A Further Account of the Province of Pennsylvania and its improvements, for the Satisfaction of those that are Adventurers, and enclined to be so.
It has, I know, been much expected from me that I should give some farther Narrative of those parts of America where I am chiefly interested, and have lately been; having continued there above a Year after my former Relation,1 and receiving since .my return the freshest and fullest Advices of its Progress and Improvement. But as the reason of my coming back was a Difference between the Lord Baltimore and myself, about the Lands of Delaware, in consequence reputed of mighty moment to us, so I wav. d publishing anything that might look in favor of the Country, or inviting to it, whilst it lay under the Discouragement and Disreputation of that Lord’s claim and pretences.
But since they are, after many fair and full hearings before the Lords of the Committee for Plantations justly and happily Dismist, and the things agreed; and that the Letters which daily press me from all Parts on the subject of America, are su many and voluminous that to answer them severally were a Task too heavy and repeated to perform, I have thought it most easie to the Enquirer, as well as myself, to make this Account Publick, lest my silence or a more private intimations of things, should disoblige the just inclinations of any to America, and at a time too when an extraordinary Providence seems to favour its Plantation and open a door to Europeans to pass thither. That, then, which is my part to do in this Advertisement is:
First. To Relate our Progress, especially since my last of the month called August , 83.
Secondly. The Capacity of the Place for further Improvemnent, in order to Trade and Commerce.
Lastly. Which way those that are Adventurers, or incline to be so, may imploy their Money, to a fair and secure Profit; such as shall equally encourage Poor and Rich, which cannot fail of Advancing the Country in consequence.
I. We have had about Ninety Sayl of Ships with Passengers since the beginning of . 82, and not one Vessel designed to the Province, through God. s mercy, hitherto miscarried.
The Estimate of the People may thus be made: Eighty to each Ship, which comes to Seven Thousand Two Hundred Persons. At least a Thousand there before, with such as from other places in our neighbourhood are since come to settle among us; and I presume the Births at least equal to the Burials; For, having made our first Settlements high in the Freshes of the Rivers, we do not find ourselves subject to those Seasonings that affect some other Countries upon the same Coast.
The People are a Collection of divers Nations in Europe: As, French, Dutch, Germans, Sweeds, Danes, Finns, Scotch, Irish and English; and of the last equal to all the rest: And, which is admirable, not a Reflection on that Account: But as they are of one kind, and in one Place and under One Al.legiance, so they live like People of One Country, which Civil Union has had a considerable influence towards the prosperity of that place.
II. Philadelphia, and our intended Metropolis, as I formerly Writ, is two Miles long, and a Mile broad, and at each end it lies that mile upon a Navigable River. The scituation high and dry, yet replenished with running streams. Besides the High Street, that runs in the middle from River to River, and is an hundred foot broad, it has Eight streets more that run the same course, the least of which is fifty foot in breadth. And besides Broad Street, which crosseth the Town in the middle, and is also an hundred foot wide, there are twenty streets more, that run the same course, and are also fifty foot broad. The names of those Streets are mostly taken from the things that Spontaneously grow in the Country, As Vine Street, Mulberry Street, Chestnut Street, Wallnut Street, Strawberry Street, Cranberry Street, Plumb Street, Hickery Street, Pine Street, Oake Street, Beach Street, Ash Street, Popler Street Sassafrax Street, and the like.
III. I mentioned in my last Account that from my Arrival, in Eighty-two, to the Date thereof, being ten Moneths, we had got up Fourscore Houses at our Town, and that some Villages were settled about it. From that time to my Coming away, which was a Year within a few Weeks, the Town advanced to Three hundred and fifty-seven Houses; divers of them large, well built, with good Cellars, three stories, and some with Balconies.
IV. There is also a fair Key [2] of about three hundred foot square, Built by Samuel Carpenter,[3] to which a ship of five hundred Tuns may lay her broadside, and others intend to follow his example. We have also a Ropewalk made by B. Wilcox,[4] and cordage for shipping already spun at it.
V. There inhabits most sorts of useful Tradesmen, As Carpenters, Joyners, Bricklayers, Masons, Plasterers, Plumers Smiths, Glasiers, Taylers, Shoemakers, Butchers, Bakers, Brewers, Glovers, Tanners, Felmongers, Wheelrights, Millrights, Shiprights, Boatrights, Ropemakers, Saylmakers, Blockmakers, Turners, etc.
VI. There are Two Markets every Week, and Two Fairs every year. In other places Markets also, as at Chester and New-Castle.
VII. Seven Ordinaries for the Intertainment of Strangers and Workmen, that are not Housckeeper~, and a good Meal to be had for sixpence, sterl.
VIII. The hours for Work and Meals to Labourers are fixt, and known by Ring of Bell.
IX. After nine at Night the Officers go the Rounds, and no Person, without very good cause, suffered to be at any Publick House that is not a Lodger.
