Area history: Watson's Annals, The Penn Family, 1857: Vol 1 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. 1 Written 1830 -- 1850 Chapter 5 THE PENN FAMILY BUSINESS CONCERNS OF WILLIAM PENN --- These facts concerning William Penn were derived from the perusal of his letters, from 1684 to 1687, to his chief steward or agent, J. Harrison, at Pennsbury, to wit : In 1684, he says he "hopes the Lord will open the way this fall. I should be sorry to think of staying till next spring" In 1685, he says --- "I am sorry my 40 or £ 50 charge of the sloop is flung away upon oyster shells. I hope it will not continue to be so spoiled". He also says, "Captain East charges you all with letting the ship lay three or four months by the wall, to his and my detriment; and he protested, and made a profitable voyage of it truly. I have no prospect yet of returning, but as soon as I can I will; for I should rejoice to see you face to face again. I'm sorry you have drawn upon me here, when I am here upon their errand, and had rather have lost £ 1000 than have stirred from Pennsylvania. The reproaches I hear daily of the conduct of things bear hard upon my spirits. I wonder you had no wampum of mine, for I left about 20 or £ 25 worth that came from New York, as part of the goods I paid so dear for there. I hear my sloop has been ill-used by Captain Dore, and is now laid up in the Schuylkill. I have disposed of her to Richard Song, the bearer. If she be not fit, then hire him a sloop for his turn. I send rigging by him, which preserve if not wanted for him. He is to be loaded with pipe staves on my account, or any others that will freight to Barbadoes. Let him have one of the blacks of Allen, --- two of which are as good as bought, --- such a one as is most used to sea; and if George Emlen will go with him, hire him. He will return to thee, by way of Saltitudoes. If George Emlen be settled, [he was wanted as mate] pick out an honest, true man to go with Richard Song. I have sold the Gulielmina for £ 40 --- so great is my loss. I have lost £ 500 by that vessel. The trees I sent are choice and costly things, and if I live, and my poor children, I shall have want enough to transplant to other plantations. Receive £ 40 of the bearer for a lady in England that intends to go over soon with her family; and many considerable persons are like to follow. She has bought 5,500 acres, and her first 300 must be chosen on the river, next (above) to Arthur Cook's. She wants a house of brick, like Hannah Psalter's in Burlington, and she will give £ 40 sterling in money, and as much more in goods. Francis Collins or T. Matlack may build it. It must have four rooms below, about 36 by 18 feet large, --- the rooms 9 feet high, and of two stories height." In another letter, he calls her a relative, and says he sends money from Plymouth, by Francis Rawle, on the 24th of 2 mo., 1686. [Such facts may be deemed too minute for preservation, but who can foresee that even such facts may not be requisite to illustrate other needed points of information: --- the names of two respectable families now are given as first settlers at Burlington, --- and the ancestor of the Rawle family is given, and the date of his emigration. It is by such incidental facts that more important ones are sometimes explained.] He writes from London, 1686, saying, he sends for his family (to go to Pennsylvania) "twenty-five barrels of beef, some hundred pounds of butter and candles from Ireland, and £ 30 for my coming over", --- meaning as a preparative for such a visit. "In meantime, cheer the people; my heart is with you; expect a net by first ship, and some powder and shot. The king is now courteous to Friends before imprisoned, but pinching to the Church of England; and several Roman Catholics get into places. To you, I say, be wise, close and respectful to superiors." In another letter he says, "The Lord has given me great entrance with the king, though not so much as is said. Pray stop those scurvy quarrels that break out to the disgrace of the province. All good is said of the place and but little good of the people. These bickerings keep back hundreds, --- £ 10,000 out of my way, and £ 100,000 out of the country." In 1687, he says "I expect to see you this summer, though preferment I may have. I choose my lot among an unthankful people". PENN, THE FOUNDER --- Penn, the founder, was once, in the province, called LORD Penn, and it was ordered to be discontinued by an act of the Council at Philadephia. From its minutes we learn, that on the 9th of 11 mo. 1685, the Secretary reported to the Council, that in "the cronologie of the Almanack sett forth by Samuel Atkins of Philadelphia, and printed by William Bradford of the same place", there were these offensive words, to wit: "the beginning of government here by LORD Penn". The words "Lord Penn" were ordered to be struck out, and the Printer was charged not again to print any thing which had not the "lycence of the Council". This fact of course indicates an Almanack of two years' earlier date than the one of 1687, which I have preserved. CHARACTER of the PENN FAMILY --- The following are personal notices and facts concerning some of the members of that family, as they were found incidentally mentioned in the pages of Mrs. Logan's MS. selections, --- kindly lent to me for gleaning what I might deem pertinent to the present work, to wit: Isaac Norris, Sen'r, in 1701, thus writes respecting it, saying, "The Governor is our "pater patriae" and his worth is no new thing to us. We value him highly, and hope his life will be reserved till all things are settled here to his peace and comfort and the people's ease and quiet. His excellent wife, --- and she is beloved by all --- by all in its fullest extent, --- makes her leaving us heavy, and of real sorrow to her friends, --- being of an excellent spirit, it adds lustre to her character. She has carried under and through all with a wonderful evenness, humility, and freedom. Her sweetness and goodness has become her character and is indeed extraordinary: In short, we love her, and she deserves it. Their little son (John) is a lovely babe." [The "conduct " of Mrs. Penn refers "to the unhappy misunderstanding in some and unwarrantable opposition to others".] WILLIAM PENN'S SECOND ARRIVAL --- 1699 --- James Logan writes, in 1700, to William Penn, jun'r., and says, "The highest terms I could use would hardly give you an idea of the expectation and welcome that thy father received from the most honest party here. Friends' love to the Governor was great and sincere. They had long mourned his absence and passionately desired his return. Directly from the wharf the Governor went to his deputy, paid him a short formal visit, and from thence, with a crowd attending, to Meeting, it being about 3 o'clock on First-day afternoon, where he spoke to the people, and praying concluded it; from thence to Edward Shippen's, where we lodged for about a month". CAUSES of WILLIAM PENN'S RETURN HOME, in 1701 --- William Penn, in writing to James Logan, in July 1701, says, "I cannot prevail on my wife to stay, and still less with Tishe. I know not what to do. Samuel Carpenter seems to excuse her in it, but to all that speak of it, say, I shall have no need to stay (in England) and a great interest to return. All that I have to dispose of in this world is here for daughter and son, and all the issue which this wife is like to bring me; and having no more gains by government to trust to for bread, I must come (back) to sell, pay debts, and live and lay up for this posterity, as well as that they may see that my inclinations run strongly to a country and proprietary life, which then I shall be at liberty to follow, together with her promise (his wife's) to return whenever I am ready". A little time before the above letter he said, "No man living can defend us or bargain for us better than myself". He calls it also "the necessity of going". PENN'S DESIGN in FOUNDING HIS COLONY --- In 1704-5, Penn thus expresses his noble design to Judge Mompesson, a gentleman then resident here, saying, "I went thither to lay the foundation of a free colony for all mankind, more especially those of my own profession; not that I would lessen the civil liberties of others because of their persuasion, but screen and defend our own from any infringement on that account. The charter I granted was intended to shelter them against a violent or arbitrary government imposed upon us; but that they should turn against me, that intended their security, thereby has something very unworthy and provoking in it. But as a father does not use to knock his children on the head when they do amiss, so I had rather they were corrected without due rigour". CAUSES of PENN'S PECUNIARY EMBARRASSMENTS --- In the year 1705, he says, "I too mournfully remember how noble a law I had of exports and imports, when I was first in America, that had been worth by this time some thousands a year; which I suspended receiving for a year or two, and that not without a consideration engaged by several merchants. But Thomas Lloyd, very unhappily for me, my family, and himself, complimented some selfish spirits with the repeal thereof, without my final consent, which his commission required, and that has been the source of all my loads and inabilities to support myself under the troubles that have occurred to me on account of settling and maintaining the colony. I spent upon it £10,000 the first two years. My deputy governors cost me much, --- and vast sums have melted away here in London to hinder much mischief against us, if not to do us much good. I can say that Lord Baltimore's revenue is far transcending what I can hope for, although he