Some LETTERS AND AN Abstract of Letters FROM PENNSYLVANIA, Containing The State and Improvement of that Province. Published to prevent Mis-Reports. Printed, and Sold by Andrew sow, at the Crooked-Billet in Holloway-Lane, in Shoreditch, 1691. Some Letters, and Abstracts of Letters from Pennsylvania, &c. Dear Friend, MAny have been the earnest Desires of my Heart to see thee, thy dear Wife and tender Children, whom I truly love in the Lord; and I know here is a People in this Land that love thee, and are in longing expectation for thee: and if the Lord is pleased to give thee a safe arrival here, we should be greatly comforted in thee. So the Lord God of Israel be your Keeper and Preserver, and safe Conductor to this Land; which I hope will be the Glory of many Lands: for Truth prospers and Righteousness Reigns, and gets Dominion, Glory to the Lord for ever; whose sweet, heavenly, consolating Power and Presence is with us, and the shout of a King is amongst us. Dear Friend, I bless the Lord, matters relating to Truth and the Government are well amongst us, and we are in great Love and Unity peace and Quietness in this Province; but it hath not been so here-away in other places. And as to this Country, It is in a prosperous Condition beyond what many of our Friends can imagine: And wert thou and thy dear Wife and Children here in this Land, which God in his mercy and kindness hath given thee, surely your Hearts would be greatly comforted to behold this Wilderness-Land, how it is becoming a fruitful Field and pleasant Garden. Dear Friends, we may say, many have been the abounding Mercies of the Lord unto us, since we came into this place, that it is beyond what ever our Hearts could have thought of, so that we have no cause to murmur or complain; but rather we have cause to bless and magnify the Name of the Lord for his goodness to us; for his Love hath been large, and his Compassion hath not failed us. Dear Friends, methinks the hearing of these things should be a great motive to give you encouragement( for the Truth's sake and ours) to come and se●… e with us; as we your dear Brethren gave up all to come and settle with you; so that we may say, this is matter of Sorrow, and an Exercise to us, that we have not your Company with us. My Dear Friends, I do most sincerely desire your Happiness every way, as well in outward things, as in matters relating to an Eternal Felicity. And this I may say as to outward things, It might a been many Hundreds better for thee then it is; for the Hearts of many were inclined to this Land for Thy sake, which would and might have come, if thou hadst settled here, but now will never come, if thou comest not. Some thing of this kind was related to me within these few days by a Merchant now here, to see a Sister of his, and our Country; who tells me, That there are several responsible Friends and others inclinable to come to Pennsylvania; but will not come, says he, Except governor pen comes. Now Dear Friend, this is that, we are in Expectation of, viz. The coming of Thee and Family. So with Love unfeigned to Thee and thy Wife and Children, I truly am Thy real Loving Friend, John Goodson Dear governor, I have many things to writ, but fear I have been too large already, be pleased to bear with all weaknesses. I am Thy Real Friend, J. G. Philadelphia the 20th of the 6th Month, 1690. Nathaniel Wilmer, FRiend, my Love to thee, This comes Cover to the enclosed, for my Friend W. P. I know not but by his writing he may before this comes to hand, be on his Voyage towards us; if so, then I desire, by the first opportunity presenting to sand it back to me here, to be delivered to my own Hand. I hope the Ship trial is arrived in England, before this comes to hand; if so, John Fuller, my Love to him, and to my old Friends from Ireland, if thou see any of them, the Lord preserve them and us. I heard lately a Letter from Abraham Fuller from London, directed to John Fuller, giving some account of Ireland, and of some few Friends, God preserve them and keep them to himself; The Lord is Angry, Vengeance is his and he will repay it. God prospers his People and their honest Endeavours in the Wilderness, and many have cause to Bless and Praise his holy Arm, who in his Love hath spread a Table large unto us, even beyond the expectation or belief of many; yea, to the admiration of our Neighbouring Colonies; let the Murmurers, Repiners and evil Tiding-Tellers say as they will, God is amongst his People and the Wilderness is his, and he waters and refreshes it with his moistening due, whereby the Barren are become pleasant fields, and Gardens of his delight, blessed be his Name saith my Soul, and Peace and Happiness to all God's People every where. I should be glad to hear of the Faithful, and of their Welfare, especially of my ancient Friends in Ireland, who sojourned in a Land of great distress, wherein I have been; Thy Friend in the Truth, Robert Turner. Loving Friends John and S. due, IN the pure Love of God, are these lines sent unto you, who are often in my remembrance, with the many more of our Brethren and Sisters of our native Land; and it is not distance of place, that can make us forget you, who are Children with us of one Father, begotten again to a lively hope in Christ Jesus, who makes Intercession for us, and because He lives, we live also; and my hope is, we shall live a life, in and by the Faith of Christ Jesus, to the Honour and Glory of the Name of the Lord, whose Name and Power hath been gloriously manifested amongst us, since we came into this Land, which I hope will be the Glory of many Lands, for Truth prospers, and Righteousness reigns and gets Dominion, Glory to the Lord for ever. Now my dear Friends, matters relating to Truth, and the Government, I bless the Lord, are well amongst us, and we are in great Love, Unity, Peace and Quietness in this Province, but it hath not been so in other Places here-away: Oh itis the Lords Mercy and Goodness to