X. Tho this Town seemed at first contrived for the Purchasers of the first hundred shares, each share consisting of 5000 Acres, yet few going, and that their absence might not Check the Improvement of the Place, and Strangers that flockt to us be thereby Excluded, I added that half of the Town, which lies on the Skulkill, that we might have Room for present and after Commers, that were not of that number, and it hath already had great success to the Improvement of the Place.
XI. Some Vessels have been here Built, and many Boats; and by that means a ready Conveniency for Passage of People and Goods.
XII. Divers Brickerys going on, many Cellars already Ston. d or Brick~d and some Brick Houses going up.
XIII. The Town is well furnish. d with convenient Mills; and what with their Garden Plats (the least half an Acre), the Fish of the River, and their labour, to the Countryman, who begins to pay with the provisions of his own growth, they live Comfortably.
XIV. The Improvement of the place is best measur. d by the advance of Value upon every man. s Lot. I will venture to say that the worst Lot in the Town, without any Improvement upon it, is worth four times more than it was when it was lay. d out, and the best forty. And though it seems unequal that the Absent should be thus benefited by the Improvements of those that are upon the place, especially when they have serv. d no Office, run no hazard, nor as yet defray. d any Publick charge, yet this advantage does certainly redound to them, and whoever they are they are great Debtors to the Country; of which I shall now speak more at large.
Of Country Settlements.
1. We do settle in the way of Townships or Villages, each of which contains 5,000 acres, in square, and at least Ten Families; the regulation of the Country ~ a family to each five hundred Acres. Some Townships have more where the Interests of the People is less than that quantity: which often falls out.
2. Many th8t had right to more Land were at first covetous to have their whole quantity without regard to this way of settlement, tho. by such Wilderness vacancies they had ruin. d the Country, and then our interest of course. I had in my view Society, Assistance, Busy Commerce, Instruction of Youth, Government of Peoples manners, Conveniency of Religious Assembling, Encouragement of Mechanicks, distinct and beaten Roads, and it has answered in all those respects, I think, to an Universall Content.
3. Our Townships lie square; generally the Village in the Center; the Houses either opposit, or else opposit to the middle, betwixt two houses over the way, for near neighborhood. We have another Method, that tho the Village be in the Center, yet after a different manner: Five hundred Acres are allotted for the Village, which, among ten families, comes to fifty Acres each: This lies square, and on the outside of the square stand the Houses, with their fifty Acres running back, where ends meeting make the Center of the 500 Acres as they are to the whole. Before the Doors of the Houses lies the high way, and. cross it, every man. s 450 Acres of Land that makes up his Complement of 500, so that the Conveniency of Neighbourhood is made agreeable with that of the Land.
4. I said nothing in my last of any number of Townships, but there are at least Fifty settled before my leaving those parts, which was in the moneth called August, 1684.
5. I visitted many of them, and found them much advanced in their Improvements. Houses over their heads and Garden plots, Coverts for their Cattle, an encrease of stock, and several Enclosures in Corn, especially the first Commers; and I may say of some Poor men was the beginnings of an Estate; the difference of labouring for themselves and for others, of an Inheritance and a Rack Lease, being never better understood.
Of the Produce of the Earth.
1. The Earth, by God. s blessing, has more than answered our expectation; the poorest places in our Judgment producing large Crops of Garden Stuff and Grain. And though our Ground has not generally the symptoms of the fat Necks that lie upon salt Waters in Provinces southern of us, our Grain is thought to excell and our Crops to be as large. We have had the mark of the good Ground amongst us from Thirty to Sixty fold of English Corn.
2. The Land requires less seed: Three pecks of Wheat sow an acre, a Bushel at most, and some have had the increase I have mention. d
3. Upon Tryal we find that the Corn and Roots that grow in England thrive very well there, as Wheat, Barly, Rye, Oats, Buck-Wheat, Pease, Beans, Cabbages, Turnips, Carrets, Parsnups, Colleflowers, Asparagus, Onions, Charlots, Garlick and Irish Potatos; we have also the Spanish and very good Rice, which do not grow here.
4. Our low lands are excellent for Rape and Hemp and Flax. A Tryal has been made, and of the two last there is a considerable quantity Dress’d Yearly.
5. The Weeds of our Woods feed our Cattle to the Market as well as Dary. I have seen fat Bullocks brought thence to Market before Mid Summer. Our Swamps or Marshes yeeld us course Hay for the Winter.
6. English Grass Seed takes well, which will give us fatting Hay in time. Of this I made an Experiment in my own Court Yard, upon sand that was dug out of my Cellar, with seed that had lain in a Cask open to the weather two Winters and a Summer; I caus. d it to be sown in the beginning of the month called April, and a fortnight before Midsummer it was fit to Mow. It grew very thick: But I ordered it to be fed, being in the nature of a Grass Plott, on purpose to see if the Roots lay firm: And though it had been meer sand, cast out of the Cellar but a Year before, the seed took such Root and held the earth so fast, and fastened itself so well in the Earth, that it held fast and fed like old English Ground. I mention this, to confute the Objections that lie against those Parts, as of that, first, English Grass would not grow; next, not enough to mow; and, lastly, not firm enough to feed, from the Levity of the Mould.