never took him one hundredth of my concern." PENN'S MAL-TREATMENT FROM the FORDS --- Philip Ford of London, a merchant, holding the profession of a Friend, had been Penn's steward and general agent there, and proved deeply treacherous to him, by trumping up an enormous account. Penn, in a moment of want and of misplaced confidence, gave him, unknown to all his friends, a deed of sale in absolute form, for all his province of Pennsylvania, taking thereon from Ford a lease of three years. In process of time Ford received £ 17,000 and paid out £ 16,000 yet claimed a balance of Penn of £ 10,500 produced by a compound interest account and excessive commissions, &c. Ford died, and his son, stimulated by his mother Bridget, although a bed-ridden woman, and a professed Friend, would come to no compromise, but on the contrary, in the 11 mo. 1707-8, actually arrested William Penn, while at the Friends' Meeting ! Penn, to baffle their extortion, by the advice of all his friends, preferred to go to the Fleet prison, where he was sure to negotiate better terms for himself. The case came up before the Lords in Chancery and in Parliament, &c., but nothing was settled till Penn's friends resolved to help him out of his difficulties, by making terms with the Fords. They gave about £ 5000, Penn's friends in London raised by subscriptions £ 3000, in Bristol £ 2000 and in Ireland £ 2000 more, taking securities on his estate to repay themselves. While at the prison, Penn was much visited by Friends, with whom he held Meetings. Isaac Norris, who visited him there, says his lodgings were commodious and comfortable at the Old Baily, and himself well and cheery. The Fords, while he was there, had the presumption to petition Queen Anne to put them in possession of Pennsylvania ! --- Preposterous claim for a debt less than £ 2000 ! It was of course disregarded. Penn, while thus "in durance vile" for a few months, conducted his correspondence, &c., as usual. His mind was still free. --- "The oppressor holds the body bound, but knows not what a flight the spirit takes !" Isaac Norris writes of him, that "he seems of a spirit fit to bear and rub through difficulties, and his foundation (in truth) still remains.* He verifies the palm in the fable, --- `The more he is pressed the more he rises !' " *Isaac Norris says, the Fords offered to sell him the country for £ 8000 sterling ! Philip Ford the elder, was then dead; his widow Bridge Ford and his son Philip were his executors. James Logan regretted that his patron had so long kept him a stranger to his embarrassments with this ungrateful and extortionate family. PENN'S LETTERS --- Penn's letters to James Logan (especially from Pennsbury) are often singular, --- they are so intermixed with civil business and domestic affairs, or sometimes with a little religion. Potts, kettles, candles, or two or three lbs. of coffee-berries, if to be sold in the town ! or, proclamations of "nervous force", assemblies, sheriffs, and customs, --- all abruptly jumbled together ! In his manifold affairs James Logan became his necessary "fac-totum". One cannot but be surprised at the large proportion of civil affairs of all kinds which he has to notice. It seems so incompatible with his known diligence and much time consumed in his religious public engagements. He perhaps explains this matter incidentally in some expressions to James Logan, saying, as advice to him, that "Religion, while in its growth, fits and helps us above all other things, even in things of this world, clearing our heads, quickening our spirits, and giving us faith and courage to perform." Penn's letters are vigorous in thought and sententious in expression: --- so much so, that the frequent elliptical form of his sentences makes them quite equivocal to modern ears. Some of them by changing the punctuation could be made now to contradict themselves. He wrote rapidly, and with a ready command of words. His wife Hannah too, wrote very like him in business style. The correspondence, as preserved by Mrs. Logan, between James Logan and William Penn, is very well adapted to display the mind and characters of the writers. WILLIAM PENN'S ILLNESS and DEATH --- Governor Penn's illness began in the summer of 1712 at London. It began in the form of a "lethargic fit", and at six months afterwards he had a second fit at Bristol. Just before the latter, he began and left unfinished, his last letter to James Logan. It was sent as it was, and is now at Stenton, in almost illegible characters. After this he left Bristol, intending to go to London "to settle some affairs, and to get some laws passed for the province, but finding himself unable to bear the fatigue of the journey, he just reached Ruscombe,* when he was again seized with his two former indispositions," &c. After this, at times, fond hopes were entertained of his partial recovery; but they eventually proved but the delusions of fond hope. At intervals, "when a little easy, he had returning thoughts still alive in him of Pennsylvania," &c. In the next year (1713) he had "recovered a great degree of health and strength, but not his wonted strength in expression, nor was he able to engage in business as formerly," yet he could sometimes go out to Meeting at Reading, "which he bore very comfortably, and expressed his refreshment and satisfaction in being there"; indeed, "he frequently expressed his enjoyment in the Lord's goodness to him in his private retirements, and frequently expressed his loving concern for the good of his province", although not so well as to digest and answer particulars in letters relating to business in Pennsylvania. [*At this place he remained till he died. Why do none of our travelling Pennsylvanians visit and describe the remains of his mansion !"] In 1714, his wife further speaks of his having had two or three little returns of his paralytic disorder, but that "they left him in pretty good health, --- not worse in speech than for some months before", and when she "keeps the thoughts of business from him he was very sweet, comfortable, and easy, and cheerfully resigned, and takes delight in his children, his friends, and domestic comforts". His state then, says she, is a kind of translation ! The company of his wife became an essential part of his comforts; so much so, that "he is scarce ever easy with or without company, unless she was at his elbow", and if she then took occasion "to write about his affairs in his sight, it so renewed his cares therein, and made him so uneasy and unwell, that she was obliged to write by stealth", &c. Sometimes, "he desired to write on his former business, but his writing being as imperfect as his speech" made his wife interfere to prevent it. In 1715, he is spoken of as still going to Reading to Meetings, and as walking about his gardens and commons daily. He continued thus for the two succeeding years, "enjoying much serenity of mind [a thing so unusual when in his perplexities and full health !] and continued incomes of the love of God", --- a virtual "translation" to him ! On another occasion (in 1717) she says, "he has all along delighted in walking and taking the air, when the weather allows, and when unfit, diverts himself from room to room, which is one reason for retaining so large a house at an inconvenient expense." In the succeeding year, 1718, this great and good man yielded to his infirmities, and went to join that holy society of "just men made perfect", with which it was his delight while on earth to occupy his thoughts. At the annunciation of his death in Pennsylvania, it pleased the Governor, (Keith) incongruously enough "to set it forth according to a military performance !" But his wife more appropriately solemnizes it in a feeling letter to James Logan, saying, "the full satisfaction I have in that loss, is the great an unspeakable gain of him, who was dearer to me than life itself. The loss itself has brought upon me a vast load of care, toil of mind, and sorrow". So closed the eventful life of the christian and the sage ! --- "With equal goodness, sound integrity A firm, unshaken, uncorrupted soul Amid a sliding age, and burning strong, Not vainly blazing, for his country's weal ! " WILLIAM PENN'S PORTRAIT --- The original and true likeness of William Penn, or the best and only one existing as such among us, is a bust in the Loganian library, which was first taken by Sylvanus Bevan, acknowledged by the best judges to be a very capable and extraordinary hand in that line, to whom, in his young years, William Penn was a familiar acquaintance, friend and patron. A note of Robert Proud says, "The likeness is a real and true one, as I have been informed, not only by himself, (S. B.) but also by other old men in England, of the first character in the Society of Friends, who knew him in their youth.". In the Evening Post of 1778, it is asserted that Du Simitiere, the miniature and crayon painter, offers the only likeness extant of the great Founder, drawn by him from a bust in alto relievo, and engraved in London. Who has a copy? Since then, however, there has been sent out as a present to the Historical Society, by the Penn family in England, an original portrait in oil, done from life, and in armour, when Wm. Penn seems to have been a half grown lad. It is finely executed --- presents a beautiful face, with full flowing ringlets of hair, and makes us wonder at the contrast of characters in the same person, as seen in our common portraits of him in his wig and Quaker garb. Still they are sufficiently alike in features to show that his portraits, of both kind, have been faithfully done to nature. The sharp pointed nose is equally visible in both. Grenville Penn has lately written a life of his