bank.
   At the "Society hill", from Pine street to above Union street, they had
their houses and grounds extending up to Second street.  At the little
triangular "square", at the south-east corner of Second and Spruce streets,
was the lot and residence of their president, Nicholas Moore.  On the
north-west corner of Second and South streets was a small house, on the lot
of William Penn, Jr.
   All lots owned on Delaware Front street are marked as running through to
Second street, and they all have the same quantities also on Schuylkill
Front street.  About six to eight of such lots fill up a square.  These were
all owners of 1000 acres and upwards in the country, and received their city
lots as appurtenant perquisites to their country purchases.
   Samuel Carpenter's lot is from Front to Second street and is the second
lot above Walnut street, No. 16.  Charles Pickering (the counterfeiter, I
presume) has his house on No. 22, midway from Chestnut street to High
street.  John Holme, (related to the surveyor-general), who owns No. 32 at
the north-west corner of Arch and Front streets, has also the first house
built on the Schuylkill at the correspondent corner there.  The chief of the
first buildings marked begin northward of Dock street, and continue up to
Race street.  Several are marked as built on Second street, but only between
Chestnut and Walnut streets, and they all on the western side of the street.
In truth, the eastern side of Second street was regarded for some time as
the back lots, or ends of the Front street lots.  Three houses are marked on
Chestnut street above Third street, and three on Mulberry street above Third
street; on High street there are none.  The map itself may be consulted on
page 372 of my MS Annals in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
   Among those who plotted the dethronement of King James was Lord
Peterborough.  To conceal his purposes, he effected his voyage to Holland,
by passing over to Pennsylvania with William Penn.  What he says of his
visit is curious.  "I took a trip with William Penn (says he) to his colony
of Pennsylvania.  There the laws are contained in a small volume, and are so
extremely good that there has been no alteration wanted in any of them, ever
since "Sir" William made them.  They have no lawyers, but every one is to
tell his own case, or some friend for him.  They have five persons as judges
on the bench; and after the case is fully laid down on all sides, all the
five judges are to draw lots, and he whom the lot falls, decides the
question.  It is a happy country, and the people are neither oppressed with
poor rates, tythes, nor taxes".  As no mention of this visit, "incognito",
occurs in any contemporaneous papers, the probability is that his rank and
character were concealed from the colonists.
   I heard by the late Mrs. Isaac Parrish, an aged lady, an anecdote of her
relative, the widow Chandler.  Mrs Chandler came to Philadelphia at the
first landing; having lost her husband on the shipboard, (probably from the
small pox) she was left with eight or nine children.  Her companions
prepared her the usual settlement in a cave on the river bank.  She was a
subject of general compassion.  The pity was felt towards herself and
children, even by the Indians, who brought them frequent supplies as gifts.
Afterwards a Friend, who had built himself a house, gave them a share in it.
In future years, when the children grew up, they always remembered the kind
Indians, and took many opportunities of befriending them and their families
in return.  Among these was "old Indian Hannah", the last survivor of the
race, who lived in Chester County, near West Chester, of which some account
of her may be seen in these pages.
   An ancient lady, relative of the present Coleman Fisher, Esqr., whose
name was Rebecca Coleman, arrived at Philadelphia, at the first settlement,
as a young child.  At the door of her cave, when one day sitting there
eating her milk porridge, she was heard to say again and again : "Now thee
shan't again!"  "Keep to thy part!" &c.  Upon her friends looking to her for
the cause, they found she was permitting a snake to participate with her out
of the vessel resting on the ground !  Happy simplicity and peacefulness !
-- reminding one strongly of the Bible promise, when "the weaned child
should put its hand upon the cockatrice's den!"&c.  The said Rebecca Coleman
died in 1770, aged 92 years; of course I have, even now, opportunities of
conversing with several who were in her company and conversation !  If she
had been asked to chronicle all the changes and incidents she had witnessed,
what a mass of curious facts she might have left for my present elucidation
and use !
   Mrs. D. Logan told me of her having been informed by the Honourable
Charles Thomson, that he often in his younger days used to see persons who
had been contemporary with William Penn. It was his pleasure to ask them
many questions about the primitive settlement; but as he kept no record of
them, many of them have no doubt been lost.  He remembered, he said,
conversing with a lady whose name was Mrs. Lyle.  She had come out in the
first expedition.  She related to Mr. Thomson that after they had come to
Chester, the whole collection of vessels went on up to Burlington.  The
vessel she sailed in, being the dullest sailer, was left behind the others,
so that at eventide, they had reached the present Philadelphia, and not
being willing to proceed farther by night in an unknown channel, and finding
there a bold shore, they made their vessel fast to a large limb of a tree,
there to pass the night.  The next morning their Captain went ashore to make
his observations, and being pleased with the situation, pursued his walk and
investigations until he reached the river Schuylkill.  When he came back he
spoke of the place with raptures, as a fine location for a town.  This being
reported to the colonists when they arrived at Burlington, several of the
leading men, with William Penn at the head, made a visit to the place, and
eventually it became Philadelphia.
   This same Mrs. Lyle was asked why her husband, who had the choice of
places before him, had chosen to locate himself on the Dock Creek (street)
and she replied it was because of its convenient and beautiful stream, which
afforded them the means of having vessels come close up under their
bake-house, then located there below Second Street.
   An ancient MS. letter of the year 1693, in my possession, from S. Flower
of London to his son, Henry Flower, settled at Philadelphia, is strongly
expressive of that religious excitement in Europe, which so powerfully
conduced to supplying this country with population as a place of refuge from
impending judgments.  Among many other things, it says, "Here was a friend,
a Quaker, came lately to London from the North, near Durham, with a message
from an inward power or command, and has been to declare it in most or all
the Quaker Meetings in London, that sword, famine and pestilence is at hand,
and a dreadful earthquake to come, within many months, that will lay great
parts of the city and suburbs into rubbish and ruins !  The Lord grant a
repentance to prevent it; if not, to give us hearts to be prepared against
the day of tribulation to come upon us".  To many who fully confided in such
messengers in England and Germany, it was but a natural consequence to sigh
for an escape "from woeful Europe" and for "peace and safety on our sylvan
shore".  Such could feelingly say, ---
                   "Oh, for a lodge in some vast wilderness,
                    Some boundless contiguity of shade
                    Where rumour of oppression and deceit,---
                    Of unsuccessful or successful war
                    Might never reach !"