7. All sorts of English fruits that have been tryed take mighty well for the time: The Peach Excellent on standers, and in great quantities: They sun dry them, and lay them up in lofts, as we do roots here, and stew them with Meat in Winter time. Musmellons and Water Mellons are raised there, with as little care as Pumpkins in England. The Vine especially, prevails, which grows every where; and upon experience of some French People from Rochel and the Isle of Rhee, [5] Good Wine may be made there, especially when the Earth and Stem are fin. d and civiliz. d by culture. We hope that good skill in our most Southern Parts will yield us several of the Straights Commodities, especially Oyle, Dates, Figgs, Almonds, Raisins and Currans.
Of the Produce of our Waters.
1. Mighty Whales roll upon the Coast, near the Mouth of the Bay of Delaware. Eleven caught and workt into Oyl one Season. We justly hope a considerable profit by a Whalcry; they being so numerous and the Shore so suitable.
2. Sturgeon play continually in our Rivers in Summer:
And though the way of cureing them be not generally known, yet by a Receipt I had of one Collins, that related to the Company of the Royal Fishery, I did so well preserve some, that I had them good there three months of the Summer, and brought some of the same so for England.
3. Alloes,[6] as they call them in France, the Jews Allice, and our Ignorants, Shads, are excellent Fish and of the Bigness of our largest Carp: They are so Plentiful, that Captain Smyth. s Overseer at the Skulkil, drew 600 and odd at one Draught; 300 is no wonder; 100 familiarly. They are excellent Pickled or Smok’d, as well as boyld fresh: They are caught by nets only.
4. Rock are somewhat Rounder and larger, also a whiter fish, little inferior in rellish to our Mallet. We have them-almost in the like plenty. These are often Barrell. d like Cod, and not much inferior for their spending. Of both these the Inhabitants increase their Winter store: These are caught by Nets, Hooks and Speers.
5. The Sheepshead, so called, from the resemblance of its Mouth and Nose to a Sheep, is a fish much preferr. d by some, but they keep in salt Water; they are like a Roach in fashion, but as thick as a Salmon, not so long. We have also the Drum, a large and noble fish, commended equal to the Sheepshead, not unlike to a Newfoundland Cod, but larger of the two. Tis so call. d from a noise it makes in its Belly, when it is taken, resembling a Drum. There are three sorts of them, the Black, Red and Gold colour. The Black is fat in the Spring, the Red in the Fall, and the Gold colour believed to be the Black, grown old, because it is observ. d that young ones of that colour have not been taken. They generally ketch them by Hook and Line, as Cod are, and they save like it, where the People are skilful. There are abundance of lesser fish to be caught of pleasure, but they quit not cost, as those I have mentioned, neither in Magnitude nor Number, except the Herring, which swarm in such shoales that it is hardly Credible; in little Creeks, they almost shovel them up in their \tubs. There is the Catfish, or Flathead, Lampry, Eale, Trout~Pereh, black and white, Smelt, Sunfish, etc.; also Oysters, Cockles, Cunks, Crabs, Mussles, Mannanoses.
Of Provision in General.
1. It has been often said we were starv. d for want of food; some were apt to suggest their fears, others to insinuate their prejudices, and when this was contradicted, and they assur. d we had plenty, both of Bread, Fish and Flesh, then . twas objected that we were forc. t to fetch it from other places at great Charges: but neither is all this true, tho all the World will think we must either carry Provision with us, or get it of the Neighbourhood till we had gotten Houses over our heads and a little Land in tillage, We fetcht none, nor were we wholly helpt by Neighbours; The Old Inhabitants supplied us with most of the Corn we wanted, and a good share of Pork and Beef: . tis true New York, New England, and Road Island did with their provisions fetch our Goods and Money, but at such Rates, that some sold for almost what they gave, and others carried their provisions back, expecting a better Market neerer, which showed no scarcity, and that we were not totally destitute on our own River. But if my advice be of any Value I would have them to buy still, and not weaken their Herds, by Killing their Young Stock too soon.
2. But the right measure of information must be the proportion of Value of Provisions there, to what they are in more planted and mature Colonies. Beef is commonly sold at the rate of two pence per Pound; and Pork for two pence half penny; Veal and Mutton at three pence or three pence half penny, that Country mony; an English Shilling going for fifteen pence. Grain sells by the Bushel; Wheat at four shillings; Rye, and excellent good, at three shillings; Barly, two shillings six pence; Indian Corn, two shillings six pence; Oats, two shillings, in that money still, which in a new Country, where Grain is so much wanted for feed, as for food, cannot be called dear, and especially if we consider the Consum tion of the many new Commers.
3. There is so great an encrease of Grain by the dilligent application of People to Husbandry that, within three Years, some Plantations have got Twenty Acres in Corn, some Forty, some Fifty.