ancestor Admiral Penn, and in it he gives a likeness of our Wm. Penn, as above spoken of, said to have been done for him when he was 22 years of age, when he appeared in the world as a young cavalier; and when he was in fact "an officer under the Duke of Ormond, in Ireland, and most active in quelling the rebellion there". But very few, who have been accustomed to contemplate the character of Penn, have been aware that he was once a young "militaire" ! His abandonment of that profession, was what so deeply chagrined and frustrated the purposes of his belligerent father ! The statue of Penn in the Pennsylvania Hospital must be regarded as a very accurate representation. It was executed in whole or in part, by Bacon, the best statuary of his day. It was cast originally for Lord le Despensor, and laid aside by his successor Sir John Dashwood. It was afterwards purchased by John Penn, who about forty years since, made it a present to the Hospital in Philadelphia. MRS. HANNAH PENN --- This lady was not less extraordinary for her endowments of mind as a woman, that was her husband's among men. She was a true wife, in that she was "an help-mete" for, some time after his death, she conducted the correspondence with the colony in her own proper hand; and with such ability of style as to be so far the representative of her husband, that her letters might readily be read as his own. While she modestly speaks of herself as a "poor helpless woman having her hands overfull of family affairs and troubles", we find her "stepping up to London for the relief of the colony, and there conferring with men of competent judgements to enable her the better to make choice of a new Governor; for she would have gladly consented to the present Governor's continuance had his conduct been answerable to his trust". In short, her numerous letters in the Logan collection manifest a mind strangely competent to write with much good sense and fitness of style on every branch of the colonial government in which her husband's attention (if well) would have been required. Such a modest, unassuming, and diffident female, conducting such a national concern in the midst of her proper household avocations, with such complete but unpretending ability, is probably without a parallel. Let good wives read them, that they may instruct themselves and teach their daughters to emulate her usefulness in like cases of family bereavements or extremities. "From the force of bright example bold, Rival her worth, and be what they behold !" Let husbands too, from her example, learn that good wives can often profitably assist them in their common concerns if duly intrusted with the charge ! Mrs. Logan well remembers to have seen in her youth a portrait of Hannah Penn at the mansion of James Hamilton, at Bush-hill. Where is it now? WILLIAM PENN, JUN'R --- As this son was regarded in the colony as the probable heir of the founder, he being the only son by the first wife, it will afford additional interest to glean such notices of his character, as may serve to exhibit the habits of his mind and the causes which prevented his being looked to as a future acceptable Governor. I noticed the following intimations respecting him in the correspondence between the father and James Logan, &c. In 1701, William Penn intending to send him out to the colony thus describes him saying "He has witt, pretends much to honour, has kept the top company, is over-generous by half, and yet sharp enough to get to spend. Handle him with love and wisdom. He is conquered that way". He was named also as to bring with him two or three couple of hounds; some of them for the chase of wolves. In 1703, the father thus directs respecting him on his arrival saying "Immediately take him away to Pennsbury, and there give him the true state of things, and weigh down his levities as well as temper his resentments, and inform his understanding, since all depends upon it, as well for his future happiness as in measure, the poor country's. I propose the best and most sensible for his conversation. Watch him, out-witt him, and honestly overreach him, --- for his good". --- [Even as did St. Paul himself, "who, being artful, caught them with guile; if by any means he might win some".] On another occasion the father writes, saying his son goes out "to see how he likes the place, and if so, to return and fetch his family. He aims to improve his study this winter with thee, as well to know the laws and people. Use thy utmost influence upon him to make him happy in himself and me in him. Qualify his heats, inform his judgment, increase his knowledge, advise him to proper company, he being naturally too open. In short, keep him inoffensively employed at those times that he is not profitably concerned.* Entreat our friends to gain him all they can, and never speak or report any thing to his disparagement behind his back, but tell him of it, and he has that reasonableness and temper to take it kindly. Be as much as possible in his company for that reason, and suffer him not to be in any public house after the allowed hours". [* All this good conduct to proceed from James Logan, himself but a young and single man, shows the great confidence that was reposed in his exemplary morals and good sense.] The preceding may be deemed a remarkable premonition, considering how very soon after his arrival he fell into an affray, in such a snare ! The facts will presently be told; and as they will be found to drive him from Friends and to make the after members of Penn's family churchmen, it may well be said of him in the present case, --- "There are moments in the progress of time, which are the counters of whole ages !" James Logan in speaking of him to the father says, "I hope his voyage hither will prove to the satisfaction of all. It is a great stock of good nature that has led him out into his youthful sallies when too easily prevailed on; and the same, I hope, when seasoned with the influence of his prevailing better judgment, with what he is well stored, will happily conduct him into the channel of his duty to God, himself and thee". It would seem that young Penn himself had some intimation before coming to Philadelphia, that his habits were not well spoken of there; for, in his letter to James Logan of 28th Feb., 1703, he says, "Villanous reports I know have been industriously by some brought over (to you) against me. The Lord forgive them as I do. In the fall, if I am well, I will be with you. I give myself a great deal of satisfaction every day in considering of the pleasures of Pennsylvania and the benefit I shall reap in your conversations and in the books I design to bring over with me, &c. Perhaps you may think I write too gravely to be sincere, unless you know me well enough to believe that hypocrisie was never my talent". He also says, "I'm told the church party are very desirous of my coming over, as not doubting but to make me their property, but they will find themselves as much mistaken as others have been that have thought me a churchman, which, I thank God, I'm as far from as you can wish or desire". In the year 1704, while he was in Philadelphia he took such offence against Friends as to declare himself virtually absolved from all connexion with the Society. Although he was then a married man he appears to have been lavish of expense and fond of display and good living. For instance, J. Logan says he much exceeded his father's limit in expenses, kept his kennel of hounds, and because "the whole town did not afford a suitable accomodation for the Governor's son, as a boarder," James Logan took William Clarke's great house; (afterwards Pemberton's in Chestnut street) where James Logan, William Penn, jun'r., Judge Mompesson, Governor Evans, &c. kept house "en famille", --- none of them having wives there. It was even supposed that he had become too free with a Miss _____, in Buck's county; so much so, that James Logan writes, " `Tis a pity his wife came not with him, for her presence would have confined him within bounds he was not too regular in observing". With such dispositions he got into a fray one night at Enoch Story's Inn, in Coombe's alley, quarrelling with the watch there (respectable citizens then serving in their turns) about the militia, then newly organized in three counties as volunteers. The affair was presented by the Grand Jury, and came into court to the intended exposure of the young Governor !" In 1704, 7 mo., the Grand Jury present them for an assault on James Wood, constable, and James Dough, watch; the names presented were William Penn, jun'r. John Finny, sheriff; Thomas Gray, scrivener; and Joseph Ralph, quondam friend of Franklin. As the fracas progressed, other persons presented. --- Penn called for pistols to pistol them, but the lights being put out, one fell upon young Penn and gave him a severe beating. Cross actions were brought by several of the parties. Governor Evans, who was himself a gay fellow, so much favoured the escape of Enoch Story, the host, who joined Penn's party at the time, that he reversed the proceedings of the court against him. In the Logan MS. at Stenton, there is some correspondence between Evans, Penn, and Logan, concerning the affair. James Logan seems to have regarded this as incensing and derogatory in the Grand Jury, and therefore palliates him, saying, "The indignity to put upon the son of the founder is looked upon by most moderate men to be very base, [they besides gave him some hearty knocks!] and by himself and those concerned in the government is deeply resented; thy son therefore holds himself no longer obliged to keep up appearances, and throws off all of the Quaker, although he still professes a tender regard to