Philadelphia County PA Archives Biographies.....William PENN, October 14, 1644 - July 30, 1718 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Thomas Smith Tomroysmith@aol.com The Ghost of William Penn: Touting Chester and “First Voyages” to Pennsylvania Thomas R. Smith, a.k.a., William Penn Ghost William Penn speaking: Today I tout the story of early Pennsylvania ‘First Voyages.’ – Twin whilst I cast laurels upon the ‘voyages’ and the city of Chester. I bespeak of two ship voyages in particular which were contracted for sail under the Penn Proprietary, which control started with me in 1681. My widening of the story of ‘first voyages’ burnishes the laurels of historic Chester. In 1681 -1682 it was my thinking Chester could be sharpened into the seat of government for infant Pennsylvania. Initially, in trial stage, Chester served just that role. And after losing to Philadelphia, Chester nearly regained former chief status in 1698. Why did seat power not bond permanent for Chester? Please to take in a few facts: My seat needed virginal space to grow and Chester was fixed and –to tell the truth – certain of its citizens resisted needed changes. Mostly, truthfully, it was not the resistance but my internal heartfelt feel of inspiration, which guided me to create spanking new - Philadelphia. Hear Ye: Before making my famous landfall at Chester (originally Opland) I made my America landfall at New Castle. Next day October 28, 1682 I re-sailed up river to Pennsylvania proper. The fact of relevance, here, I first landed at New Castle. Once over Hear Ye: Front to my own 1682 coming and arrival, in year 1681, I had received my grant for Proprietary Pennsylvania. All Quaker get-go after receiving my grant I dispatched my Deputy Governor, William Markham (1635-1704), who deliberately landed first at New York;, This, before making his Pennsylvania arrival at Opland (Chester). Markham upon setting and padding on Pennsylvania - sprang all charge mode commander. The above fact of relevance is that Deputy Governor Markham first landed at New York. I’ll explain the - why-relevance - to the two-landfalls, New Castle and New York. First s a few frontward words your Governor wishes you to know. I picked William Markham for two reasons. First he was a blood trustworthy cousin; second, he bore a pep step military barring. Blood tie aside, historians to my notice - have never mentioned it as odd that a Pacifist Quaker, W. P. Me, appointed a retired military man as my first Governor. My on-the-face of it - Odd Choice – begs a question, which I am willing to give for popular insight. Simply, while it is true I thought it helpful to send a person who was skilled at leadership, who would launch his arrival with a mien of authority, I was cognizant that a watching King, Parliament, and the not be forgotten - mighty Admiralty Board - would be impressed by the audacious appointment. Audacious only in the sense it was made by a man, W.P, Me, of pronounced anti-war sentiments. Understand foremost, I did it to allay the home front Power crowd. If memory serves, in full number, coastal colonial America claimed four Proprietorship Colonies, colonies privately owned. Odd Colonies you could style them, because they were not Royal Colonies. Err, whatever the number, only my Penn family Proprietary was not dissolved, not added to the stretch of royal controlled ones. Hear Ye! Nothing short of All-Mighty Authority kept Pennsylvania from being dissolved and commingled. Edging back to today’s theme: Let it said my parents did not raise a dummy. No Thou sir. Briefly, I knew how to tweak both the Royal and Government Establishment. It helped that being a Quaker I was presumed to be dull. The Good Lord frequents assists the humble. Terra firma I tried to be mission in Truth while trying to be being humble, too. Of course, I am unsure what the Lord thought of my sometime terra firma slyness. That said, I can assert that Pennsylvania, in my time, and long after, thrived Lord Favored. More focused: I opened by noting it was deliberate actions that sent Deputy Governor William Markham to New York, in 1681, and me to New Castle, in 1682. Now to tell the inherent why so, the reason behind each first port of landfall, namely, Markham to New York, and W.P. Me, to New Castle. Briefly, Old Amsterdam – turned New York - retained seat of force rule, as formerly in Dutch rule time. From Cape Henlopen up-coast-ward, coastal control was English. New York was the seat of authority. Err, that is not exactly true, the English by surrender concord, by mid century, held governance