4. They are very careful to encrease their stock, and get into Daries as fast as they can. They already make good Butter and Cheese. A good Cow and Calf by her side may be worth three pounds sterling, in goods at first Cost. A pare of Working Oxen, eight pounds: a pare of fat ones, Little more, and a plain Breeding Mare about five pounds sterl.
5. For Fish, it is brought to the Door, both fresh and salt. Six Alloes or Rocks for twelve pence; and salt fish at three fardings per pound, Oysters at 2s. per bushel.
6. Our Drink has been Beer and Punch, made of Rum and Water: Our Beer was mostly made of Molosses, which well boyld, with Sassafras or Pine infused into it, makes very tollerable drink; but now they make Mault, and Mault Drink begins to be common, especially at the Ordinaries and the Houses of the more substantial People. In our great Town there is an able Man, [7] that has set up a large Brew House, in order to furnish the People with good Drink, both there, and up and down the River. Having said this of the Country, for the time I was there, I shall add one of the many Letters that have come to my hand, because brief and full, and that he is known to be a Person of an extraordinary Caution as well as Truth, in what he is wont to Write or Speak:
PHILADELPHIA, the 3d of the 6th month [August] 1685. Governour.
Having an opportunity by a Ship from this River, (out of which several have gone this Year) I thought fit to give a short account of proceedings, as to settlements here, and the Improvements both in Town and Country. As to the Country, the Improvements are large, and settlements very throng by way of Townships and Villages. Great inclinations to Planting Orchards, which are easily raised, and some brought to perfection. Much Hayseed sown, and much Planting of Corn this Year, and great produce, said to be, both of Wheat, Rye and Rise; Barly and Oates prove very well, besides Indian Corn and Pease of several sorts; also Kidny Beans and English Pease of several kinds, I have had in my own Ground, with English Roots, Turnaps, Parsnaps, Carrets, Onions, Leeks, Radishes and Cabbidges, with abundance of sorts of Herbs and Flowers. I have but few seeds that have mist except Rosemary seed, and being English might be old. Also I have such plenty of pumpkins, Musmellons, Water Mellons, Squashes, Coshaws, Bucks-hens, Coweumbers and Simnells of Divers kinds; admired at by new Commers that the Earth should so plentifully cast forth, especially the first Years breaking up; and on that which is counted the Worst Sort of Sandy Land.
I am satisfied, and many more, that the Earth is very fertil, and the Lord has done his part, if Man use but a moderate Dilligence. Grapes, Mulberies and many wildo Fruits and natural Plums, in abundance, this year have I seen and eat of, A brave Orchard and Nursery have I planted, and thrive nughtily, and Frui~ the first Year. I endeavor choice of Fruits~ and Seeds from many parts; also Hay Seed; and have sowed a field this spring for tryall. First, I burned the leaves; then had it Grub. d, not the Field but the small Roots up, then sowed great and small Clover, with a little old Grass seed, and had it only raked over, not Plowed nor Harrowed, and it grows exceedingly; also for experience I sowed some patches of the same sort m my Garden and Dunged some, and that grows worst. I have planted the Irish Potatoes, and hope to have a brave ilicrease to Transplant next Year. Captain Rapel [8] (the Frenchman) saith he made good Wine of the grapes (of the country) last Year, and Transported some, but intends to make more this Year. Also a French man [9] in this Town in-tends the same, for Grapes are very Plentiful.
Now as to the Town of Philadelphia it goeth on in Planting and Building to admiration, both in the front and backward, and there are about 600 Houses in 3 years time. And since I built my Brick House, [10] the foundation of which was laid at thy going, which I did design after a good manner to incourage others and that from building with Wood, it being the first, many take example, and some that built Wooden Houses, are sorry for it: Brick building is said to be as cheap: Bricks are exceeding good, and better than when I built: More Makers fallen in, and Bricks cheaper, they were before at 16 s. English per 1000, and now many brave Brick Houses are going up, with good Cellars. Arthur Cook [11] is building him a brave Brick House near William Frampton. s, on the front: For William Frampton hath since built a good Brick house, by his Brew house and Bake house, and let the other for an Ordinary. John Wheeler, [12] from New England, is building a good Brick house, by the Blew Anchor; and the two [13] Brickmakers a Double Brick House and Cellars; besides several others going on: Samuel Carpenter has built another house by his. [14] I am Building another Brick house by mine, which is three large Stories high, besides a good large Brick Cellar under it, of two Bricks and a half thickness in the wall, and the next story half under Ground, the Cellar hath an Arched Door for a Vault to go (under the Street) to the River, and so to bring in goods, or deliver out. Humphery Murry, [15] from New York, has built a large Timber house, with Brick Chinmies. John Test [16] has almost finished a good Brick House, and a Bake House of Timber; and N. Allen [17] a good house, next to Thomas Wynna [18], front Lot. John Day [19] a good house, after the London fashion, most Brick, with a large frame of Wood, in the front, for Shop Windows; all these have Belconies. Thomas Smith and Daniel Pege are Partners, and set to making of Brick this Year and they are very good; also, Pastorus, [20] the German Friend, Agent for the Company at Frankford, with his Dutch [21] People, are preparing to make Brick next year. Samuel Carpenter, is our Lime burner on his Wharf. Brave Lime Stone found here, as the Workmen say, being proved. We build most Houses with Belconies. Lots are much desir’d in the Town, great buying one of another. We are now laying the foundation of a large plain Brick house [22], for a Meeting House, in the Center, [23] (sixty foot long, and about forty foot broad) and hope to have it soon up, many hearts and hands at Work that will do it.