his father's profession, but he has resolved to leave us and go home in the Jersey man of war from New York". Probably, however, the explanation offered by Isaac Norris, sen'r., at that time, is nearer the truth, to wit: "William Penn, jun'r., is quite gone off from Friends; he, being with some extravagants that beat the watch, was presented with them; which unmannerly, disrespectful act, as he takes it, gives him great disgust, and seems a waited for occasion; I wish things had been better, or he had never come". It is probable from the influence of this first-born son of the founder, that the subsequent race of the Penns have been led off from Friends; a circumstance, which one, although no Friend, may regret, because it entirely destroys their identities and even sympathies with their much honoured progenitor ! William Penn, speaking of that affair, says, "See how much more easily bad Friends' treatment of him stumbled him from the truth, than those he acknowledges to be good ones could prevail to keep him in possession of it, from the prevailing ground in himself to what is levity more than to what is retired, circumspect and virtuous; I justify not his folly, and still less their provocation". "Their provocation" probably alludes to such acts as these, among others, to wit: David Lloyd, the speaker, who, although a Friend, was inimical to the father, expressed himself thus offensively, saying, "This poor province is brought to poor condition by the revels and disorders which young Penn and his gang of loose fellows are found in here, to the great grief of Friends and others here". The better to enable him to return home and pay debts here, he sold out the manor, [since Norrington,] to Isaac Norris and William Trent for £ 800. When in England, he much added to his father's expenditures by free living; the father, thus expressing his regrets thereat, saying, his "son with his young wife of united sentiment in expensive living beyond their means, they are much expense and grief to him for many years and many ways". He writes also, "he intends going into the army or navy". Afterwards he is spoken of as putting up for Parliament, and losing it, as was suspected by bribery; wherefore his father "wishes he would turn his face to privacy and good husbandry". After this we hear nothing of this head-strong son, save his joining himself to the communion of the church of England, until after the death of his honoured father. He then, in opposition to his mother who was executrix, affected to assume the government of the province and to re-commission Governor Keith, the council, &c. in his own name,* saying, "I am, as his heir, become your proprietor and Governor, and I take this occasion to declare to you my intentions of strictly adhering to the interests of Pennsylvania. I intend to be of no party, but am resolved to shake hands with all honest men. Although I am of the church of England, and trust I shall die in her communion, I solemnly promise the Quakers that I will on all occasions give them marks of my friendship," &c. But, alas, poor man ! he had for some four or five years before this event given himself too much to intemperance; for, about the time his affectionate and anxious father had lost his ability to govern, (by his sickness), his son, who should have stood in his stead, proved himself an unworthy scion of the parent stock, and could not be intrusted. He wandered abroad and left his wife and children with the parent family at Ruscombe. He died in 1720, (two years after his father), at Calais, or Liege in France, of a deep constipation induced by his own indiscreet living, and deeply "regretting the wrongs he had done!" "The way of the transgressor is hard !" He left three children, viz. Springett, Gulielma Maria, and William. --- The latter when he grew up was offered 10,000 acres of land near the forks of the Delaware as a present from the Indians, who, in love of his grandfather, desired him to come over and live in the country. None of them, however, came to the country. One daughter Gulielma, married Charles Fell, Esq., as her second husband. Springett died young; and the Irish estate passed through the daughter of William, who married Gaskill in 1761, to the present Philadelphia family of that name. [ * As this appointment, so made, was without the consent of the crown, the question was made by Keith to the Lords Justices, which brought out an order from the Lords of trade of 21 July, 1719, availing themselves of the pretext of that informality to claim back the province under the half formed sale of surrender.] JOHN PENN --- This was the eldest son by the second marriage. He was quite an amiable man, and in the esteem of James Logan, his favourite of all the proprietor's children. He was besides born in Philadelphia, and was called therefore "the American"; --- he was born in 1699, and died in 1746, unmarried. He had been brought up in Bristol, England with a cousin, as a merchant in the linen trade, --- a situation in which "he gave his parents much satisfaction". He visited Pennsylvania in 1734; he was a churchman; but I have observed he wrote to James Logan, as late as 1719-20, in the style of a Friend; so also did Thomas Penn as late as 1726. The service of plate bestowed by John Penn to the church at Lewistown is still there. WILLIAM AUBREY and LAETITIA, his wife. --- He appears to have been a pressing man of business as a merchant, --- pretty roughly quarrelling both with William Penn and James Logan about his wife's portion, in an unreasonable manner. It appears that he would have come over to Pennsylvania, but that "his wife's regards for the country was at low ebb". They never had any children. I have seen a copy of the certificate, granted by the female part of the Friends' Meeting in Philadelphia to Laetitia Penn, dated the 27th of 7 mo. 1701, which reads in part thus, to wit: "These may certify that Laetitia Penn, &c., has for good order sake desired a certificate from us, and we can freely certify to all whom it may concern that she hath well behaved herself here, very soberly and according to the good instructions which she hath received in the way of truth, being well inclined, courteously carriaged, and sweetly tempered in her conversation amongst us, and also a diligent comer to Meetings, and hope hath plentifully received of the dew which hath fallen upon God's people to her settlement and establishment in the same". It also set forth that she was under no marriage engagements to the best of their knowledge and belief. The natural disposition of Laetitia was gay and sportive. As an instance of her girlish spirits, when she was with her father at Evans' place at Gwynned, seeing the men at threshing, she desired to try her hand in the use of the flail, which to her great surprise, brought such a racket about her head and shoulders, that she was obliged to run into the house in tears and expose her playful freak to her father. She lived a widow several years after the death of Mr. Aubrey, and had often occasion to correspond with James Logan, upon her landed concerns remaining in this country. THE PENN FAMILY of the ROYAL TUDOR RACE --- As a sequel to the foregoing genealogical table I here annex some facts, derived from Hugh David, an early emigrant, which go to show that William Penn said his house was descended of that royal race. The Rev. Hugh David came into this country with William Penn about the year 1700, and lived at Gwynned, a place settled principally by emigrants from Wales; he related an anecdote of the Penn family, perhaps known only to few, as follows: They, being both on board the same ship, often conversed together. William Penn, observing a goat gnawing a broom which was laying on the ship's deck, called out : Hugh, dost thou observe the goat? see, what handy fellows the Welsh are, how they can feed on a broom; however, Hugh, I am a Welshman myself, and will relate by how strange a circumstance our family lost their name: My grandfather* was named John Tudor, and lived upon the top of a hill or mountain in Wales; he was generally called John Penmunnith, which in English is "John on the top of the hill"; he removed from Wales into Ireland, where he acquired considerable property. Upon his return into his own country he was addressed by his old friends and neighbours, not in their former way, but by the name of Mr. Penn. He afterwards removed to London, where he continued to reside, under the name of John Penn; which has since been the family name. [*Robert Proud, in MS., says it was probably his great grandfather, for his grandfather's name appears to have been Giles Penn.] These relations of Hugh David, were told by him to a respectable Friend, who gave them in MS. to Robert Proud; and withal they are confirmed by the fact of Mr. David's declaring it again in some MS. lines of poetry prepared as a compliment to Thomas Penn on his arrival in 1732, and now preserved in my MS. Annals in the City Library, page 187, with some elucidatory remarks. HUGH DAVID'S VERSES ADDRESSED to THOMAS PENN For the love of him that now deceased be, I salute his loyal one of three, That ruleth here in glory so serene --- A branch of Tudor, alias Thomas Penn From Anglesie, an Isle in rich array, There did a prince the English sceptre sway; Out of that stem, I do believe no less, There sprung a branch to rule this wilderness. May Sion's King rule thy heart --- Amen! So I wish to all the race of Penn, That they may never of his favour miss Who is the door to everlasting bliss. In 1832, Jos. F. Fisher visited William Penn's grave, "at Jordans, near Beckersfield, Buckinghamshire". He says, "the little meeting house and grave yard of Jordans' lies about