power over nearly all the coast excepting Spanish Florida. … Err, control was punctuated by indirect control, in terms of the pesky Proprietorships, which were in the making; before the breaking. Yes, it is yes knotty. When the King made me Proprietary Governor of newly minted Pennsylvania, the first two voyages I contracted were hired bound to go to (Opland turn) Chester. But protocol… I emphasize, protocol made first stops elsewhere a matter of fullest import. Mindfully I sent my advance man to New York. Liken my directive action to a new diplomat presenting his Papers to the local government control authority, for inspection and acceptance. That is why Deputy Governor William Markham made first port of American call at New York. Mind: New York Authority for their part made it clear they were WATCHING; while wishing well. Half of today’s two sided theme story has been told. Now I am due to tell about New Castle, my landfall there, before Pennsylvania. Hear Ye: In 1682, my time had come, in sandwich power terms. In the previous year I had my advance man stop off at New York. …That done, I could make my arrival. Understand, the “Lower Delaware” (River) turf hugging newly created, formally named, “Pennsylvania,” was under (My) Penn control. Follows more facts, easy stuff to grasp: Older river settled “Lower Delaware,” was first settled by Swedes and then by Dutch. Hence it was more so populated. With Gentleness and Firmness I made my presence. My coming became all the talk (including future Delaware, under my control). How? Deputy Governor William Markham had spread “Letters” written by me. One was worded for the Swedes, the few Dutch, and fewer still – few English, who had crossed over from West Jersey in 1676. The second was written for the body - who numbered the largest, the-in-place, pre-Columbian, Native Peoples. My letter to them was fulsome with a Brotherly Love. My European settler letter was cordial. Evan so, the fathers of New Castle, immediately on my arrival there, excused themselves. Short debate touched on whether my authority should be accepted; of course, they did not openly admit of their hesitant reluctance. More so, there was the matter of “the fort.” Someone recalled an old, Old World custom. The custom, was adopted along with their sub-rosa decision to formally accord my authority. A person was chosen to welcome me, which was done. Simultaneously a variation of the “Sod and Twig” ritual was conducted. For many generations it had been custom for a new ‘lord of the manor’ to be welcomed by a spokesperson, from among the bottom populace, to him whom allegiance was owed. This old ceremony was done in New Castle on October 27, 1682. The N.C. spokesperson according to custom handed to Penn (Me) a small pottery cup with a bit of sod with a twig in it, signifying my rule over the land and forests. For a Quaker this was heady stuff. I obliged for the sake of not quarreling. (After, when I told my wife I had complied so as not to offend - She Tisked! As oft-wont to do she pretended to prick my fat head.) I did not miss a beat, but I curled a smile over two differences the citizens of New Castle proffered. In addition to the cup of sod and twig, I was handed a pitcher of Delaware River water, signifying my control over near portions of that river. In addition, too, the spokesperson handed me the key to the port fort. The fort was a forlorn relic shell of a fort. It boasted canon which were more planter than blasters. In the history of Quakers I remain the only one to have been presented a fort key. I note Quaker History is still in the making. So there is hope I may someday share the honor. In my opening I expressed my laurel fondness for Chester. Simply: I made my first steps on Chester Pennsylvania soil when I stepped off the ship ‘Welcome.’ Ever since, the mention of Chester is heard sweet to my ears. Also engraved in history, my first steps once again pressed golden upon Chester ground. This I did on a second return American trip in 1699. And once aground, I gladly repeated what I did in 1682. I lodged happy, happy as a Quaker clam at the home of Robert and Lydia Wade, The Chester Wade home one of best homes in all infant Pennsylvania, erected in B. P. 1679. B.P.: Before Pennsylvania. Ghost William Penn closing: Today I touted the story of early Pennsylvania ‘First Voyages.’ – Twin whilst I cast laurels upon the ‘voyages’ and the city of Chester. Your Governor thanks you for listening. I close. William Penn This file is located at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/philadelphia/bios/penn-w5.txt