A large Meeting House, [24] 50 foot long, and 38 foot broad, also going up, on the front of the River, for an evening Meeting, the work going on apace. Many Towns People setling their liberty Lands. I hope the Society will rub off the Reproaches some have cast upon them. We now begin to gather in some thing of our many great Debts.
I do understand Three Companies for Whale Catching are designed to fish in the River. s Mouth, this season, and find through the great Plenty of fish they may begin early. A Fisherman this Year found the way to catch Whiteins in this River, and it. s expected many sorts of fish more than hath been yet caught may be taken by the skilful. Fish are in such plenty that many sorts on tryal, have been taken with Nets in the Winter time: The Sweeds laughing at the English for going to try, have since tried themselves. The River so big, and full of several sorts of brave fish, that it is believed, except frozen over, we may catch any time in the Winter. It. s a great pity, but two or three experienced Fishermen were here to Ply this River to salt and serve fresh to the Town. A good way to Pickle Sturgion is wanting; such abundance in the River, even before the Town: many are Catcht, Boyld and Eaten. Last Winter great plenty of Dear brought in by the Indians and English from the Country. We are generally very Well and Healthy here, but abundance Dead in Maryland this Summer.
The manufacture of Linnen by the Germans [25] goes on finely, and they make fine Linnen: Samuel Carpenter having been lately there, declares they had gathered one Crop of Flax, and had sowed for the Second and saw it come up well: And they say, might have had forewarder and better, had they had old seed, and not stay. d so long for the Growth of new seed to sow again. And I may believe it, for large hath my experience been this Years, though in a small peece of Ground, to the admiration of many.
I thought fit to signify this much, knowing thou wouldst be glad to hear of thy People and Provinces welfare; the Lord preserve us all, and make way for thy return, which is much desired, not only by our Friends but all sorts. I am, etc., thy truly Loving Friend,
Robert Turner. [26]
Of Further Improvements for Trade and Commerce.
These things that we have in prospect for Staples of Trade, are Wine, Linnen, Hemp, Potashes and Whale Oyle; to say nothing of our Provisions for the Islands, our Saw Mills, Sturgeon, some Tobacco, and our Furs and Skins, which of themselves are not contemptible; I might add Iron (perhaps Copper too), for there is much Mine; and it will be granted us that we want no Wood, although I must confess I cannot tell how to help preferring a domestick or self subsistance to a life of much profit, by the extream Toy of forraign Traffick.
Advice to Adventurers how to imploy their Estates, with fair profit.
It is fit now, that I give some Advertisement to Adventurers, which way they may lay out their Money to best advantage, so as it may yield them fair returns, and with content to all concerned, which is the last part of my present task; and I must needs say so much wanting, that it has perhaps given some occasion to ignorance and prejudice to run without mercy, measure or distinction against America, of which Pennsylvania to be sure has had its share.
1. It is agreed on all hands, that the Poor are the Hands and Feet of the Rich. It is their labour that Improves Countries; and to encourage them, is to promote the real benefit of the publick. Now as there are abundance of these people in many parts of Europe, extreamly desirous of going to America; so the way of helping them thither, or when there, and the return thereof to the Disbursers, will prove what I say to be true.
2. There are two sorts, such as are able to transport themselves and Families, but have nothing to begin with there; and those that want so much as to transport themselves and Families thither.
3. The first of these may be entertained in this manner. Say I have 5000 Acres, I will settle Ten Families upon them, in way of Village, arid built each an house, an out house for Cattle, furnish every Family with Stock, as four Cows, two Sows, a couple of Mares, and a yoke of Oxen, with a Town Horse, Bull and Boar; I find them with Tools, and give each their first Ground-seed. They shall continue Seven Year, or more, as we agree, at half encrease, being bound to leave the Houses in repair, and a Garden and Orchard, I paying for the Trees and at least twenty Acres of Land within Fence and improved to corn and grass; the charge will come to about sixty pounds English for each Family: At the seven years end, the Improvement will be worth, as things go now, 120 1. besides the value of the encrease of the Stock, which may be neer as much more, allowing for casualties; especially, if the People are honest and careful, or a man be upon the spot himself, or have an Overseer sometimes to inspect them. The charge in the whole is 832 1. And the value of stock and improvements 24001. I think I have been modest in my computation. These Farms are afterwarde fit for Leases at full rent, or how else the Owner shall please to dispose of them. Also the People will by this time be skilled in the Country, and well provided to settle themselves with stock upon their own Land.