three miles from the London road, on a corner of a simple, yet pretty country seat of a Lady Young. It would appear to have been anciently the property of some Friend, who gave the ground and the meeting place as a secluded place in times of persecution. Here repose also the bodies of Isaac Pennington, and others famous for their writings and piety. No stone marks the spot, but the shape of the cemetery is an oblong, at the head of which, and on the middle of its breadth, is seen a little mound, square, but hardly exceeding in height the elevation of a common grave. This is the only distinction it possesses. Some lime trees have been planted on the premises, and one which has been placed at his grave is already marked with several initials of visitors. A book is kept in the meeting room, wherein strangers who visit the place write their names. The same book contains a slip of paper inscribed thus, viz : --- `The graves on the right immediately on entering the burial ground, contain the bodies of William Penn and both his wives; Isaac and Mary Pennington, Thos. Ellwood and his wife --- also, Geo. Bowles and his wife' ". These facts are confirmed by a letter to me from Js. T. Hopper, who visited it in 1831. A slanderous publication of 1703, written in Philadelphia, and published in London, (done by enemies of course), thus describes the noble Founder, saying --- "Although our present Governor, Wm. Penn, wants the sacred unction, he was not to want majesty, --- for the grandeur and magnificience of his "mien" is equivalenet to that of the great Mogul. The gate of his house [a palace] is always guarded with a "Janisary" [a peace officer] armed with a club of near ten feet long, crowned with a large silver head, embossed and chased as an hierogoyphic of the master's pride. There a certain day is appointed for audience; [for convenience and method of business], and as for the rest, you must keep your distance. His `corps du garde' generally consist of seven or eight of his chief magistrates, both ecclesiastical and civil [most probably his Council, &c.,] which always attend him, and sometimes there are more; --- when he perambulates the city [probably going to Court or to the Assembly], one bare headed, with a long white wan [wand] over his shoulder, in imitation of the Lord Marshal of England, marches gradually before him and his train, and sometimes proclamation is made to clear the way. For the support of this and such like rule, here are all sorts of tolls, taxes and imposts. Such as 8d. per tun on vessels, duties upon all liquors, &c. Penn is spoken of as driving out `in his leathern convenience' `To get into the grant of such indulgences, he used the utmost of his rhetorick to oppose any "churchman's" election, standing upon a high place, and making long speeches till many of our party were tired and gone home, and by often shaking his carnal weapon, commonly called a cane, at us, so that in fine, he got those of his own creatures chosen.' " Of the Pirates it says: --- "These Quakers have a neat way of getting money, by encouraging of pirates when they bring in a good store of gold, so that his government hath been a sure retreat for that sort of people: --- insomuch, that when several of Avery's men were here, the Quaking justices were for letting them live quietly, --- and so pirates for the most part have been set at liberty, and admitted to bail one after another; nay, on the very frontiers of the country, [Lewistown] and at the mouth of the river, [New Castle] a whole knot of them are settled securely." Chapter 6 PENN'S DESCENDANTS The following facts concerning several individuals of the Penn family, descended of the founder, are such as I occasionally met with in various readings, --- to wit: 1724 --- Mrs. Gulielma Maria Fell, granddaughter of the famous Quaker, SIR William Penn, was publicly baptised in the parish church of St. Paul Convent Garden, in October last. --- London Gazette. 1732 --- This year one of the proprietaries, Thomas Penn, made his visit to Pennsylvania, and was received with much pomp and state, --- probably in such manner as to give him some personal embarrassment. His former habits, for some years, had not been accustomed to ride aloft amidst the hosannas of the people; for both he and his brother, after the death of their father, and the difficulties of their mother, had been placed with a kinsman, a linen draper, in Bristol. I found the following description of his arrival and reception in 1732, in the "Caribbeana", a Barbadoes publication of Kriemer's. It purports to be a letter from a young lady to her father in Barbadoes. I have extracted as follows, viz: "He landed at Chester, when our Governor, having notice of it, went to meet him, and carried so many gentlemen with him, and so many joined them on the road, that they made a body of 800 horse. They paid him their compliments and staid till he was ready to set out." "The poor man who had never been treated but as a private man in England, and, far from expecting such a reception, was so surprised at it, that he was entirely at a loss how to behave; and I was told, when he took a glass of wine in his hand, he trembled so, he was scarcely able to hold it. At length he recovered himself and returned their compliments. He reached here at four o'clock in the afternoon. The windows and balconies [mark, the houses then had them,] were filled with ladies, and the streets with the mob, to see him pass. Before he arrived, a boy came running, and cried the proprietor was coming on horseback, and a sceptre was carried before him in the Governor's coach ! [It was a crutch of a lame man therein; and the person on horseback was probably a servant behind the coach !] When arrived, he was entertained at the Governor's house, where he stays ever since. The ships at the wharf kept firing, and the bells ringing, all the afternoon. At the night bonfires were lighted". "The Assembly and Corporation feasted him afterwards; the Chiefs of the five nations being present, rejoiced to see him, and, to renew treaties. The fire engines played all the afternoon and diverted the Chieftans greatly". From the minutes of the City Council of the 18th of August, 1732, it appears that the Mayor acquainted the board that the honourable Thomas Penn, Esqr., being lately arrived in this city, he thought it the duty of this board to give him a handsome welcome by providing a decent collation at the expense of the Corporation; to which the board unanimously agreed, and fixed the time for Monday next, at the Court House, &c. Mrs. Nancarro told me she well remembered hearing her father, Owen Jones, the colonial treasurer, describe the arrival of Thomas Penn, as Governor, in 1732. That it gave great joy to the people, to have once more a Penn among them. The people were of course very anxious to behold him; and although he had shown himself from the balcony of the old Court House, they urged him to another exhibition, at the vestibule of the "old Governor's house", so called, in South Second Street below the present Custom House. He, however, soon became unpopular, and when he retired from us, (on his return,) some of the grosser or more malignant part of the people actually raised a gallows over a narrow pass in the woods by which he had to pass. It was not, however, countenanced by any of the better part of society. The Rev. Hugh David, who was a respectable Welshman, that had come over with William Penn, in his second visit in 1700, came from his home at Gwynned in 1732, to make his visit of respect to Thomas Penn, then lately arrived; for that purpose he had prepared some verses to present him, complimentary to him as descended of William Penn, who was himself descended of the royal house of Tudor, --- "a branch of Tudor, alias Thomas Penn." The intended verses were, however, withheld, and have fallen since into my hands, occasioned by the cold and formal deportment of the Governor; for, as Hugh David informed Jonathon Jones, of Merion, in whose family I got the story and the poetry, he spoke to him but three sentences, which were, --- "How dost do?" --- "Farewell." --- "The other door." It would seem, however, he was sufficiently susceptible of softer and warmer emotions, he having, as it was said, brought with him to this country, as an occasional companion, a person of much show and display, called "Lady Jenks", who passed her time "remote from city", in the then wilds of Bucks County; but her beauty, accomplishments, and expert horsemanship, made her soon of notoriety enough, to make every woman, old and young, in the country, her chronicle; they said she rode with him at fox-huntings, and at the famous "Indian Walk", in men's clothes, (meaning, without doubt, their simple conceptions of the masculine appearance of her riding habit array) garbed, like a man in petticoat. Old Samuel Preston, Esq., to whom I am chiefly indebted for facts concerning her, (often, however, confirmed by others) tells me it was well understood there, that she was the mother of Thomas Jenks, Esq.,* a member of Friends, --- a very handsome, highly esteemed, and useful citizen, who lived to about the year 1797, and received his education and support through the means supplied by his father, Thomas Penn. Indeed, Thomas Penn was so much in "the style of an English gentleman", says my informant, that "he had two other natural sons by other women, which he also provided for, and they also raised respectable families". From the great age at which Thomas Jenks died, (said to have been near 100 years) I presume he was born in England, and from his bearing the name of his mother, she must have first arrived as the widow Jenks and son.