Colony Of Pennsylvania
A Brief History
"First Europeans — The Quakers were not the first Europeans to reach Pennsylvania. Others were there before them. When discussing how Pennsylvania was settled we are apt to think first of William Penn, but long before he came many settlers had reached there. The history of these early settlers must be told before speaking of Penn. There were Swedes, Dutch, and English, about each of whom there is something to tell.
The first man to sail up the Delaware was a Dutch captain named Hendrickson, who in 1616 went up this fine river as far as the mouth of the Schuylkill. He was much pleased with what he saw there, for he had found a beautiful land, with a great forest full of deer, turkeys and partridges, and with vines clambering up the trees. There was also a Captain Mey, from whom Cape May got its name, who in 1623 sailed up the river and built a fort at a point four miles below the site of Philadelphia. This he named Fort Nassau.
In 1630 a small party of Dutch settled near the lower end of Delaware. But a foolish quarrel soon put an end to their settlement. They had painted the arms of Holland on a piece of tin and hung it up on a tree. An Indian took it down to make a tobacco pipe, and for this he was killed, either by the Dutch or by the members of his tribe in consequence of the angry protests of the settlers, to whom the act of the ignorant native, who knew nothing about the arms of Holland, seemed an insult to their country. The death of the Indian was quickly avenged by his friends, who attacked the settlement and killed every person in it. Thus ended in crime and blood the first settlement on the Delaware.
New Sweden — It was not long before new settlers came. In 1637 two small vessels set sail from Sweden, loaded with Swedes and Finns, who sought a new home on the banks of the South River—as the Dutch called the Delaware. They were led by Peter Minuit, a Dutchman, who knew the country well, for he had been governor of the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam. He bought from the Indians all the land on the west shore of the Delaware as far up as the mouth of the Schuylkill, built a fort where Wilmington now stands, and named it Fort Christina, in honor of the Queen of Sweden.
A new governor, named Hollender, came in 1641, and bought from the Indians a large tract of land along the river, and in 1643 there came a third governor, named Johan Printz, who built himself a fine mansion and a strong fort on Tinicum Island, a few miles below Philadelphia, and lived there in much style. The Swedes called their colony New
Sweden and claimed all the land on the west side of the Delaware from Cape Henlopen to Trenton Falls. They also claimed the east side from Cape May to Mantua Creek, nearly opposite Chester. They traded for furs with the Indians, planted wheat, rye, and tobacco, and built forts for defense.
End of New Sweden — By 1650, the Swedes had a thriving settlement. Much land was cleared and planted, they had plenty of fruit, grain, and cattle, and built a mill on Cobb's Creek, which was kept busy grinding their grain. But the Dutch of New Amsterdam had been first on the ground, had built forts and bought land from the Indians, and though they had not settled the country they did not like to see the way the Swedish Colony was growing. So they collected a little fleet with an army of about six hundred men and in August, 1655, set sail for South River. This was not a very large army, but the Swedes, not being strong enough to fight, gave up to the Dutch without firing a shot or striking a blow. They were left on their farms under the rule of Holland and the colony of New Sweden came to an end.
Relics of New Sweden — The settlements of the Swedes lay along the west side of the river from New Castle, in Delaware, to the site of Philadelphia. They had built a church on Tinicum Island in 1646, and a church was built about 1669 at Wicaco in what is now southern Philadelphia. This was rebuilt in later years, and still stands, known as the Gloria Dei, or Old Swedes Church. They had a small town at Upland—now Chester—and here their first courts were held, the first jury sat, and the first highway was built.
English Claim — New changes were soon to come, for the English also claimed this region. In 1664, an English fleet appeared before New Amsterdam, the Dutch settlement on Manhattan Island, took it without firing a gun, and named it New York. Then they sent two ships to the Delaware and took the settlement there also, but not until some Dutch soldiers had been killed and wounded. This was the first bloodshed in all the quarrels of the Europeans in that region. The Swedes were quite willing to come under English rule, and so were the Dutch, for they were well treated by their new masters, their farms left in their hands, and all their officers left in their posts. There were not many of them, probably only a few hundred in all, and they were widely scattered along the river. New Castle was the center of government and Upland the place of next importance. Philadelphia was still only a region of farms."