   The original inequality of the surface of Philadelphia was once much
greater than any present observer could imagine, and must have been
regarded, even at the time of the location, as an objection to the site.
But we can believe that its fine elevation, combined with its proximity to
the then important water of Schuylkill River, must have determined its
choice where we now have it.  The Delaware front must have been a bluff of
25 feet elevation, beginning at the Navy yard and extending up to Poole's
bridge.  If that was desirable, as it doubtless was, "to have it high and
dry", besides the supposed conveniency of natural docks for vessels to be
wintered from the ice at Dock Swamp, Pegg's Swamp, and Cohocsinc mouth or
swamp, we cannot but perceive that no place like it was to be found below
the mouth of Schuylkill, and none above it, after passing Kensington, until
you approach the Bake-house, near Poquesink creek; and there the water was
too shallow.  Therefore Philadelphia was chosen on the very best spot for a
city, notwithstanding it had so irregular a surface then.  The probable
debates of that day, which must have occupied the minds of those who
determined the location, might now make a curious fancy work !  The Penn
ideas, (which we know) as compressed into few words, are strongly expressed,
viz.  "It seemed appointed for a town, because of its coves, docks, springs,
and lofty land !"
   My aged correspondent, Samuel Preston, Esqr., formerly of Bucks County,
has given some long details from the recollections of his grandmother, who
died in the year 1774, at the age of 100 years, in full mind and memory.
When she was married, (at or near Pennsbury), William Penn and sundry
Indians were present.  He was very sociable and freely gave them friendly
advice.  She described him as of rather short stature, but the handsomest,
best looking, lively gentleman she had ever seen.  There was nothing like
pride about him, but affable and friendly with the humblest in life.  After
their marriage they went to Wiccaco; her husband there made up frocks,
trowsers and moccasons of deer skins, for the Swedes, &c., there; after a
time, the little settlement was burnt out, by being surrounded by fire in
the woods.  They went then, on the invitation of friendly Indians, to
Hollekonck, in Buckingham.  Both she and her husband, Amos Preston, spoke
Indian readily.  She even served as interpreter at an Indian treaty at
Hollekonck.
   She said, at the news of Penn's arrival in the province, she had gone
down from Neshamony creek (where she then lived) with others to get to see
him; the Indians and Swedes also went along. They met with him at or near
the present Philadelphia. The Indians, as well as the whites, had severally
prepared the best entertainment the place and circumstances could admit.
William Penn made himself endeared to the Indians by his marked
condescension and acquiescence in their wishes.  He walked with them, sat
with them on the ground, and ate with them of their roasted acorns and
homony.  At this they expressed their great delight, and soon began to show
how they could hop and jump; at which exhibition William Penn, to cap the
climax, sprang up and beat them all !  We are not prepared to credit such
light gaiety in a sage Governor and religious Chief; but we have the
positive assertion of a woman of truth, who said she saw it.  There may have
been very wise policy in the measure as an act of conciliation, worth more
than a regiment of sharp-shooters.  He was then sufficiently young for any
agility; and we remember that one of the old journalists among the Friends
incidently speaks of him as having naturally an excess of levity of spirit
for a grave minister.  We give the fact, however, as we got it. It is by
gathering up such facts of difficult belief, that we sometimes preserve the
only means of unraveling at some later day, a still greater mystery.
Sometimes an old song, or legendary tale confirms the whole.  "A peasant's
song prolongs the dubious tale !"
   The same Samuel Preston says of his grandmother, that she said Phineas
Pemberton surveyed and laid out a town, intended to have been Philadelphia,
up at Pennsbury, and that the people who went there were dissatisfied with
the change.  On my expressing doubts of this, thinking she may have confused
the case of Chester removal, Mr. Preston then further declared, that having,
nearly 40 years ago, occasion to hunt through the trunks of surveys of John
Lukens, Surveyor General of Bucks County, he and Lukens then saw a ground
plot for a city of Philadelphia, signed Phineas Pemberton, Surveyor general,
that fully appeared to have been in Pennsbury Manor; also another for the
present town of Bristol, then called Buckingham.  He also asserts, that from
old titles which he has seen, there was a place called therein "Old
Philadelphia", being on the bank of the river, next below Pottequessing
Creek, i.e. Poquesink Creek, being the bank northward of the ancient
"Bake-house", now Morgan's place.  The same name, "Old Philadelphia", I have
heard there from the old landholders.

Items of Olden Time, extracted from the Minutes of the Assembly of Pennsylvania

   1694 -- 3 mo. 24th --- A committee of eight members being appointed to
inspect the aggrievances of the inhabitants of this government, report:
   1st. That the person commissioned to be the clerk of the market, hath
committed several misdemeanors.
   2d.  That there is not an ordinary appointed in each respective county
for the Probate of Wills.
   4th. That there is not more than one ferry allowed over Schuylkill, near
this town.
   5th. That seizing, or taking away the boat belonging to the inhabitants
of Haverford, Radnor, Merioneth, and Darby, is an aggrievance, and of
ill-tendency to the inhabitants of this province.

   1695 -- 7 mo. 9th --- The house chose Edward Shippen, Speaker, whereupon
it was moved, that three members should treat with Sarah Whitpan for to hire
her room to sit in.*
    *Robert Whitepane's great house was recommended by William Penn's letter
of 1687, to be used for the offices of State.  It was on east side of Front
Street, below Walnut Street, and being built of shell lime, fell into
premature decay.

   1696 --- The Assembly met at the house of Samuel Carpenter, in
Philadelphia. [This house was presumedly, in Water Street, above Walnut Street.]

   1698 -- 3mo. 12th --- Daniel Smith was chosen Messenger, and attested to
keep secret the debates of this house, and the door in safety.
   A petition was read from some of the inhabitants of Philadelphia, praying
to put down pewter and lead farthings; referred for further consideration.
   3 mo. 27th. --- The house met at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, being
prevented from meeting at the time appointed by reason of a great fire,
which happened in the town this morning.
   3 mo. 31st. --- Ordered that Jonathan Dickinson have for his labour and
attendance as clerk of this present Assembly, £ 5 (pounds)  -- that Daniel
Smith be paid 50s. as door-keeper and messenger, and that James Fox satisfy
for the rent of the house where the Assembly was held.

   1699 -- 12 mo. 6th -- Adjourned to Isaac Norris' house, by reason of the
extreme cold, for an hour.
   Thomas Makin, voted to be clerk for this Assembly, at 4s. per day.  [He
was Latin teacher at Friends' Academy.]
   Twenty-one pounds was voted as a provincial charge for damage done by
privateers plundering the town of Lewes.

   1700 -- 10 mo. 15th --- Governor's Message to the Assembly:
   FRIENDS, --- Your union is what I desire; but your peace and
accommodating of one another, is what I must expect from you: the reputation
of it is something;  the reality much more.  I desire you to remember and
observe what I say.  Yield in circumstances, to preserve  essentials; and
being safe in one another, you will always be so in esteem with me.  Make me
not sad, now I am going to leave you; since it is for you, as well as your
friend and proprietary and Governor,  WILLIAM PENN.

   1705 -- 10 mo. 19th --- Ordered, that notice of the time and place of
receiving quit rents be given, by affixing notes or advertisements on the
door of every public meeting-house for religious worship in each county.
   11 mo. 3d. --- The petition of Thomas Makin, complaining of damage
accruing to him by the loss of several of his scholars, by reason of the
Assembly's using the school-house so long, --- the weather being cold, ---
ordered, that he be allowed the sum of three pounds, over and above the sum
of twenty shillings this house formerly allowed him, for the same consideration.
   12 mo. 22d --- Resolved, by a majority of voices, that the county out of
whose representatives the Speaker happens to be chosen, shall pay his whole
salary of ten shillings per day.

   1706 -- 10mo. 14th --- The house met; the Speaker together with all the
members present, took and subscribed the declarations and professions of
faith prescribed by law.
   [NOTE--- The last paragraph of the declaration reads thus, viz. "And we,
the said subscribing representatives, and each of us for himself, do
solemnly and sincerely profess faith in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ,
his eternal Son, the true God, and in the Holy Spirit, one God, blessed for
evermore.  And we do acknowledge the Holy Scriptures to be given by divine
inspiration."]
   [John Churchman, a public Friend, in his Journal, says, "I have
understood that it was formerly a common practice for them (the Assembly) to
sit in silence awhile, like solemn worship, before they proceeded to do
business". --- He wrote in 1748.]

     MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL, FROM 1704 to 1776

   The original Minutes of Council, from which the following are extracts,
were unexpectedly found a few years ago by William Meredith, Esq. in the
garret part of his house, at the south-west corner of Tenth and Walnut
Streets.  It had before been the residence of Edward Hurd, Esqr.,
Prothonotary, and they had probably been once in his possession, and lost
sight of after his death.  The whole were comprised in several small MS.
books, --- since bound together and placed in the office of the City
Council.  The whole extracts, as originally prepared for me by my friend
J.J.S. may be seen together in my volume of MS. Annals, in the Historical
Society of Pennsylvania, with notes of elucidation, from pages 475 to 482.
In what follows, only such facts are mentioned as are not elsewhere cited in
other parts of this work, --- to wit:

   At a meeting of the Mayor, Alderman, and Common Council, at the house of
Herbert Carey, of this city, Innholder, the third day of October, 1704,
      Present, Anthony Morris, Mayor, and David Lloyd, Recorder, ---
Aldermen and Council.

   The above said Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, and Common Council, pursuant to
the business of the day, proceeded to the election of a Mayor for the said
City, for the year ensuing, and Alderman Griffith Jones is elected Mayor,
Nemine Contradicente, of which he accepted, and moved that the £ 20 fine
laid upon him, for refusing to accept of the Mayoralty the last year, may be
remitted him, and it is granted, and the said fine is hereby remitted and
forgiven.
   At a Common Council at the Coffy House, the 1st day of December, 1704,
present, Griffith Jones, Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen.
   Richard Pruce, John Till, Widow Bristow, Myles Godforth, Christopher
Lobb, Philip Wallis, &c., persons who keep teems within the city, being sent
for, now came and are admonished, (that mischief being lately committed by
some of them) to take care how they drive their carts within this city, for
that an ordinance will be immediately made for their regulation.
   It is ordered, that John Budd and Henry Badcock do winter the Two Town
Bulls, until the 1st of June next, and that they shall have £ 4 a piece for
the same, to be paid them out of the public stock of this city, which they
undertook to do.
   Ordered and agreed that a watch-house shall be built in the Market-place,
16 feet long, and 14 wide.
   Mem.  That an ordinance be considered to prevent boyling  tar into pitch,
heating pitch upon the wharf, or within 20 feet of any building or hay stack.
   Ordered, that the Mayor, once in every month, goe the rounds to the
respective bread-bakers in this city, and weigh their bread, and seize all
such as shall be deficient in weight, and dispose of the same as the law
directs.
   At a common Council held at the Coffy house, 15th Dec. 1704, present G.
Jones. Mayor, &c. 

   2nd Feb'y 1705 --- Aldermen Wilcox, Carter, &c., who were appointed by an
order of the last Common Council to divide the city into wards, and to
report the same to this council, report that they have divided this city
into wards, and have returned the same under their hands.
   It being moved in this Council that that part of the city between Broad
street and Delaware be grub'd and clean'd from all its rubish, in order to
produce English grass, which would be of great use and advantage to the
inhabitants keeping cattle therein.  It is ordered that some proper method
be thought upon for the doing thereof by Alderman Shippen, &c.
   It is ordered that the Cryer take an account of all the inhabitants of
this city keeping cows, and give an account of their names, and number of
cows they keep upwards of two years old.

   9 April, 1705 --- James Bingham is this day admitted a freeman, paying
for the same 31s. 2s. 6d, which he accepted and signed.
   Samuel Savage is admitted a freeman, and paid for the same 11. 2s. 6d.
   Matthew Robinson is admitted a freeman at 2s. 6d.
   (Similar notices are of constant occurence.)

   1st June, 1705 --- Alderman Masters, Alderman Jones, Tho's Pascall, &c.
&c. not appearing at this Council, are fined 3s. a piece.
   It is ordered that Alderman Carter and John Parsons do oversee the
Repairs of the Old Cage, to be converted into a Watch house for present
occasion.

   29 Dec'r. 1705 --- A petition from John Cropp, for an Ordinance, to
encourage him for setting up a public Slaughter House --- and settling the
rate for Killing Cattle, &c., therein was read.
   Ordered, that the Treasurer pay to Solomon Cresson 10s. for the making of
12 Watchmen's Staves and 2 Constable Staves; and also 3s. to Enoch Story for
the painting of three Constable staves.
   Ordered, that the Beadle collect from the Inhabitants of this city, the
sum of 6d for every Milch Cow by them kept, and pay the same to the Treasurer.

   1st October, 1706 -- Alderman Story, refusing to accept of the office of
Mayor, therefore, he is fined by this Common Council, the sum of Twenty pounds.
   This Council p'ceeded to another Vote for the Election of the Mayor, and
Alderman Nathan Stansbury was elected by a Majority of Votes, who accepted
thereof.

   13 Jan'y 1707 --- Wm. Carter, Thos Masters, Joseph Yard, and John Redman,
are appointed to view the Hollow in the head of Chestnut st. Crossing the
fifth street, and take the best methods for making good the same, and giving
the water a free passage.

   11 Feb'y 1708 --- T. Masters, Mayor.  Ordered, that his Corporation do
treat the Govr. as usual upon Arrival of ye sd. Governour, and that the
Treasurer defray the charge out of the Publick money.

   22 July 1712 --- Sam'l Preston, Mayor.  Thomas Griffiths, Thomas Redman,
and Samuel Powel, are appointed regulators of the Partition walls within
this city.
   Ordered that an ordinance be drawn, grounded upon a law of this Province,
for the Ascertaining the Dimensions of casks, and for true Packing of meats
for Transportation, and Alderman Hill is desired to think of a fit person
for that office.

   14 Aug't 1713 --- Jonathan Dickinson, Mayor.  It being very Dificult to
convict such as suffer their Chimneys to take fire contrary to a law of this
Province.  It is therefore ordered that if the offender will pay the
fforfiture without further Trouble, he shall have Ten Shillings abated him.
   30 Sept. 1713 --- William Hill, the Beadle of this city, having lately in
a heat broke his Bell, and given out that he would continue no longer at the
place, but now Expresses a great Deal of Sorrow for so doing, and humbly
Desires to be Continued therein During his Good Behaviour.  And the Premises
being Considered, And the Vote put, whether he Should Continue the Place any
Longer or No, It past in ye affirmative.

  25 Oct. 1714 --- Geo. Rock, Mayor.  Ordered that the Mayor, Recorder,
Aldermen and Common Council wait upon the Governour on Wednesday next, at
the houre of Twelve in the forenoon, in order to proclaim the King, and
afterwards present the Mayor Elect to the Governour to be Qualified.
   8 Novr. 1714 --- Ordered that an Ordinance be drawn to oblige the sellers
of Meal and grain in the Market, to Expose their Meal under the Court House,
by opening their sacks mouths, That the Inhabitants may see what they buy.
   It is ordered that the sum of Fifteen pounds, and ten shillings, Expended
in the entertainment upon the Proclaiming the King, beyond the sum of
Fifteen pounds, the Mayor voluntarily expended out of his own Pocket, be
repaid the Mayor out of the stall rents.