** When E. Marshall, who performed the extraordinary Indian walk, became offended with his reward, "he d___d Penn and his half-wife" to their faces. *His son, Thomas Jenks, was a Senator at the time of the formation of the state Constitution, --- a very smart man. **There is some confusion and incoherency of dates. Jenks was born in 1700, and she may have joined herself to Wm. Penn, jr., when he arrived in 1703. There was certainly a Lady Jenks, whose name was Macpherson. She afterwards married Wiggend, of Bucks county, and left a son who has now many descendants in Bucks County. In 1734, October, John Penn, (called the "American", because only one of Penn's children born here) made his landing at New Castle, and came on to Philadelphia by land. At his crossing the Schuylkill, he was met and escorted into the city, and "the guns of Society Hill" and the ships fired salutes. It states, the escort consisted of a train of several coaches and chaises. The Governor and suite alighted at his brother Thomas' house, where an elegant entertainment was given. Their sister, Mrs. Margaret Freame, and husband, also arrived with him. This of course brought over all the then living children of Penn, save his son Richard, then youngest. In 1751, November, Thomas Penn, aforenamed, was announced as marrying Lady J. Fermer, daughter of the Earl of Pomfret. He died in 1775, and she lived to the year 1801. In Weems' Life of Penn, he is extremely severe on the cupidity and extortion of the Penn family. I am not able to say where he finds his pretexts. Complaints were made about the year 1755-6, by Tedeuscung, at the head of the Delaware Indians, that they had been cheated in their lands, bought on one and a half day's walk along the Neshamina and forks of Delaware, back 47 miles to the mountains; and I have seen the whole repelled in a long MS. report to Governor Dennie, by the committee of Council, in which all the history of all the Indian treaties are given, and wherein they declare that till that time (1757) the Penn proprietaries had more than fulfilled all their obligations by treaties, &c. --- paying for some purchases, to different and subsequent nations, over and over again. The paper contained much reasoning and arguments to justify the then Penns. If they indeed, "bought low, and sold high", who, without sin in this way, "may cast the first stone"! In the statute sense, the land was theirs before they bought it. It was their ancestor's by grant of the Conqueror. Yet I plead not for such assumptions, --- I relate the facts. Having had the perusal of several letters, written by Thomas Penn in England to his Secretary, Richard Peters, dated from 1754 to 1767, I was constrained to the impression that they were honourable to the proprietaries, as showing a frank and generous spirit, both in relation to sales and collections for lands. They were mild, too, in remarking upon unkindness to themselves from political parties and enemies. They, in short, (and in truth) breathed a spirit very free from selfishness or bitterness. In them, Thomas Penn showed great affection for church principles --- offering £ 50 per annum, out of his own funds, to continue Mr. Barton as a missionary at New Castle, &c. In 1755, he proposes to allow any disappointed lot holders upon Schuylkill a privilege to exchange them for Delaware lots near the Centre Square. In 1760, he is very solicitous to have John Watson of Buck's county, (whom Logan also commends,) to be induced to accept the office of Surveyor-General. He speaks of an intention to write to Hannah Watson, whom he knew when a little boy. It is sufficiently known, however, that Thomas and Richard Penn rendered themselves quite unpopular, by instructing their Governors not to assent to any laws taxing their estates in common with the people. This induced Franklin's son William, (it is said) to write [to] the Historical Review of Pennsylvania, as published in 1759, he estimating their estates then as worth ten millions sterling. One of Thomas Penn's letters, of 1767, speaks of the government manifesting an inclination to buy him out as proprietary, saying, "It is the ill-natured project of Benjamin Franklin", then in London as agent for the colony. "They would agree (says he) to give us, by the hints of the minister, ten times the money they offered our father. I have declined, and intimated we are not to be forced to it as Mr. Franklin would wish it". 1763, November, John Penn and Richard Penn, brothers, and sons of Richard, before named, are announced as arrived in the province --- the former, being the eldest, is called the Lieutenant Governor. His commission as Lieutenant Governor is read from the balcony of the old Court House as usual. Their father, Richard, was then alive in England, having lived till 1771. Owen Jones, Esqr., told me he remembered to have seen Richard Penn land at Judge Allen's house, in Water Street below High Street, corner of Beck's Alley, and thence go in procession to the old Court House, and standing out on the balcony there, made an address to the people in the street. The present aged Mrs. Speakman, tells me that when John Penn landed at High Street, there was a strong earthquake as he stept ashore; when he went home, a dreadful thunder storm arose; and when he next returned as proprietary, a fierce hurricane occurred ! In 1767, died in London, Sprigett Penn, grandson of William Penn by his first wife, --- being, as the Gazette stated, the last male issue by that lady. My friend J. P. N., describes those gentlemen thus, viz: John Penn, son of Richard, owner of one-fourth of the province, was twice or thrice Governor; he married a daughter of Judge Allen, of Philadelphia, --- was in person of the middle size, reserved in his manners, and very near-sighted. He was not popular, --- died in Bucks County in 1795, aged 67 years. He was buried in Christ Church ground, and afterwards was taken up and carried to England; thus adding to the strange aversions which the members of the Penn family generally showed to remaining among us, either living or dead. He built here the place called Landsdown House. Richard Penn, his brother, was Governor a little prior to the Revolution, --- a fine portly looking man --- a bon vivant, very popular, --- married our Miss Polly Masters, --- died in England in 1811, at the age of 77 years, and left several children. His wife died August, 1829, aged 73 years. John Penn, the eldest son of Thomas, and who had one-half of the province, was in Philadelphia after the Revolution. He had a particular nervous affection about him. He built the place called Solitude, over Schuylkill. He has written to me on Philadelphia subjects occasionally. He has in his possession a great collection of his grandfather's (William Penn) papers. These will some day be brought to light to elucidate family and civil history. He was till his death the wealthy proprietor and resident of Stoke Pogis park in the country, and of the mansion house at Spring Garden, London. When J. R. Coates, Esq., was lately in England, in 1826, as he informed me, he there saw that all the cabinet of original papers of the founder were in fine preservation, all regularly filed and endorsed. Some branches of the family had applied, it is understood, to John Penn, to have their use, to form some history from them; but the proprietor declined to give them, alleging he proposed some day to use them for a similar purpose himself. It is gratifying thus to know that there are still existing such MS. materials for our early history. His letter to me of 1825 says, he would very freely communicate to me any thing among them in my way, as he may come across them. In June 1834, John Penn, L.L.D., died at Stoke Park in Bucks, England, "formerly Proprietor and Hereditary Governor of the Provinces of Pennsylvania". This gentleman had intended to make a hall in his mansion to be called "the Pennsylvania Hall", and wherein he had intended to hang up original pictures and paintings of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania subjects. As many as two dozen of such pictures of parlour size, had been executed for that object before he died, and are now UNUSED in my possession. "He was the eldest surviving son of the Hon. Thomas Penn, Esq., by Lady Juliana, fourth daughter of the Earl of Pomfret. In consequence of his maternal descent, he was received as a Nobleman at the University of Cambridge". During the American war, the family of Penn endeavoured to act as mediators between Great Britain and her colonies; and, being settled in England, they in 1790 received a grant from Parliament of an ANNUITY of £ 4000, in part compensation of their losses. In 1789 Mr. Penn pulled down the old mansion at Stoke Park, which the father had purchased in 1760, and erected a new house. A view of it is given in Neales' Seats. In 1796 Mr. Penn published a Tragedy entitled "the Battle of Edington, or British Liberty". In 1798 he published his Critical, Poetical, and Dramatic works in 2 vols. 8vo. In 1802, he printed 2 vols. of Original works, imitations and translations, --- and also two volumes of Poems, mostly of reprints. The same year he was made member of Parliament for Helton. Grenville Penn, Esq., F. S. A., --- brother to John, has distinguished himself by several able and critical works, and a life of his great grandfather, Sir William Penn, the distinguished Admiral, and of Richard Penn Esq., formerly M.P. for Lancaster, and not less remarkable for his classical attainments and wonderful powers of memory. Their sister Sophia Margaret Juliana was the wife of the late Hon. and most Rev. William Stuart, Archbishop of Armaugh. The present proprietor of Stoke Pogis park, now in his 82nd year is a fine Christian