— History Of Pennsylvania by Charles Morris 1913, (edited)
Pennsylvania & William Penn — "Pennsylvania was so named, in 1681, after William Penn, the founder of Philadelphia.
This William Penn was the son of Sir William Penn, an admiral in the British navy, who rendered important services to the nation, on account of which, and by way of recompense [debt], Charles II granted to the son the territory of Pennsylvania, and so naming it after Penn himself.
This patent encroached on the territory of Lord Baltimore in Maryland by one whole degree, or sixty-nine and a half miles; and on the north, nearly three hundred miles, across the whole territory conveyed to Connecticut in 1631 and confirmed by the royal charter of 1662. Hence arose contentions between the colonies of Pennsylvania and Connecticut about boundaries, that were not settled until a century later. Within a short time from the date of the grant by King Charles to Penn, two other conveyances were made to him, by the Duke of York. One was a bill of sale of Newcastle, and a territory of twelve miles around it. The other conveyance was a bill granting a tract of land south of the former, as far as Cape Henlopen. These two deeds embraced the whole State of Delaware, known at that time by the name of the 'Territories.'
Penn was himself a Quaker, or member of the Society of Friends; a man of large and liberal views, and of great benevolence and integrity of purpose. Arid now, having obtained possession of a valuable territory, he was desirous of founding a colony where civil and religious liberty might be enjoyed, and the people of which might dwell together in the bonds of peace.
To the Swedish settlements already existing in the territory he gave the assurance that they should in no way be molested in their religion or laws. He desired their welfare, and they might seek it in their own way.
As it was Penn's object and interest to forward the settlement of his territory, he issued an invitation to purchasers, offering them land on the liberal condition of one thousand acres for twenty pounds, or at an annual rent of one penny per acre. Many persons, chiefly Quakers, were induced to purchase; and, in the fall of 1681, three ships, with settlers, sailed for Pennsylvania. In one of these ships came over the agent and deputy-governor of the proprietor, William Markham, to supervise the affairs of the colony, and to establish a good understanding with the Indians. At the same time, Penn addressed a letter to the Indians, residing on the territory, assuring them of his pacific disposition, and his determination, should difficulties arise between them and the emigrants, to have them settled on principles of equity.
In 1682, Penn published a form of government, by which the supreme power was lodged in a general assembly, to consist of a governor, council, and house of delegates: the council and house to be chosen by the freemen; the proprietor and governor to preside, and to have a treble voice in the council, which was to consist of seventy-two members. It was also agreed that every person of good moral character, professing his faith in Christ, should be a freeman, and capable of holding any office; and that none who believed in one God should be molested in his religion, or be compelled to attend or maintain religious worship.
In November, Penn, with, two thousand planters, mostly Quakers, arrived at Newcastle, which was a part of the 'Territories.' Upon this tract he found settled, as already noticed, about three thousand Dutch, Swedes, and Finns. He proceeded to Chester, where, in December, he convoked an assembly; but, so few delegates appearing, he ordered that, instead of seventy-two, only three members should constitute the council, and nine in the house of assembly. This assembly annexed the 'Territories.' to the province, adopted a frame of government, and enacted a body of laws.
Markham having, according to instructions, secured a treaty with the neighboring Indians. Penn, some weeks after his arrival, met with a numerous delegation of these tribes, to ratify the same. This was one of the most interesting scenes in our colonial history. The spot selected for the transaction was beneath a large elm tree, at Shaxamaxon, since then known as Kensington, the northeast suburb of Philadelphia. On his arrival at the spot, attended by a few friends, the simple children of the forest gathered around him, and he thus addressed them: "We meet on the broad pathway of good faith and good will; no advantage shall be taken on either side, but all shall be openness and love. I will not call you children; for parents sometimes chide their children too severely: nor brothers only; — brothers differ. The friendship between me and you, I will not compare to a chain; for the rains may rust, or the falling tree might break. We are the same as if one man's body were to be divided into two parts, — we are all one flesh and blood."