   14 Sept. 1716 --- The price of Indenture for Apprentices within this City
being now under Consideration.  It is agreed and order'd that three
Shillings be paid to the Town Clerk for ye indenture, and one Shilling and
sixpence to the Recordr fr the Inrolment.

   29 Decr. 1718 --- Samuel Powel being required to Pay his stall rents,
prays a discount, he being considerable out of pocket in Building of the
Bridge over ye Dock in Walnut St.  It is the opinion of the Board that such
discount may be inconvenient.

   15 July 1719 --- Edward Howel is appointed to Clear the Square at the
ffront of the Court House, for which he is allowed fforty shillings p. ann.
to be paid quarterly.
   14 Decr. 1719 -- Wm. Fishbourne, Mayor.  William Pawlet exhibits an acct
of 2s. 6d. for a Bell Rope, 2s. for a Key for a Padlock, 2s. 3d. for smith &
Carpenters work about ye Bell, & 4s. for a Double Bell Rope, which is
allowed, and the Treasurer ordered to pay him.
   The Mayor and Alderman Hill, in Conjunction with the Regulators, are
requested to Imploy Jacob Taylor to runout the Seven Streets of this City,
and that they cause the same to be staked out, to prevent any Incroachment
that may happen in building, for ye want thereof.

   11 May 1720 --- Wm. Fishbourne, Mayor. --- The draught of the intended
bridge to be built over the Dock in the Second street, being laid before ye
Board by Alderman Redman, And whether a Bridge of the width of Second
street, or one of seventy five foot in the clear, would be most convenient.
A majority of the Board Inclined to the latter, whereupon the Mayor,
Alderman Hill, &c., are requested to agree with the workmen for the doing
thereof, and report the same at the next council.
   28 Novr. 1720 -- The Mayor, Recorder, Alderman Logan, Alderman Carter,
are desired to Treat with James Henderson, who Now petitions to be a Publick
Chimney Sweeper of this City, in Relacon to his Terms and his Capacity of
performing it.

   Feby 4, 1722 --- Jas. Logan, Mayor.  Schuylkill fferry being now again
under consideration of the Board, It is the unanimous opinion that
application be immediately made to Assembly for an Act to Vest ye said Ferry
in ye Corporation, and to have sole Management and Direction thereof. It is
Ordered that the Mayor, Recorder, Alderman Hill, &c., prepare and present a
petition for that purpose without delay.

   Aug. 19 1723 --- J. Logan, Mayor. Ordered that Mary Whitaker be paid two
shillings pr week for sweeping the Court House and Stalls twice a week for
ye time past, and such further time to come as she shall continue the same.
   The Mayor desires ye company of the Board, to a Public Dinner with him
now provided at the Plume of Feathers.
   Sept. 30, 1723 -- Alderman Fishbourne, Geo. Fitzwater and John Warder,
are requested to Imloy persons immediately for the Opening of the High
street to the New Ferry.

   25 Sept. 1727 --- T. Lawrence, Mayor.  A motion being made that a fflag
staff should be Erected on Society Hill, the old one being rotten and taken
down, and there being a necessity for ye same to be done immediately,
Ordered that one be provided upon this emergencie at the charge of the
Corporation.
   22 March 1728 -- Richard Armitt Represented to this Board that many
Hucksters in this City buying provisions in the Market, and often meet the
people coming to Market at the ends of the street, and then buy up
provisions, which might be prevented by appointing an Hour both Winter and
Summer, for the Ringing the Bell.  The board took the same into
consideration, and order that Ordinance of this city should be forthwith put
in execution and published for suppressing the sad practice.
   16 May 1728 --- The Board having heard that a Lottery was Intended to be
Erected by Samuel Keimer in this city, during this present Fair, he having
sett forth several printed papers for that purpose, the Board sent for the
sd Keimer, who came and having heard what he had to say in behalf of sd
Lottery.  Ordered that no Lottery be kept during the said ffair.

   7 Oct. 1729 --- The Keeping of a Tavern in the Prison being under the
Consideration of this Board, they are of opinion that the same is a great
Nuisance and ought to be suppressed and that the Removal thereof be
recommended to the Magistracy.

  28 Sept. 1730 --- Edward Nicholls now applying to the Board for leave to
make a Vault before his house at a corner of Chestnut street, the Board upon
the sd application do allow the sd Edward Nicholls to make a Vault paying
Twelve pounds p ann. as a rent or acknowledgment to the Corporation.
   Isaac Norris and Daniel Radley are desired to get the common shore near
the Bridge in Second st. Immediately repaired.

  17 April, 1732 --- C. Hasel, Mayor.  The Board taking under Consideration
the frequent and tumultuous meetings of the Negro Slaves, especially on
Sunday, Gaming, Cursing, Swearing and committing many other Disorders, to
the great Terror and Disquiet of the Inhabitants of this city, In order not
only to prevent Children and white Servants meeting in such great numbers on
the sd day to play Games and make disturbances and noise in the City, It is
by this Board thought necessary that an ordinance be forthwith drawn and
prepared to prevent the same.

   3d July 1738 --- A Draught of an Ordinance for the better regulation of
the more Effectual suppressing Tumultuous meetings and other disorderly
doings of the Negroes, Mullatos, and Indian servts. and slaves within this
City and Liberties thereof was read and several amendments made and it was
ordered to be left to the further Consideration of the Board at their meeting.

  18 June 1741 --- C. Hasel, Mayor --- The Board having taken into
Consideration the Currency of the English Half pence and the Disquiet that
is among the Inhabitants, occasioned by some persons refusing to take them,
thought proper that a Declaration should be made publick by the Board, that
the sd halfpence shd be taken at fifteen to the shilling, which is adjudged
to be nearest to such value, as might discourage too great a quantity being
imported, and at the same time prevent their being carried away, and a
Proclamation for that purpose was ordered to be drawn, and that the same
should be published in the City by the Beadle.
   17 Aug 1741 --- C. Hassel, Mayor.  Frequent complaints having been made
to the Board that many disorderly persons meet every ev'g. about the Court
house of this city, and great numbers of Negroes and others sit there with
milk pails, and other things, late at night, and many disorders are there
committed against the peace and good government of this City,  The board
having taken the same into consideration, Do order that all persons depart
thence in half an hour after sunset, and that the Constables of the s'd city
be charged by the Magistrates to disperse all persons that shall meet there
after the time aforesaid, and if they refuse to depart, to bring all
refusing before any of the Magistrates of this city, to answer their refusal
and misbehavior.
   The board having taken into consideration the great danger the
Inhabitants of this city are in by means of Carts and Carriages driving
thro'  the streets at the Market Place on Market Days, to prevent the
mischief that may Ensue, It is ordered that proper Iron Chains be provided
to stop the passage of carts and carriages through the Market Places, which
chains are to be put up on Market days, at Sun Rise, and continue till Ten
o'clock in the Summer and Eleven in the Winter in the fforenoon.

   4 May 1743 --- William Till, Mayor.  Complaints being made that several
Persons have Erected stalls in the Market Place with Merchants' goods on
Market Days, and very much Incumber the Market, It is ordered that ye clerk
of the Market remove all such stalls, who shall vend such goods, that the
Market place may be kept free and open.