4. The other sort of poor people may be very beneficially transported upon these terms: Say I have 5000 Acres I should settle as before, I will give to each Family 100 Acres which in the whole makes 1000; and to each Family thirty Pounds English, half in hand, and half there, which in the whole comes to 3001. After four years are expired, in which time they may be easie, and in a good condition, they shall each of them pay five pounds, and so yearly for ever, as a Fee-farm rent; Which in the whole comes to 50 1. a Year. Thus a man that buys 5000 Acres may secure and settle his 4000 by the gift of one, and in a way that hazard and interest allowed for, amounts to at least ten per cent, upon Land security, besides the value it puts upon the rest of the 5000 Acres. I propose that there be at least two working hands besides the wife; whether son or servant; and that they oblige what they carry; and for further security bind themselves as servants for some time, that they will settle the said land accordingly and when they are once seated their improvements are security for the Rent.
5. There is yet another expedient, and that is, give to ten Families 1000 Acres for ever, at a small acknowledgement and settle them in way of Village, as afore; by their seating thus, the Land taken up is secured from others, because the method of the Country is answered, and the value such a settlement gives to the rest reserved, is not inconsiderable. I mean, the 4000 Acres; especially that which is Contiguous: For their Children when grown up, and Handicrafts will soon covet to flx next them, and such after settlements to begin at an Improved Rent in Fee, or for long Leases, or small Acknowledge floats, and good Improvements must advance the whole considerably. I conceive any of these methods to issue in a sufficient advantage to Adventurers and they all give good encouragement to feeble and poor Families.
6. That which is most advisable for People, intended thither, to carry with them, is in short all things relating to Apparel, Building, Housholdstuf, Husbandry, Fowling and Fishing. Some Spice, Spirits and double ear, at first were not a miss: But I advise all to proportion their Estates thus; one-third in Money, and two thirds in Goods. Upon pieces of eight, there will be almost a third gotten, for they go at 6 s. and by goods well bought, at least fifty pounds sterl. for every hundred pounds; so that a man worth 400 l. here, is worth 600 l. there, without sweating.
Of the Natives.
1. Because many Stories have been pre3udicially propagated, as if we were upon ill terms with the Natives, and sometimes, like Jobs Kindred, all cut off but the Messenger that brought the Tidings; I think it requisite to say thus much, that as there never was any such Messenger, so the dead People were alive, at our last advices; so far are we from ill terms with the Natives, that we have liv. d in great friendship. I have made seven Purchasses, and in Pay and Presents they have received at least twelve hundred pounds of me. Our humanity has obliged them so far, that they generally leave their guns at home, when they come to our settlements; they offer us no affront, not so much as to one of our Dogs; and if any of them break our Laws, they submit to be punisht by them: and to this they have tyed themselves by an obligation under their hands. We leave not the least indignity to them unrebukt, nor wrong unsatisfied. Justice gains and aws them. They have some Great Men amongst them, I mean for Wisdom, Truth and Justice. I refer to my former Account about their Laws Manners and Religious Rites.
Of the Government.
The Government is according to the words of the Grant, as near to the English as conveniently may be: In the whole, we aim at Duty to the King, the Preservation of Right to all. the suppression of Vice, and encouragement of Vertue and Arts; with Liberty to all People to worship Almighty God, according to their Faith and Perewasion.
Of the Seasons of Going, and usual time of Passage.
1. The Ships go hence at all times of the Year, it must he acknowledged, that to go so as to arrive at Spring or Fall, ~ best. For the Summer may be of the hottest, for fresh Commers, and in the Winter, the wind that prevails, is the North West, and that blows off the Coast, so that sometimes it is difficult to enter the Capes.
2. I propose therefore, that Ships go hence about the middle of the moneths call. d February and August, which allowing two moneths for passage reaches time enough to plant in the Spring such things as are carried hence to plant, and in the Fall to get a small Cottage, and clear some Land against the next Spring. I have made a discovery of about a hundred Miles West, and find those back Lands richer in Soyl, Woods and Fountaing, then that by Delaware; especially upon the Sasquehannah River.
3. I must confess I prefer the Fall to come thither, as believing it is more healthy to be followed with Winter then Summer; tho, through the great goodness and mercy of God we have had an extraordinary portion of health, for so new and numerous a Colony, notwithstanding we have not been so regular in time.
4. The Passage is not to be set by any man; for Ships will he quicker and slower, some have been four moneths, and some but one, and as often. . Generally between six and nine weeks. One year, of four and twenty Sayl, I think, there was not three above nine, and there was one or two under six weeks in passage.
5. To render it more healthy, it is good to keep as much upon Deck as may be; for the Air helps against the offensive smells of a crowd, and a close place. Also to scrape often the Cabbins, under the Beds; and either carry store of Rue and, Wormwood; and some Rosemary, or often sprinkle Vineger about the Cabbin. Pitch burnt, is not amiss sometimes against faintness and infectious scents. I speak my experience for their benefit and direction that may need it.