Touched by this warm-hearted and generous address, the Indians accepted the presents which followed, and in return, gave a belt of wampum. And to this they added, 'We will live in love with William Penn and his children, as long as the moon and the sun shall endure,' 'And now,' says an 19th century historian, 'the simple sons of the forest, returning to their wigwams, kept the history of the covenant by strings of wampum; and long afterwards, in the cabin, would count over the shells on a clean piece of bark, and recall to the memory, and repeat to their children or to strangers, the words of William Penn.' And it is remarkable that all this was accomplished so kindly, so gently, when the more northern colonies of New England had just been embroiled in a long and disastrous war with Indian tribes. But Penn was eminently bent on peace, and he had the advantage of the sad experience of others. The result of and the reward of his kindness and integrity was, 'that not a drop of Quaker blood was ever shed by an Indian.'
A few months after Penn's arrival, he commenced the city of Philadelphia, or 'Brotherly Love,' — a name in keeping with all his other transactions. The land being part of the tract owned by the Swedes, who had already erected a church there, he purchased it of them. The growth of the city was rapid, numbering at the close of a year, nearly a hundred houses and cottages, and at the expiration of the second year, two thousand five hundred inhabitants.
Pennsylvania had a more rapid and prosperous settlement than any of the other colonies. This was doubtless owing, in part, to its healthful climate and fruitful soil; partly to the fact, that the great obstacles of settlement had been overcome by the other colonies; and, partly, to the religious tolerance, mildness and equity, which characterized its laws and their administration.
In 1683, Penn convened a second assembly, which was held in Philadelphia; and at the request of the freemen and delegates, granted them a second charter, by which eighteen persons were to form a council, and thirty-six the assembly. At this time it was ordained, 'that, to prevent lawsuits, three arbitrators, to be called peace-makers, should be chosen by the county courts, to hear and determine small differences between man and man; that children should be taught some useful trade; that factors wronging their employers should make satisfaction; that all causes of rudeness, cruelty and irreligion, should be repressed; and that no man should be molested for his religious opinions.' To these wholesome regulations Pennsylvania was. indebted for her great prosperity and rapid settlement.
In 1684, Penn returned to England, leaving the administration of the government in the care of five commissioners. Soon after, James II abdicated the throne. For this monarch Penn felt a sincere regard, and continued, even after his expulsion from the throne, to administer the colonial government in his name. This excited the displeasure of William, successor of James, his friends caused Penn to be imprisoned several times; and the government of the colony was taken from him, and given to Colonel Fletcher, Governor of New York. But some time after, the charges of disloyalty to William having been proved to be unfounded, he was permitted to resume the exercise of his rights, whereupon he appointed William Markham to be his deputy-governor.
In 1699, Penn made a second visit to Pennsylvania. Finding discontent had crept in, in relation to the government, he humanely prepared a new charter, on still more liberal principles. This was offered on November 7th 1701, and accepted, on the same day by the people of Pennsylvania; but the "Territories," now Delaware, declining, they were allowed a distinct assembly, under the same governor. The assembly was first convened in 1703.
Having thus settled affairs, Penn again returned to England, leaving the executive authority to be exercised by a deputy-governor. Discontentment, however, again appeared, and at times the deputy-governors became quite obnoxious to the people. Still, the colony prospered; they lived in great harmony with the Indians, and increased in numbers and wealth.
William Penn died in England in 1718. He left his interest in Pennsylvania and Delaware to his surviving sons, John, Thomas, and Richard, who continued to hold the same, and to administer the government, by agents or deputies, until the American Revolution. At the commencement of the Revolutionary War, the people formed a new constitution, by which the proprietor was excluded from all participation in the government; and, by way of discharging all rents due from the inhabitants, he was allowed about five hundred and eighty thousand dollars.
— A History of the United States by Charles A. Goodrich, 1858 (edited)