   23 Oct 1744 -- E. Shippen, Mayor.  The Board having taken into
consideration the Defenceless state of this City in case of an Invasion by
the Enemy, Are of opinion that a Petition to the King be forthwith prepared,
Setting forth the defenceless state of the said city, and requesting His
Majesty to take the defenceless condition of the Inhabitants into
consideration and to afford them such relief as his Majesty shall think fit.
   A petition to his Majesty being ready prepared was offered to the Board
by the Recorder, which was read and considered, which petiton was approved of.

   1st October 1745 --- Alderman Taylor, refusing to serve the office of
Mayor, is fined the sum of thirty pounds; and the Board proceeded to a new
election, and chose Joseph Turner by a majority of votes, who having also
refused to execute the said office, was fined the sum of thirty pounds;  and
then the Board proceeded to a new election, and Alderman Hamilton was
elected by a Majority of votes.

   7 Oct 1746 --- James Hamilton, Esq., Mayor, represented to the Board,
that as it had been customary for the mayors of this city at their going out
of office, to give an entertainment to the gentleman of the corporation, he
intended in lieu thereof to give a sum of money equal at least to the sums
usually expended on such occasions, to be laid out in something permanently
useful to the city, and proposed the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds
towards erecting an Exchange, or some other public building.

   18th Sept 1747 --- W. A. Attwood, Mayor.  It was represented by the Mayor
to the Board, that as the time of election of a Mayor for the ensuing year
is at hand, and of late years it has been a difficulty to find persons
willing to serve in that office, by reason of the great trouble which
attends the faithful execution of it.  He therefore moved, that for the
future, some allowance be made to the Mayor of this city, out of the stock
of the corporation, for the support of the dignity of that office, and as
some compensation for the trouble.  The board taking the same into
consideration, the motion was approved, and the question being put, whether
one hundred pounds per annum should be allowed, and paid out of the
corporation stock, for these purposes for three years to come, it passed in
the affirmative.
   6 Oct 1747, P.M. --- W.A.Attwood, Mayor. Alderman Morris, the Mayor
Elect, not being present, Charles Willing, and Saml. Rhoades was appointed
to wait on him to acquaint him the Board had chosen him, Mayor for the year
ensuing.
   The two members appointed to acquaint Alderman Morris that he was elected
Mayor, returned and informed the Board they had been at his House, and were
told by his daughter that he was gone out of Town.
   9 Oct. 1747 --- Charles Stow being called in and sworn, said That he had
been at the Dwelling House of Alderman Morris and read the notice he was
sent with to his wife, and would have delivered it to her, but she refused
to receive it and said her husband was from home and she believed he would
not return till Saturday night.
   The Board then considering that since the Mayor Elect did not appear, to
Accept of the sd office and take and subscribe the usual Qualifications
within the time limited by Charter: Altho' the proper means had been used to
give him Notice of his Election, it was necessary to proceed to a new
choice, and thereupon Wm. Attwood was chosen Mayor for the year Ensuing by a
Majority of Votes.
   26 Nov. 1747 --- The Mayor proposed to the consideration of the Board
that since the Inhabitants of the City seem now generally apprehensive that
the enemies of our King and Country, encouraged by their knowledge of our
defenceless state have formed a design of attacking us next spring; whether
it might not be proper to petition the Honble. Proprietaries of this
Province to send over a number of Cannon for Erecting a Battery, with such a
quantity of Arms and ammunition as to them shall seem meet.  And the
majority of the Board being of opinon that such a petition is necessary, and
that the same ought to be forwarded by the next Ship to London, a Draught
therof was brought in and read at the Board, and being approved of, it was
ordered to be ingrossed and signed by the Mayor in order to be transmitted
accordingly.

   23 May 1748 --- Ordered that the Recorder be repaid £ 53 expended in
soliciting a Petition to the King for putting the Country in a state of defence.
   14 July 1748 --- It was agreed in lieu of an intended entertainment to
Capt. Ballet of the Otter Sloop of War, that they present him a handsome
present towards his Sea Stores, say 1 Pipe of Wine, 20 Galls. of Rum and 8
loaves of Sugar.
   4 Oct 1748 --- The Mayor, W. Attwood, offered £ 60 to the Treasury, in
lieu of an Entertainment from him, --- accepted unanimously.

   3 Oct 1749 --- C. Willing, Mayor, offered £ 100 in lieu of an
Entertainment, which was preferred and accepted by the Board.

   2 Feb. 1753 --- Tho' Shoemaker, Mayor, presented £ 75 to the building
fund in lieu of giving his Entertainments, --- also Alderman Strettle the same.
   28 May 1753 --- Danl. Pettit (i.e. Pettitoe) public whipper, prays £ 10
per ann. for his services, which was granted.
   23 July 1753 --- Charles Stow now praying the Board to make him some
allowance for Fire Wood and Candles, supplied by him at the Mayor's Court
for Two and twenty years past.  The Board agreed to allow him seven
shillings and sixpence per annum for the said fire and Candles and His
trouble relating thereto.

   31 Aug't 1754 --- C. Willing, Mayor.  George Lee and Richard Davis
petitioning this Board to remit the Fines imposed on them for assaulting the
Watch, they not being of ability to pay the same.  Order'd that the said
Fines be remitted, provided they enter on board His Majesties Sloop of War,
now in this Harbour, at the time of her sailing from here.

   24 Nov'r 1755 --- W. Plumstead, Mayor.  The Mayor produced the Draught of
a Remonstrance proposed to be sent from this Board to the Assembly of this
province, on occasion of the Extreme distress brought upon the People by the
Inroads of our Indian Enemies, and the Cruel Murders and Devastations
committed by them, and Earnestly requesting the Assembly to take some speedy
and effectual measures for the Defence of the Inhabitants by raising a sum
of money and passing a reasonable Law for well regulating a Militia.

   4 Dec 1758 --- T. Lawrence, Mayor.  It being represented to the Board,
that several Persons who have been a considerable time prisoners among the
French at Canada, are come to this City in their way to their Several Homes,
and being destitute of every thing necessary to support them in their
journey, --- many of them living at a great distance from home, --- it is
proposed that this Board should contribute something.

   1 Dec  1759 --- A Dinner entertainment is ordered for the New Lt.
Governor, James Hamilton, Esq. at the Lodge.

   16 Feb 1762 --- The Board is specially called to consider the bad state
of the Streets, and to represent that the surplus money from the rents of
the public were inadequate for their repairs, &c.  A beam and Scales at a
Cost of £ 22 is bought for the use of the Meal Market.

   Oct 1763 --- Money is ordered for completing the Bridge over the Dock in
Front st.
   31 Oct 1763 --- The board agreed to give an entertainment to the Hon'ble
John Penn, Esq. the newly arrived Governor.
   28 Nov 1763 --- Paid the Expence of the said Entertainment, £ 203 --- L
50 is ordered to be paid for a lot at the No. East corner of the state house
Square on which to erect "a City Hall".

   30 Jan 1764 --- It is ordered that Steelyards be not used for weighing in
the Markets; To this 5 butchers presented complaints, but the Scales were
adhered to.

   4 Dec 1767 --- It is ordered that a bill of £ 159 be paid for the expence
of an entertainment given to Gener'l Gage, the Comdr. in Chief, on his
arrival in the city.
   22 Dec 1767 --- An answer is sent to the Select men of Boston, who had
recommended measures to restrain the consumption of superfluities, &c.  The
answer says, we desire to diffuse a spirit of industry and frugality, but
they decline to take their public measures as not necessary.  66 Stalls in
the Market west'd rented for £ 198, and 26 east at £ 4 each, and 20 at £ 3 each.