poet, as may be judged by his address to Lord Byron, in some 16 or 18 stanzas, one of which thus apostrophizes that fine but unbelieving poet, saying, viz: But Harold "will not look beyond the tomb," And thinks "he may not hope for rest before:" Fie ! Harold, fie ! unconscious of thy doom, The nature of thy soul thou know'st not more; Nor know'st --- thy lofty mind which loves to soar, Thy glowing spirit, and thy thoughts sublime, Are foreign on this flat and naked shore; And languish for their own celestial clime, Far in the bounds of space, beyond the bounds of Time. Thomas Penn Gaskill, of Philadelphia County, who married in Montgomery County, in 1825, became in 1824 the rich proprietor of the Penn Irish estate. On his visit to that country, to see it and to possess it, he was received with all the pomp and circumstances of Lordship, which a numerous tribe of tenants and mansion house menials could confer. Chapter 7. THE LANDING OF PENN AT CHESTER There are several facts of interest connected with the ancient town of Chester; none more so, than the landing there of William Penn, and the hospitable reception himself and friends received at the "Essex House", then the residence of Robert Wade. His house, at which the scene of the landing is laid, stood about two hundred yards from Chester Creek, near the margin of the Delaware, and on a plain of about fifteen feet above tide water. Near the house by the river side, stood several lofty white pines, three of which remain at the present day, and thence ranging down the Delaware stood a large row of lofty walnut trees, of which a few still survive. Essex House had its south east gable end fronting to the river Delaware, and its south west front upon Essex Street; its back piazza ranged in a line with Chester Creek, which separated the house and farm from the town of Chester; all vestiges of the house are now gone, but the facts of its location and position have been told to me by some aged persons who had once seen it. The iron vane once upon it was preserved several years, with the design of replacing it upon a renewed building once intended there. Robert Wade owned all the land on the side of the creek opposite to Chester, extending back some distance up that Creek. The Chester side was originally owned wholly by James Sanderland, a wealthy Swedish proprietor, and extending back into the country a considerable distance. He appears to have been an eminent Episcopalian, and probably the chief founder of the old Episcopal church there of St. Paul, as I find his memory peculiarly distinguished in that church by a large and conspicuous mural monument of remarkably fine sculpture for that early day; the figures in fine relief upon it is a real curiosity, it represents him as dying in the year 1692, in the 56th year of his age. None of the family name remain there. On the same premises is a head stone of some peculiarity, "in memory of Francis Brooks, who died August 19, 1704," and inscribed thus: "In barbarian bondage and cruel tyranny Fourteen years together I served in slavery After this, mercy brought me to my country fair; At last, I drowned was in the river Delaware." In the same ground stands a marble, commemorative of the first A.M. of Pennsylvania, to wit: "Here lieth Paul Jackson, A.M. He was the first who received a degree in the College of Philadelphia, --- a man of virtue, worth and knowledge. --- Died, 1767, aged 38 years." I might add, respecting him, that he was the ancestor of the present Dr. Samuel Jackson of Philadelphia, had been a surgeon in the Braddock expedition, was a brother -in - law of the Honourable Charles Thomson, and one of the best classical scholars of his time. The brick house is still standing, now a cooper's shop, owned by John Hart, in which, it is said, was held the first Assembly of Pennsylvania. It is a one and a half story structure of middle size, close by the side of the creek. The oaken chair, in which William Penn sat as chief in that Assembly, is said to be now in the possession of the aged and respectable widow of Colonel Frazer, --- a chair to be prized by us with some of that veneration bestowed on the celebrated chair in Westminster Abbey, brought from Scone to help in the investiture of royal power. At the mill-seat up the Creek, now belonging to Richard Flowers, was originally located, near thereto, the first mill in the county; the same noticed in Proud's history as erected by Richard Townsend, who brought out the chief of the materials from England. The original mill is all gone; but the log platform under water still remains at the place where the original road to Philadelphia once passed. The iron vane of that mill, curiously wrought into letters and dates, is still on the premises, and is marked thus: W. P. S. C. C. P. 1699 The initials express the original partners, to wit: William Penn, Samuel Carpenter, and Caleb Pusey. Close by the race stands the original dwelling house, in which it is understood that Richard Townsend once dwelt, and where he was often visited by the other partners; it is a very lowly stone building of the rudest finish inside, and of only one story in height. Such was their primitive rough fare and rude simplicity; yet small as was this establishment at the head of the tide water, it was of much importance to the inhabitants of that day. Not far from this, at Ridly Creek mills, is a curious relic -- an engraving upon a rock of "L.S. 1682", which marks the spot against which John Sharpless, the original settler there, erected his temporary hut, immediately after his arrival in that year. The Yates house, now Logan's, built about the year 1700, was made remarkable in the year 1740-1, ( the season of the "cold winter"), for having been visited in the night by a large black bear, which came into the yard and quarrelled with the dog. It was killed the next day near the town. There is in the Logan collection at Stenton a small folio volume of manuscript court proceedings at Upland, chiefly respecting lands along the Delaware, at Shackamaxon, &c., while under the Duke of York's patent, and subject to the New York Governors, from 1676 to 1681. The original expectations of Chester were once much greater than since; they once thought it might grow into a shipping port. In an original petition of the inhabitants of Chester of the year 1700, they pray, that "Whereas, Chester is daily improving, and in time may be a good place, that the Queen's road may be laid out as direct as possible from Darby to the bridge on Chester Creek." This paper was signed by ninety inhabitants, all writing good hands. Vide the original in my MS. Annals in the City Library. Besides this, Jasper Yates, who married Sanderland's daughter, erected, about the year 1700 the present great granary there, having the upper chambers for grain and the basement story for an extensive biscuit bakery. For some time it had an extensive business, by having much of the grain from the fruitful fields of Lancaster and Chester Counties; but the business has been long since discontinued. When the first colonists, (arrived by the Factor) were frozen up at Chester, in December 1684, and these being followed by several ships in the spring of 1682, before the city of Philadelphia was chosen and located, they may have well excited an original expectation and wish of locating there the city of brotherly love. It was all in unison with the generous hospitality afforded at Wade's house and among all the families of Friends previously settled there from Jersey; but Chester Creek could not compete with Schuylkill River, and Chester was rivalled by Phladelphia; "so that it seemed appointed, by its two rivers and other conveniences, for a town". At this late day it is grateful to look back with "recollected tenderness", on the state of society once possessing Chester. My friend, Mrs. Logan, who once lived there, thus expressed it to me, saying, she had pleasure in her older years of contemplating its society as pictured to her by her honoured mother, a native of the place. Most of the inhabitants, being descendants of the English spoke with the broad dialect of the North. They were a simple hearted, affectionate people, always appearing such in the visits she made with her mother to the place. Little distinction of rank was known, but all were honest and kind, and all entitled to and received the friendly attentions and kindness of their neighbours in cases of sickness or distress. Scandal and detraction, usual village pests, were to them unknown. Their principles and feelings were too good and simple, and the state of the whole was at least "a silver age". Chapter 8. THE LANDING OF PENN at the BLUE ANCHOR TAVERN "Here memory's spell wakes up the throng Of past affection --- here our fathers trod ! " The general voice of mankind has ever favoured the consecration of places hallowed by the presence of personages originating great epochs in history or by events giving renown to nations. The landing place of Columbus in our western world is consecrated and honoured in Havana; and the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth is commemorated by festivals. We should not be less disposed to emblazon with its just renown the place where Penn, our honoured founder, first set his foot on the soil of our beloved city. The site and all its environs were abundantly picturesque, and facts enough of the primitive scene have descended to us, "E'en to replace again The features as they knew them then". Facts still live, to revive numerous local impressions, and to connect the heart and the imagination with the past, --- to lead out the mind in vivid conceptions of "How the place look'd when `twas fresh and young". Penn and his