Civil Government in Pennsylvania Established at Meeting of Council August 3, 1681

When William Penn was granted the charter for Pennsylvania, he and his heirs were constituted the true and absolute Proprietary of the country. Penn was empowered to establish laws, appoint officers, and to do other acts and things necessary to govern the country, including the right to erect manors.

The first act of William Penn was to write a letter to the inhabitants of Pennsylvania, dated April 8, 1681. Two days later he appointed his cousin Captain William Markham deputy governor and commander-in-chief of the province, whom he clothed with full powers to put the machinery of the new government into motion.

At what time Captain Markham sailed for America is not known, but we find him in New York, with the King’s letter in June, which, with his commission, he laid before the council and commander in the absence of Governor Andros.

On June 21, the authorities at New York addressed a letter to the justice and other magistrates on the Delaware notifying them of the change of government.

Markham departed from New York a few days later and repaired to Pennsylvania to enter upon his duties, bearing with him Penn’s letter to the inhabitants, which assured them that they should be governed by laws of their own making, and would receive the most ample protection to person and property.

Markham was authorized to call a council of nine, which met and organized August 3, from which time we may date the establishment of a civil government in Pennsylvania.

There was very little interference in the established order of things, and the people found a mild ruler in the deputy governor.

The seat of government was fixed at Upland, the present Chester. The old court closed its session September 13, and the new court opened the next day.

Among the business transacted at the opening of the new court was the appointment of William Biles and Robert Lucas, who lived at the falls, justices of the peace. Pounds, shillings, and pence were declared to be the currency of the country. But it was difficult to get rid of the guilders after they had been so long in circulation.

Markham was instructed by William Penn to select a site, and build for him a dwelling, and he chose the spot whereon Pennsbury house was erected, in Falls Township, Bucks County.

531On September 30, William Penn appointed William Crispin, John Bezar, and Christopher Allen, commissioners, to go to Pennsylvania with power to purchase land of the Indians and to select site for, and lay out a great city. About this same time he appointed James Harrison his “lawful agent,” to sell for him any parcel of land in Pennsylvania of not less than 250 acres.

Silas Crispen was appointed surveyor-general, and sailed with this commission but, dying on the voyage, Captain Thomas Holme was appointed in his place and commissioned April 18, 1682.

Among the earliest acts of Markham and the commissioners was the selection of a site for a great city, which resulted in the founding of Philadelphia. Soundings along the west side of the Delaware River were made to ascertain “where most ships may best ride of deepest draft of water.”

The growth of the new “city” was remarkable from its very inception. Within a few months Philadelphia contained eighty houses, and more than 300 farms were laid out and partly cleared.

In the summer of 1684 the city contained 357 houses, many of them large and well-built, with cellars. A year later the number of houses had increased to 600. There were nearly 3000 souls in the city at this time.

William Penn sailed for Pennsylvania in the ship Welcome, of 300 tons burden, Captain Robert Greenway, September 1, 1682, accompanied by 100 emigrants, mostly Friends.

He first landed at New Castle October 27, and then at Upland on the 29th. On November 9, Penn visited Philadelphia.

Penn was very favorably impressed with virgin Pennsylvania. Pastorius writes that Penn found the air so perfumed that it seemed to him like an orchard in full bloom; that the trees and shrubs were everywhere covered with leaves, and filled with birds, which, by their beautiful colors and delightful notes proclaimed the praise of their Creator.

Penn’s policy from the beginning of his province was to extinguish the Indian title to his grant of Pennsylvania by purchase. This he did in fact, and the several treaty purchases made by him were executed fairly and honorably.

At the first provincial assembly held at Philadelphia, in March, 1683, a number of acts were passed necessary to put Penn’s government in operation. The country was divided into three counties, Philadelphia, Chester, and Bucks, and their boundaries fixed. A house of correction was ordered for each county, 24 x 16 feet, in size.

The poor, who received relief from the county, with their families, were obliged to wear the letter P made of red or blue cloth, with the first letter of the name of the place they inhabited, in a conspicuous place upon the shoulder of the right sleeve.

The county court was authorized to fix a price on linen and 532woolen cloth, justices were to regulate wages of servants and women; a meal of victuals was fixed at seven pence half-penny, and beer at a penny a quart.

The products of the farms were to be received in payment of debts. Each settler of three years was to sow a bushel of barley, and persons were to be punished who put water in rum.

The civil government as established August 3, 1681, was soon functioning.