   21 July 1768 --- £ 25 is allowed to the late Sheriff as the expence of
shipping off four notorious felons.

   Nov 1769 --- A committee is appointed to look into the state of the "New
Market on the Hill".  [Southwark]

   29 June 1773 --- A Petition was rec'd from Friends earnestly requesting
that the building of more Stalls in High st. might be suspended.  The minds
of the People being much agitated, it was agreed to.

   3 March 1774 --- The bushel measure of the City, made of Copper, a New
standard was ordered of brass.

   3 April 1775 --- The Committee to find out a place for a City Hall,
reported, and they recommend that the money formerly bestowed by several
Mayors for the building an Exchange or other public Edifices, be now used to
this object.

         MAYORS of The CITY of PHILADELPHIA.

Anthony Morris, October 1704
Griffith Jones, November, 1704
Joseph Wilcox, 1705
Nathan Stanbury, 1706-7
Thomas Masters, 1708-9
Richard Hill, 1710
William Carter, 1711
Samuel Preston, 1712
Jonathan Dickinson, 1713
George Rock 1714
Richard Hill 1715-16-17
Jonathan Dickinson 1718
William Fishbourne, 1719-20-21
James Logan, 1722
Clement Plumstead 1723
Robert Assheton, 1724
Isaac Norris, 1725
William Hudson, 1726
Charles Read, 1727
Thomas Lawrence, 1728
Thomas Griffiths, 1729-30-31
C. Hasell, 1732
Thomas Griffiths, 1733-34
Thomas Lawrence, 1735
William Allen, 1736
C. Plumstead, 1737
Thomas Griffiths, 1738
Anthony Morris, 1739
Edward Roberts, 1740
S. Hasell, 1741
William Till, 1742
R. Shoemaker, 1743
E. Shippen, 1744
J. Hamilton, 1745
W. Attwood, 1746-47
C. Willing, 1748
Thomas Lawrence, 1749
W. Plumstead 1750-51
Robert Shettle, 1752
B. Shoemaker 1753
C. Willing, 1754
W. Plumstead, 1755-56
A. Shute, 1757
Thomas Lawrence, 1758-59
John Stamper, 1760
B. Shoemaker, 1761
Henry Harrison, 1762
T. Willing, 1763
T. Lawrence, 1764-65-66
Isaac Jones, 1767-68-69
S. Shoemaker, 1770
J. Gibson, 1771-72
W. Fisher, 1773-74
S. Rhoade, 1775.

The above list is ascertained from the minutes of the City Council.

"Gabriel Thomas' Account of Philadelphia and the Province to the year 1696"

   "An historical description of the Province of Pennsylvania ; including an
account of the City of Philadelphia.  Extracted from the history written in
the year 1697, and dedicated "to the most noble and excellent Governour
Friend William Penn", by Gabriel Thomas, who came from England in the year
1681, in the ship John and Sarah, of London, commanded by Henry Smith, and
resided in Pennsylvania about fifteen years.  [This work, which belongs to
the Library Company of Philadelphia, was printed in London, in the year 1698] "