immediate friends came up in an open boat or barge from Chester; and because of the then peculiar fitness, as "a landing place", of the "low and sandy beach", at the "debouche" of the once beautiful and rural Dock Creek, they there came to the shore by the side of Guest's new house, then in a state of building, the same known in the primitive annals as "the Blue Anchor Tavern". The whole scene was active, animating and cheering. On the shore were gathered, to cheer his arrival, most of the few inhabitants who had preceded him. The busy builders who had been occupied at the construction of Guest's house, and at the connecting line of "Budd's Long Row", all forsook their labours to join in the general greetings. The Indians, too, aware by previous signals of his approach, were seen in the throng, or some, more reservedly apart, waited the salutation of the guest, while others, hastening to the scene, could be seen paddling their canoes down the smooth waters of the creek. Where the houses were erecting, on the line of Front Street, was the low sandy beach; directly south of it, on the opposite side of the creek, was the grassy and wet soil, fruitful in whortleberries; beyond it was the "Society Hill", having its summit on Pine Street, and rising in graceful grandeur from the precincts of Spruce Street --- all then robed in the vesture with which nature most charms. Turning our eyes and looking northward, we see similar rising ground, presenting its summit above Walnut Street. Looking across the Dock Creek westward, we see all the margin of the creek adorned with every grace of shrubbery and foliage, and beyond it, a gently sloping descent from the line of Second Street, whereon were hutted a few of the native's wigwams, intermixed among the shadowy trees. A bower near there, and a line of deeper verdure on the ground, marked "the spring", where "the Naiad weeps her emptying urn". Up the stream, meandering through "prolixity of shade", where "willow dipt their pendent boughs, stooping as if to drink", we perceive, where it traverses Second street, the lowly shelter of Drinker, the anterior lord of Dock Creek; and beyond him, the creek disappears in intervening trees, or in mysterious windings. That scenes like these are not fanciful reveries, indulged without their sufficient warrant, we shall now endeavor to show from sober facts, deduced from various items of information, to wit: Mr. Samuel Richards, a Friend, who died in 1827, at about the age of 59, being himself born and residing all his days next door to the Blue Anchor Tavern, was very competent to judge of the verity of the tradition concerning the landing. He fully confided in it; he had often heard of it from the aged, and never heard it opposed by any. His father before him, who had dwelt on the same premises, assured him it was so, and that he had heard it direct through the preceding occupants of the Inn. All the earliest keepers of the Inn were Friends; such was Guest, who was also in the first Assembly; he was succeeded by Reese Price, Peter Howard, and Benjamin Humphries, severally Friends. All these in succession kept alive the tradition that "when Penn first came to the city he came in a boat from Chester, and landed near their door". It was then, no doubt, the readiest means of transportation, and would have been a highly probable measure, even if we had never heard of the above facts to confirm it. The aged Mrs. Preston, who was present on that occasion, used to say, she admired the affability and condescension of the Governor, especially his manner of entering into the spirit and feeling of the Indians; He walked with them, sat down on the ground with them, ate with them of their roasted acorns and hominy. When they got up to exercise and express their joy by hopping and jumping, he finally sprang up, and beat them all. I will not pretend to vouch for this story; we give it as we received it from honest informants, who certainly believed it themselves. It was a measure harmless in the abstract; and as a courtesy to the Indians may have been a fine stroke of policy in winning their regard. He was young enough to have been gay; being then only 38 years of age. And one of the old Journalists has left on record, that he was naturally prone to cheerfulness for a grave public Friend, especially in the eye of those of them who held "religion harsh, intolerant, austere". Penn was so pleased with the site of "the low sandy beach", as a landing place, (the rest of the river side being high precipitous banks), that he made it a public landing place for ever in his original city charter; and the little haven at the creek's mouth so pleased him, as a fit place for a harbour for vessels in the winter, and a security from the driving ice, that he also appropriated so much of it as lay eastward of the Little Dock Creek to be a great dock for ever, to be deepened by digging when needful. The waters there were much deeper at first than in after years, as the place got filled up by the negligence of the citizens. Charles Thomson, Esq., told me of his often seeing such vessels as sloops and schooners lading their flour for the West Indies on the sides of the Dock Creek near to Second Street; and a very aged informant (Mrs. Powell) had seen a schooner once as high as Girard's bank. Charles Thomson also told me of one family of the first settlers whose vessel wintered at the mouth of the creek. This original tavern, from its location, was, at first, of first - rate consequence as a place of business. It was the proper key of the city, to which all new - comers resorted, and where all small vessels, coming with building timber from Jersey, &c., or with traffic from New England, made their ready landing. The house was also used as a public ferry, whence people were to cross over Dock Creek to Society Hill, before the causeway and bridge over Front Street were formed, and also to convey persons over to Windmill Island, where there was a windmill for grinding their grain, or to cross persons and horses over to Jersey. It was, in short, the busy mart for a few years of almost all the business the little town required. The landing house, called the Blue Anchor, was the southernmost of ten houses of like dimensions, began about the same time, and called "Budd's Long Row". They had to the eye the appearance of brick houses, although they were actually framed with wood, and filled in with small bricks, bearing the appearance of having been imported. J. P. Norris, Esq., has told me that he always understood from his ancestors and others that parts of the buildings, of most labour and most convenient transportations, were brought out in the first vessels, so as to insure greater despatch in finishing a few houses at least for indispensable purposes. Proud's history informs us, that the house of Guest was the most finished house in the city when Penn arrived; and all tradition has designated the Blue Anchor as the first house built in Philadelphia; from this cause, when it was "pulled down to build greater", I preserved some of its timber as appropriate relic-wood. This little house, although sufficiently large in its day, was but about twelve feet front on Front Street, and about twenty-two feet on Dock street, having a ceiling of about eight and a half feet in height. "The spring", in a line due west from this house, on the opposite bank of the creek, was long after a great resort for taking in water for vessels going to sea, and had been seen in actual use by some aged persons still alive in my time, who described it as a place of great rural beauty, shaded with shrubbery and surrounded with rude sylvan seats. Little Dock Creek, diverging to the southwest had an open passage for canoes and batteaux as high as St. Peter's church, through a region long lying in commons, natural shrubbery, and occasional forest trees, left so standing, long after the city, northward of Dock Creek was in a state of improvement. The cottage of the Drinker family, seen up the main or northwestern Dock Creek, located near the south west corner of Walnut and Second Streets, was the real primitive house of Philadelphia. The father of the celebrated aged Edward Drinker had settled there some years before Penn's colonists came, and Edward himself was born there two years before that time; he lived till after the war of Independence, and used to delight himself often in referring to localities where Swedes and Indians occasionally hutted, and also where Penn and his friends remained at their first landing. It fully accords with my theories, from observations on the case, that the creek water once overflowed the whole of Spruce Street, from Second Street to the river, and that its outlet extended n a southeastwardly direction along the base of Society Hill, till its southernmost extremity joined the Delaware nearly as far south as Union street. I think these ideas are supported by the fact, which I have ascertained, that all the houses on the southern side of Spruce Street, have occasionally water in their cellars, and also those on the east side of Front Street some distance below Spruce Street. Mr. Samuel Richards told me it was the tradition of his father and other aged persons about the Blue Anchor Tavern, that the creek water inclined originally much farther southward than Spruce Street. There were doubtless much width of watery surface once there, as it gave the idea to Penn of making it a great winter dock for vessels. We know, indeed, that Captain Loxley, many years ago, was allowed to use the public square, now on the site of the intended dock, in consideration of his filling up the whortlebrry swamp, before there. Next : THE TREATY TREE, AND FAIRMAN'S MANSION.