The charter vested the perpetual proprietaryship of this territory in William Penn and his heirs, on the fealty of the annual payment of two beaver-skins.
Continuing William Penn Founds Philadelphia,
our selection from George E. Ellis. The selection is presented in easy 5 minute installments.
Previously in William Penn Founds Philadelphia.
Time: 1681
Place: Philadelphia
The charter vested the perpetual proprietaryship of this territory in William Penn and his heirs, on the fealty of the annual payment of two beaver-skins; it authorized him to make and execute laws not repugnant to those of England, to appoint judges, to receive those who wished to transport themselves, to establish a military force, to constitute municipalities and to carry on a free commerce. It required that an agent of the proprietor should reside in or near London and provided for the rights of the Church of England. The charter also disclaimed all taxation, except through the proprietor, the governor, the assembly or Parliament and covenanted that if any question of arms or conditions should arise it should be decided in favor of the proprietor. By a declaration to the inhabitants and planters of Pennsylvania, dated April 2d, the King confirmed the charter, to ratify it for all who might intend to emigrate under it and to require compliance from all whom it concerned.
By a letter from Penn to his friend Robert Turner, written upon the day on which the charter was signed, we learn that the proprietor designed to call his territory “New Wales”; but the under-secretary, a Welshman, opposed it. Penn then suggested “Sylvania,” as applicable to the forest region; but the secretary, acting under instructions, prefixed “Penn” to this title. The modest and humble Quaker offered the official twenty guineas as a bribe to leave off his name. Failing again, he went to the King and stated his objection; but the King said he would take the naming upon himself and insisted upon it as doing honor to the old admiral.
Penn now resigned the charge of West New Jersey and devoted himself to the preliminary tasks which should make his province available to himself and others. He sent over, in May, his cousin and secretary, Colonel William Markham, then only twenty-one years old, to make such arrangements for his own coming as might be necessary. This gentleman, who acted as Penn’s deputy, carried over from him a letter, dated London, April 8, 1681, addressed “For the Inhabitants of Pennsylvania; to be read by my Deputy.” This was a courteous announcement of his proprietaryship and intentions to the Dutch, Swedes and English, who, to the number, probably, of about three thousand, were then living within his patent.
Penn’s object being to obtain adventurers and settlers at once, he published Some Account of the Province of Pennsylvania, in America, lately granted, under the Great Seal of England, to William Penn. This was accompanied by a copy of the charter and a statement of the terms on which the land was to be sold, with judicious advice addressed to those who were disposed to transport themselves, warning them against mere fancy dreams or the desertion of friends and encouraging them by all reasonable expectations of success.
The terms of sale were, for a hundred acres of land, forty shillings purchase money and one shilling as an annual quit-rent. This latter stipulation, made in perfect fairness, not unreasonable in itself and ratified by all who of their own accord acceded to it, was, as we shall see, an immediate cause of disaffection and has ever since been the basis of a calumny against the honored and most estimable founder of Pennsylvania.
Under date of July 11, 1681, Penn published Certain Conditions or Concessions to be agreed upon by William Penn, Proprietary and Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania and those who may become Adventurers and Purchasers in the same Province. These conditions relate to dividing, planting and building upon the land, saving mulberry-and oak-trees and dealing with the Indians. These documents were circulated and imparted sufficient knowledge of the country and its produce, so that purchasers at once appeared and Penn went to Bristol to organize there a company called “The Free Society of Traders in Pennsylvania,” who purchased twenty thousand acres of land and prepared to establish various trades in the province.
Yet further to mature his plans and to begin with a fair understanding among all who might be concerned in the enterprise, Penn drew up and submitted a sketch of the frame of government, providing for alterations, with a preamble for liberty of conscience. On the basis of contracts and agreements thus made and mutually ratified, three passenger ships, two from London and one from Bristol, sailed for Pennsylvania in September, 1681. One of them made an expeditious passage; another was frozen up in the Delaware; and the third, driven to the West Indies, was long delayed. They took over some of the ornamental work of a house for the proprietor.
The Governor also sent over three commissioners, whose instructions we learn from the original document addressed to them by Penn, dated September 30, 1681. These commissioners were William Crispin, John Bezar and Nathaniel Allen. Their duty was that of “settling the colony.” Penn refers them to his cousin Markham, “now on the spot.” He instructs them to take good care of the people; to guard them from extortionate prices for commodities from the earlier inhabitants; to select a site by the river and there to lay out a town; to have his letter to the Indians read to them in their own tongue; to make them presents from him — adding, “Be grave; they love not to be smiled upon” — and to enter into a league of amity with them. Penn also instructs the commissioners to select a site for his own occupancy and closes with some good advice in behalf of order and virtue.
These commissioners probably did not sail until the latter part of October, as they took with them the letter to the Indians, to which Penn refers. This letter, bearing the date October 18, 1681, is a beautiful expression of feeling on the part of the proprietor. He does not address the Indians as heathen but as his brethren, the children of the one Father. He announces to them his accession, as far as a royal title could legitimate it, to a government in their country; he distinguishes between himself and those who had ill treated the Indians and pledges his love and service.
We want to take this site to the next level but we need money to do that. Please contribute directly by signing up at https://www.patreon.com/history
Some History Moments selections posted before 2012 need to be updated to meet HM’s quality standards. These relate to: (1) links to outside sources for modern, additional information; (2) graphics; (3) navigation links; and (4) other presentation issues. The reader is assured that the author’s materiel is faithfully reproduced in all History Moments posts.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.