And because some has urged my coming back, as an argument against the place, and the probability of its improvment; Adding, that I would for that reason never return; I think fit to say, That Next Summer, God willing, I intend to go back, and carry my Family, and the best part of my Personal Estate with me. And this I do, not only of Duty, but Inclination and Choice. God will Bless and Prosper poor America
I shall conclude with this further Notice, that to the end such as are willing to embrace any of the foregoing propositions for the Improvement of Adventurers Estates, may not be discouraged, from an inability to find such Land-Lords, Tennants, Masters and Servants, if they intimate their desires to my friend and Agent Philip Ford, living in Bow-Lane in London, they may in all probability be well accommodated; few of any quality or capacity, designed to the Province, that do not inform him of their inclinations and condition.
Now for you that think of going thither, I have this to say, by way of caution; if an hair of our heads falls not to the ground, without the providence of God, Remember, your Removal is of greater moment. Wherefore have a due reverence and regard to his good Providence, as becomes a People that profess a belief in Providence. Go clear in yourselves, and of all others. Be moderate in Expectation, count on Labour before a Crop, and Cost before Gain, for such persons will best endure difficulties, if they come, and bear the Success, as well aslind the Comfort that usually follow such considerate undertakings.
William Penn.
Worminghurst Place, 12th of the 10th Month, 85.
Footnotes
[1] I.e., Letter to the Free Society of Traders, ante.
[2] Samuel Carpenter’s wharf, the first in Philadelphia, was built into the Delaware River from his bank lot, which was 204 feet wide, about 100 feet north of Walnut Street, and facing his house and lot on the west side of Front Street. The lot was leased to him by Penn in 1684, for a term of fifty years.
[3] Carpenter (1047. 1714), a native of Horsham, Sussex, England, after the death of his father in 1670 removed to Barbados, and successfully engaged in mercantile pursuits. Having joined the Quakers he suffered severe distraint of his property, and about 1683 migrated to Philadelphia. As a man of considerable capital and of remarkable enterprise he was a very valuable addition in the economic and governmental beginnings of the city and province. He not only erected the first wharf of the city, above Walnut Street, as recounted by 1. enn, hut built stores and was concerned in milling and other undertakings in and near the city. In 1693, his assessable property in the province ranked in value next to that of the Proprietor. Furthermore, he actively participated in governmental affairs, .serving as assemblyman councillor, commissioner of property, treasurer, and finally as deputy governor of the province. The mansion built by him, later called the Slate Roof House, was considered the most suitable for the occupation of Proprietor Penn and his family on the occasion of his second Visit to the province, in 1699. . That honest and Valluable man [Samuel Carpenter] whose Industry and Improvements,. wrote Isaac Norris, from Philadelphia, in 1705, . has been the Stock whereon much of the Labour and Success of this Country has been Grafted.
[4] Barnabas Wilcox (d.. 1690), Quaker, came over from Bristol, England, it ite his family to Philadelphia in 1682. His rope-walk was then at the north side of the town, running westward from Front to Third, north of Vine Street.
[5] Rochelle, France, and the Isle de Ré, just off that city.
[6] Ale wives.
[7] William Frampton (d. 1686), Quaker merchant and brewer, justice and provincial councillor, owner of extensive lands in Pennsylvania, had removed from New York to Philadelphia in 1683, and at this time (1685) was living in his house at the west side of Front Street, between Walnut and Spruce streets, on a lot purchased in the early summer of 1684. He had there at his death in 1686 a well-stocked shop of general merchandise. His great brew-house, built in 1683, was on the next lot to the rear, on the west side of Second Street by the south side of Dock Creek, a plot acquired from Penn in the beginning of the latter year. Here also he had a bake-house and a dwelling-house, the latter evidently his earlier residence, but now rented as an inn; and here in 1685 he erected the brick house hereafter mentioned by Robert Turner. Facing his Front Street residence was his wharf, one of the first three wharves of the city in Delaware River, built on a lot which he bought from the Proprietor in midsummer, 1684.
[8] Captain Gabriel Rappel, a Protestant, from St. Martin, in France, was a fugitive in England in November, 1682, petitioning the Privy Council for liberty to plant in English America. He arrived in the Delaware in 1683, purchasing for the use of a London merchant a plantation of 1,000 acres called the Exchange in Reedy Point Neck, in New Castle County, along with certain live stock and a servant man. He probably conducted this plantation for a few years, and may have made there the wine referred to by Turner.
[9] Possibly Monsieur Jacob Pellison, of Philadelphia.
[10] On his lot at the southwest corner of Front and Mulberry (now Arch) streets.
[11] Arthur Cook (d. 1699), speaker of assembly, provincial councillor, and chief justice, formerly of New Gravel Lane, in St. Paul. s Shadwell, London, was building his brick house on the west side of Front Street below Walnut Street. By 1697 he had . a most Stately Brick-House,. near Frarikford, hereafter mentioned by Gabriel Thomas.