   Pensilvania lies between the latitude of forty and forty-five degrees;
West Jersey on the east, Virginia on the west, Maryland south, and New York
and Canada on the north.  In length three hundred, and in breadth one
hundred and eighty miles.
   The natives of this country are supposed, by most people, to have been of
the ten scattered tribes, for they resemble the Jews in the make of their
persons, and tincture of complexions; they observe new moons, they offer
their first fruits to a Maneto, or supposed Deity, whereof they have two,
one, as they fansie above (good;) another below (bad;) and have a kind of
feast of tabernacles, laying their altars upon twelve stones, observe a sort
of mourning twelve months, customs of women, and many other rites.
  They are very charitable to one another, the lame and the blind living as
well as the best; they are also very kind and obliging to the Christians.
   The next that came there were the Dutch, (who called the countrey New
Netherland) between fifty or sixty years ago, and were the first planters in
those parts; but they made little improvement, till near the time of the
wars between England and them, about thirty or forty years ago.
   Soon after them came the Sweedes and Fins, who applyed themselves to
husbandry, and were the first Christian people that made any considerable
improvement there.
   There were some disputes between these two nations some years; the Dutch
looking upon the Sweeds as intruders upon their purchase and possession.
These disputes were terminated in the surrender made by John Rizeing, the
Sweeds Governour, to Peter Stuyvesant, Governour for the Dutch, in 1655.  In
the Holland war about the year 1665, Sir Robert Carr took the countrey from
the Dutch for the English, and left his cousin, Captain Carr, governour of
that place; but in a short time after, the Dutch retook the countrey from
the English, and kept it in their possession till the peace was concluded
between the English and them, when the Dutch surrendered that countrey with
East and west Jersey and New York, to the English again.  But it remained
with very little improvement till the year 1681, in which William Penn,
Esquire, had the countrey given him by King Charles the second, (in lieu of
money that was due to his father, Sir William Penn) and from him bore the
name of Pensilvania.
   Since that time, the industrious inhabitants have built a noble and
beautiful city, and called it Philadelphia, or Brotherly-love (for so much
the Greek word Philadelphia imports,) which contains a number of houses all
inhabited; and most of them stately, and of brick, generally three stories
high, after the mode in London, and as many as several families in each.
There are very many lanes and alleys, as first, Huttons-lane, Morris-lane,
Jones's-lane, wherein, are very good buildings; Shorters-alley, Yowers-lane,
Wallers-alley, Turners-lane, Sikes-alley; and Flowers alley.  All these
alleys and lanes extend from the Front-street to the Second street.  There
is another alley in the  Second-street, called Carters-alley.  There are
also, besides these alleys and lanes, several fine squares and courts within
this magnificent city;  as for the particular names of the several streets
contained therein, the principal are as follows, viz.:  Walnut-street,
Vine-street, Mulberry-street, Delaware-street, taking their names from the
abundance of those trees that formerly grew there;  High-street,
Broad-street, Delaware-street, Front-street, with several of less note, too
tedious to insert here.
   It hath in it three fairs every year, and two markets every week.  They
kill above twenty fat bullocks every week, in the hottest time in Summer,
besides many sheep, calves, and hogs.
   The city is situated between Schoolkill-river and the great river
Delaware, which derives its name from Captain Delaware, who came there
pretty early: ships of two or three hundred tuns may come up to the city, by
either of these two rivers.  Moreover, in this province are four great
market-towns, the water-men constantly ply their wherries; likewise all
those towns have fairs kept in them; besides there are several countrey
villages, viz. Dublin, Harford, Merioneth, and Radnor in Cumbry; all of
which towns, villages, and rivers took their names from the several
countries from whence the present inhabitants came.
   The corn-harvest is ended before the middle of July, and most years they
have commonly between twenty and thirty bushels of wheat for every one they
sow.  Their ground is harrowed with wooden tyned harrows, twice over in a
place is sufficient; twice mending of their plow-irons in a year's time will
serve.  Their horses commonly go without being shod; two men may clear
between twenty and thirty acres of land in one year, fit for the plough, in
which oxen are chiefly used, though horses are not wanting, and of them good
and well shaped.  Of such land, in a convenient place, the purchase will
cost between ten and fifteen pounds for a hundred acres.  Here is much
meadow ground.  Poor people, both men and women, will get near three times
more wages for their labour in this countrey, than they can earn either in
England or Wales.
   What is inhabited in this countrey is divided into six counties, though
there is not the twentieth part of it yet peopled by the Christians; it hath
in it several navigable rivers for shipping to come in, besides the capital
Delaware; there are also several  other small rivers, the names of them are
:Hoorkill-river, alias Lewis-river, which runs up to Lewis-town, the
chiefest in Sussex county; Cedar-river, Muskmellon-river, all taking their
names from the great plenty of these things growing thereabouts; Mother-kill
alias Dover-river, St. Jones's alias Cranbrook-river, where one John Curtice
lives, who hath three hundred head of neat beasts, besides great numbers of
hogs, horses, and sheep;  Great Duck-river, Little Duck-river,
Blackbird-river, these also took their original names from the great numbers
of those fowl which are found there in vast quantities; Apequinemy-river,
where their goods come to be carted over to Maryland; St. George's river,
Christeen river, Brandy-wine-river, Upland alias Chester-river, which runs
by Chester-town, being the shire or county town, Schoolkill-river,
Frankford-river, near which, Arthur Cook hath a most stately brick house;
and Nishamany-river, where judge Growden hath a very noble orchard adjoyning
to it, wherein are contained above a thousand apple trees of various sorts;
likewise there is the famous Derby-river, which comes down from the Cumbry
by Derby-town, wherein are several fulling-mills, corn-mills, &c.
   There is curious building-stone and paving-stone; also tile-stone, with
which latter, governour Penn covered his great and stately pile, which he
called Pennsbury-house; there is likewise iron-stone or oar, (lately found)
which far exceeds that in England, being richer and less drossy; some
preparations have been made to carry on an iron-work: there is also very
good lime-stone in great plenty; and cheap, of great use in buildings, and
also in manuring land, (if there were occasion) but nature has made that of
itself sufficiently fruitful; besides here are load-stones, ising-glass, and
(that wonder of stones) the Salamander-stone* found near Brandy-wine-river,
having cotton in veins within it, which will not consume in fire, though
held there a long time.  *The Asbestos.
   As to minerals or metals, there is very good copper, far exceeding ours
in England, being much finer, and of a more glorious colour.
   Not two miles from the metropolis, are also purging mineral-waters, that
pass both by siege and urine, all out as good as Epsom: and I have reason to
believe, there are good coals also, for I observed the runs of water have
the same colour as that which proceeds from the coal-mines in Wales.
   There are an infinite number of sea and land fowl of most sorts, and
there are prodigious quantities of shell and other fish.  There are also
several sorts of wild beasts of great profit and good food; I have bought of
the Indians a whole buck, (both skin and carcase) for two gills of
gunpowder.  All which as well, beasts, fowl and fish, are free and comon to
any person who can shoot or take them, without any lett, hinderance or
opposition whatsoever.
  There are also several sorts of wild fruits, as excellent grapes, which
upon frequent experience, have produced choice wine, being daily cultivated
by skilful vinerons; they will, in a short space of time, have good liquor
of their own, and some to supply their neighbours, to their great advantage;
as these wines are more pure, so much more wholesome; the brewing trade of
sophisticating and adulterating of wines, as in England, Holland
(especially) and in some other places, not being known there yet, nor in all
probability will it in many years, through a natural probity so fixed and
implanted in the inhabitants, and (I hope) like to continue.  Wallnuts,
chesnuts, filberts, hickery-nuts, hurtleberries, mulberries, rasberries,
strawberries, cramberries, plumbs and many other wild fruits, in great
plenty, which are common and free for any to gather.
   The common planting fruit trees, are apples, of which much excellent
cyder is made, and sold commonly for between ten and fifteen shillings per
barrel.  Pears, peaches, &c., of which they distil a liquor much like the
taste of rumm, or brandy, which they yearly make in great quantities: there
are quinces, cherries, gooseberries, currants, squashes, pumpkins,
water-mellons, musk-mellons, and other fruits in great numbers.  There are
also many curious and excellent physical wild herbs, roots, and drugs, of
great virtue, which makes the Indians, by a right application of them, as
able doctors and surgeons as any in Europe.
   The names of the counties are as followeth: Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester,
New-Castle, Kent, and Sussex.
   And now for their lots and lands in city and countrey, since they were
first laid out, which was within the compass of about twelve years: that
which might have been bought for fifteen or eighteen shillings, is now sold
for fourscore pounds in ready silver; and some other lots, that might have
been then purchased for three pounds, within the space of two years, were
sold for a hundred pounds a piece, and likewise some land lies near the
city, that sixteen years ago might have been purchased for six or eight
pounds the hundred acres, cannot now be bought under one hundred and fifty,
or two hundred pounds.
   Now the true reason why this fruitful countrey and flourishing city
advance so considerably in the purchase of lands is their great and extended
traffique and commerce, both by sea and land, viz. to New-York, New-England,
Virginia, Mary-land, Carolina, Jamaica, Barbadoes, Nevis, Monserat, Antego,
St. Christophers, Barmudoes, New-foundland, Maderas, Saltetudeous, and Old
England; besides several other places.  Their merchandise chiefly consists