[12] John Wheeler (d. 1691), merchant and distiller, ship-owner and trader with the West Indies and Europe, a resident as early as 1667 of New London, Connecticut, where he died. He made only a brief sojourn in Philadelphia, building his brick house on the west side of Front Street, below Walnut Street, near the Blue Anchor Inn, on a lot purchased by him from Penn in midsummer, 1684. This property he sold in 1686 to Edward Shippen, then of Boston, but later of Philadelphia.
[13] Thomas Smith and Daniel Pegg (d. 1702).
[14] On the west side of Front Street, a hundred feet north of Walnut Street.
[15] Humphrey Money (d. 1715-6), was a merchant in New York early in 1684, but by 1685 had become a resident of Philadelphia and had built the Timber house at the southwest corner of Front and Chestnut streets. 1~e was the first mayor of Philadelphia (1691. 1692) and served as assemblyman and provincial councillor. In his will of 1715 he is described as yeoman, of Cheltenham Township, now Montgomery County.
[16] John Test (d. 1718), a non-Quaker merchant, from London, had probably come over to West New Jersey with John Fenwick’s colony in the Griffin, in 1675. He was a resident of Upland (Chester) as early as 1677, and as late as 1679. In 1681 he was made sheriff of Pennsylvania by the court of Upland, and in 1682 the first sheriff of the newly-constituted Philadelphia County. His brick house was at the northeast corner of Third and Chestnut streets. In later life he removed to Darby, and died there as an innkeeper.
[17] Nathaniel Allen (d. 1692), Quaker, a cooper of Reddiffe Street, Bristol, England, was one of the three commissioners who preceded Penn to Pennsylvania, in 1681, to lay out Philadelphia and the lands of the First Purchasers. His house was on the west side of Front, above Chestnut Street. He finally settled with his family on his plantation . Allenbury,. on the west side of Neshamin Creek ra Bensalem Township, Bucks County.
[18] Dr. Thomas Wynne (1627. 1692), Quaker, a native of Bronvedog, parish of Yskewiog, Flintshire, Wales, came over in the ship Welcome with William Penn in 1682 and was the first speaker of the assembly of Pennsylvania held in Philadelphia. His lot was on the west side of Front Street, about midway between Chestnut and High (Market) streets.
[19] John Day (d. 1696), carpenter, from the parish of St. Nicholas Cole Abbey, London, his brick house with adjoining orchard being on Front, between Sassafras (now Race) and Mulberry (now Arch) streets.
[20] Francis Daniel Pastorius.
[21] The Crefelders, from Crefeld, Germany, near the Dutch border. See post, p. 393, note 3.
[22] “Our first [Quaker] Meeting-house in the sd City,. writes Pastorius, who came in 1683, . was nothing else than a Lodge or Cottage, nailed together of Pineboards, ThIpin~ted from New-York, and sold a hundred foot at 10. Shill. And never the less the Lord appeared most powerfully in that Tabernacle of Shittim wood.. Learned, Pa8toriu, p p. 212-21.8.
[23] The Friends. Meeting House in the Centre Square of the city, midway between the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, where the City Hall now stands, was built of brick, in 1685-1686, and was used for a time for the more important First-day (Sunday) morning and business meetings of the society. The location being in the midst of the forest s~. ne little distance without the town, and its two or three streets along the Delaware, the meeting was not well attended; the Friends preferred to wait for the afternoon meeting at the Bank Meeting House, near at hand, within the town proper; consequently, in a few years the Centre Square meeting was abandoned.
[24] The Bank Meeting House of the Friends, built in 1685-1686 for the afternoon meetings, was at the north end of the town on the west side of Front Street, then the principal thoroughfare, just above Mulberry (now Arch) Street. This structure was replaced, evidently in 1703, Isaac Norris writing in that year that there was a new house built in the place where the old bank meeting House Stood.
[25] In Germantown.
[26] Robert Turner (1635-4700), one of the wealthiest and most prominent merchants of the Philadelphia of that day, was a native of Cambridge, England; joined the early Quaker movement in Ireland, suffering in consequence fines and imprisonment; acquired large means as a Dublin linen draper; became one of the New Jersey proprietors by tbe purchase (1) in 1677, with other Irish Friends, of a share of West New Jersey and, (2) in 1681, along with the Earl of Perth, Penn, Barclay, and others, of the whole of East New Jersey. As a friend of Penn he entered largely into the Pennsylvania enterprise, buying 5000 acres of land in the province and subscribing £500 for stock of the Free Society of Traders. In 168.3 with his family and seventeen servants he came over to Pennsylvania in the ship Lyon and established his residence on his Philadelphia lot at the southwest corner of Front and Mulberry (Arch) streets, where in 1684, as he states, he built the first brick house in th,e city, as well as a wharf, called Mount Wharf, on his lot facing the 1*er one of the first three wharves of Philadelphia. He served as judge, receir general, commissioner of property, provincial councillor, and as one of theAve commissioners governing the province. In the Keith schism he joined the Keithites.
From: Myers, Albert Cook. Narratives of Early Pennsylvania, West New Jersey and Delaware, 1630-1707 in Narratives of Early American History, 1912.