in horses, pipe-staves, pork and beef, salted and barrelled up, bread and
flour, all sorts of grain, peas, beans, skins, furs, tobacco, and pot-ashes,
wax, &c. which are bartered for rumm, sugar, molasses, silver, negroes,
salt, wine, linen, household-goods, &c.
   Great encouragements are given to tradesmen and others.  I shall instance
a few --- carpenters, both house and ship, brick-layers, and masons will get
between five and six shillings per day constantly.  As to journey-men
shooe-makers, they have two shilling per pair both for men and women's
shooes; and journeymen taylors have twelve shillings per week and their
diet.  And weavers, have ten or twelve pence the yard for weaving;
wool-combers, have for combing twelve pence per pound.  Potters have sixteen
pence for an earthen pot which may be bought in England for four pence.
Tanners, may buy their green hides for three half pence per pound, and sell
their leather for twelve pence per pound.  And curriers have three shillings
and four pence per hide for dressing; they buy their oyl at twenty pence per
gallon.  Brick-makers have twenty shillings per thousand for their bricks at
the kiln.  Felt-makers will have for their hats seven shillings a piece,
such as may be bought in England for two shilling a piece; yet they buy
their wool commonly for twelve or fifteen pence per pound. And as to the
glaziers they will have five pence a quarry for their glass.  The butchers,
for killing a beast, have five shilling and their diet; and they may buy a
good fat large cow for three pounds, or thereabouts.  The brewers sell such
beer as is equal in strength to that in London, half ale and half stout, for
fifteen shillings per barrel; and their beer hath a better name, that is, is
in more esteem than English beer in Barbadoes, and is sold for a higher
price there.  And for silver-smiths, they have between half a crown and
three shillings an ounce for working their silver, and for gold equivalent.
Plasterers have commonly eighteen pence per yard for plastering.
Last-makers have sixteen shillings per dozen for their lasts.  And
heel-makers have two shillings a dozen for their heels. Wheel and
mill-wrights, joyners, braziers, pewterers, dyers, fullers, comb-makers,
wyer-drawers, cage-makers, card-makers, painters, cutlers, rope-makers,
carvers, block-makers, turners, coopers, bakers, button-makers, hair and
wood sieve-makers, boddice-makers, black-smiths, gun-smiths, lock-smiths,
nailers, file-cutters, skinners, furriers, glovers, pattern-makers,
watch-makers, clock-makers, sadlers, collar-makers, barbers, printers,
book-binders and all other trades-men, their gains and wages are about the
same proportion as the fore-mentioned trades.
   Of lawyers and physicians I shall say nothing, because this countrey is
very peacable and healthy; labouring men have commonly here, between
fourteen and fifteen pounds a year, and their meat, drink, washing and
lodging; and by the day their wages is generally between eighteen pence and
half a crown, and diet also; but in harvest they have usually between three
and four shillings each day, and diet.  The maid servants' wages are
commonly betwixt six and ten pounds per annum, with very good accommodation.
   Corn and flesh, and what else serves man for drink, food and rayment, is
much cheaper here than in England, or elsewhere; but the chief reason why
wages of servants of all sorts is much higher here than there, arises from
the great fertility and produce of the place; besides, if these large
stipends were refused them, they would quickly set up for themselves, for
they can have provisions very cheap, and land for a very small matter.  They
have constantly good price for their corn, by reason of the great and quick
vent into Barbadoes and other islands; through which means silver is become
more plentiful here than in England, considering the number of people.  They
pay no tithes and their taxes are inconsiderable; the place is free for all
persuasions, in a sober and civil way; for the Church of England and the
Quakers are equal share in the government.  They live friendly and well
together; there is no persecution for religion, nor ever like to be.  I
shall add another reason why women's wages are so exorbitant; they are not
yet very numerous, which makes them stand upon high terms for their several
services; moreover, they are usually married before they are twenty years of
age, and when once in that noose, are for the most part a little uneasie,
and make their husbands so too, till they procure them a maid servant to
bear the burden of the work, as also in some measure to wait on them too.
   The city of Brotherly-love far exceeds her namesake of Lydia [Thirty
miles from Smyrna] and will in all probability, make a fine figure in the
world, and be a most celebrated emporeum.  Here is lately built a "noble
town-house* or guild-hall", also a handsome market-house and a convenient
prison.  {*As the town house was not built till 1707-9, it must prove either
that the book was published later than 1698, or else that the mention of the
town house was inserted at a later Edition.}
   The laws of this countrey, are the same with those in England; our
constitution being on the same foot; many disputes and differences are
determined and composed by arbitration; and all causes are decided with
great care and expedition, being concluded at furthest at the second court,
unless they happen to be very nice and difficult cases.  Under forty
shillings, any one justice of the peace has power to try the cause. Thieves,
of all sorts, are obliged to restore four-fold after they have been whipt
and imprisoned according to the nature of their crime; and if they be not of
ability to restore four-fold, they must be in servitude till it is
satisfied.  They have curious wharfs, as also large and fine timber yards
both at Philadelphia and New-castle, especially at the metropolis, before
Robert Turner's great and famous house, where are built ships of
considerable burthen; they cart their goods from that wharf into the city of
Philadelphia, under an arch, over which part of the street is built, which
is called Chestnut-street* wharf, besides other wharfs, as High-street
wharf, Mulberry-street wharf,  and Vine-street wharf, and all those are
common wharfs; and likewise there are very pleasant stairs, as Trus and
Carpenter-stairs, besides several others. {*Chestnut street "arch" is a
mistake, --- he meant Mulberry street, where Turner's house is still
standing.}  There are above thirty carts belonging to that city, four or
five horses to each.  There are above thirty carts belonging to that city,
four or five horses to each.  There is likewise a very convenient wharf
called Carpenter's wharf, which hath a fine necessary crain belonging to it,
with suitable granaries, and storehouses.  And there are other wharfs which
front the city  all along the river, as also a curious and commodious dock
with a drawbridge to it, for the convenient reception of vessels.  In this
famous city of Philadelphia there are several rope-makers, who have large
and curious rope-walks, especially one Joseph Wilcox, [Mayor in 1706] also
three or four spacious malt-houses, as many large brew-houses, and many
handsome bake-houses for publick use.
   In the said city are several good schools of learning for youth, in order
to the attainment of arts and sciences; as also reading, writing, &c.  Here
is to be had, on any day in the week, tarts, pies, cakes, &c.  We have also
several cook-shops, both roasting and boyling, as in the city of London;
happy blessings, for which we owe the highest gratitude to our plentiful
Provider, the great Creator of heaven and earth. The water-mills are made by
one Peter Deal, a famous and ingenious workman, especially for inventing
such like machines.
   All sorts of very good paper are made in the German-town; as also very
fine German linen, such as no person of quality need be ashamed to wear;
and, in several places, they make very good druggets, crapes, camblets, and
serges, besides other woolen cloathes, the manufacture of all which daily
improves; and in most parts of the countrey there are many curious and
spacious buildings, which several of the gentry have erected for their
countrey houses.
   The Christian children born here are generally well favoured, and
beautiful to behold; I never knew any with the least blemish.
   There are very fine and delightful gardens and orchards in most parts of
this countrey; but Edward Shippy* (who lives near the capital city) has an
orchard and gardens adjoyning to his great house that equalizes any I have
ever seen, having a very famous and pleasant summer-house erected in the
middle of his garden, abounding with tulips, pinks, carnations, roses, (of
several sorts) lilies, not to mention those that grow wild in the fields.
[* Edward Shippen -- Mayor in 1706.]
   Reader, what I have here written, is not a fiction, flam, whim, or any
sinister design, either to impose upon the ignorant, or credulous, or to
curry favour with the rich and mighty; but in mere pity and pure compassion
to the numbers of poor labouring men, women and children in England, that
are wandering up and down looking for employment, who need not here lie idle
a moment, much less vagabond or drone it about.  Here are no beggars to be
seen, nor indeed have any here the least temptation to take up that
scandalous lazy life.  Jealousie among men is here very rare, nor are old
maids to be met with; for all commonly marry before they are twenty years of
age.
   The way of worship the Swedes use in this countrey, is the Lutheran; the
English have four sorts of religious meetings here; the Church of England,
who built a very fine church in this city in the year 1695; the Anabaptists;
the Presbyterians; and two sorts of Quakers, (of all the most numerous by
much) one party held with George Keith; but whether both parties will joyn
together again in one I cannot tell.  He gave strict charge concerning plain
language and plain habit, and that they should not be concerned in the
compelling part of the worldly government; that they should set their
negroes at liberty after some reasonable time of service; and that they
should not take advantage of the law against one another, as to procure them
any corporal punishment.  These instructions were given forth, in the year
1693, by the meeting held by George Keith, at P. James's house in
Philadelphia.  He shortly after went to England, where he now, in this year
1697, keeps a meeting, at Turners-hall, London, on Sundays in the afternoon.
   What I have delivered concerning this province, is indisputably true; I
was an eye witness to it all, for I went in the first ship that was bound
from England for that countrey, since it received the name of Pensilvania.
I saw  the first cellar, when it was digging, for the use of our governour
William Penn.  And now, Reader, I shall take my leave of thee, recommending
thee, with mine own self, to the directions of the spirit of God in our
conscience.