us. And as to this Country, itis in a prosperous way and condition, beyond whatever our Hearts could have thought of, so that we have no cause to Repent, Murmur or Complain, but rather we have cause to Bless, magnify and Praise the Lord for his Goodness and abounding Mercies to us, who is making this Wilderness-Land, like a fruitful Field, and pleasant Garden, Glory to the Name of the Lord for ever. Dear Friends, we have great and large Meetings in this Town and Province, and they are very fresh & lively to us, through the lively Testimonies born amongst us; and it would be a joy to our Hearts to have some public Friends from our native Land to Visit us, which if any should have it in their Hearts to come, I know they will be kindly received by us. My Friends, here is great plenty of Provision, as Wheat, Rye, Beef, Pork, Mutton, Veal, mighty Cheap; We have two Market-days in a Week, that we want not most of those sorts of Meats. We now begin to have a Trade abroad as well as at home; here be several Merchants that Transport several Ship-Loads of Bread, Flower, Beef and Pork to Barbadoes and Jamaica; a fine Trade here is in the Town, consisting of many Trades-Men, which are eight Merchants, Responsible Men, House Keepers, twenty nine Shop-Keepers, great and small, three Brewers that sand off many a Tun of good Malt-Beer, three Malsters in this Town also, besides many that are in the Country, seven Master-Bakers, some of them bake and sand away many Thousand Bushels in a Year of Bread and Flower, this is truth; four Master-Butchers, nine Master-Carpenters, seven Master Brick-layers, four Brick-makers, with Brick-kills, nine Master shoemakers, nine Master Taylors, two Pewterers, one brazier, one saddler, one Clock and Watch-Maker, one Potter, three Tallow Chandlers, two soap Makers, three Woollen Weavers that are entering upon the Woollen Manufactory in the Town, besides several in the Country: And five Miles off, is a Town of Dutch and German People that have set up the linen Manufactory, which wove and make many Hundred Yards of pure fine linen Cloath in a Year, that in a short time I doubt not but the Country will live happily; five Smi●hs, one Comb-maker, one Tobacco-Pipe Maker, three Dyers, one joiner, one Cabinet-Maker, one Rope-Maker that makes Ropes for Shipping, three Master Ship-Carpenters, three Barbers, two chirurgeons, three conductor, several victualling Houses, or Ordinaries. All the fore-mentioned Trades, are sufficient House-Keepers, and live gallantly; four Master Coopers, that make abundance of Cask for the Sea, besides many Families of labouring People and Sawyers, that live happily; six Carters that have Teams daily employed to carry and fetch Timber and Bricks, Stones and Lime for Building, which goeth on to Admiration. They Build all with ston and Brick now, except the very meanest sort of People, which Build framed Houses with Timber, and Fetheredg-Boards without side, and lath'd and plastered within, two stories high, very pretty Houses; they are like the Buildings at the Park in Southwark. We have Rocks of Lime-Stone, where many Hundreds, yea Thousands of Bushels of Lime is made in a Year for this Town. So bear with me, Dear Friends, for these things opened in my Heart to writ to you, for my Soul is overcome with the Love of God, and my Heart is greatly comforted with the Lords abounding Mercies, to behold how good he is to us, since we came into this Land: Oh how glad should we be to see the Faces of any of you here, if it were but to Visit us, it would be acceptable to us. Mine and my Wife's very Dear Love is to you, &c. My Friends, here are about twenty one Meeting-Places established in Pennsylvania, and six Meetings fixed round this City, all within six Miles. So I rest your truly loving Friend, John Goodson. Philadelphia, the 24th of the 6th Month, 1690. I should be glad to hear from you as Opportunity presents. Abstracts taken out of several Letters sent to J. Tyzack from Philadelphia,( viz.) From J. W. I Should be glad once more to see thee in this Country; Philadelphia thrives to admiration, both in way of Trade, and also in Building, and is much altered since thou wert here( which is about sixteen Months) People in general have had their Health very well. 1 From Alexander Beardsly. Several have come to Inhabit with us from New York, as John Delavall and Jacob Tellener, more Friends and others are already come, so that if we do not prevent it ourselves by mis-living, this is likely to be a good place. Methinks it seems to me, as if the Lord had a blessing in store for this place; here is a good Government, and the Magistrates are Careful to keep good Order, to suppress 'vice and encourage virtuous Living; and a Watch is kept every Night by the House-Keepers, to see that no looseness nor Drunkenness take place. The People go on with Building very much, since thou went hence many good Houses are Built on the Front, at the least twenty this Year; the Bank( by the River) is taken up, all from the Blue Anchor beyond the penny-Pot-House. Friends here are generally in Health, the Country People go on a place with making both linen and Woollen, and Traders in Town do much increase, and People seem eager in Building, and House-rent towards the River high. 3. From W. Bradford, Samuel Crapenter and I are Building a Paper-Mill about a Mile from thy Mills at Skulkill, and hope we shall have Paper within less then four months; the Woollen Manufactories have made a beginning here, and we have got a public Flock of Sheep in this Town, and a shepherd, or two, to tend them. From C. Pickering. Philadelphia will flourish, here are more good Houses Built this Summer then ever was in one Year yet; things, that is, Provision and Corn, are very plentiful, and we are like to have a fine Country, a Free-School is set up, and has an able Master, George Keith. An Oil-Mill is erecting to make Coal and Rape-Seed-Oyle &c. Several Saw-Mills are Built that go by Water, and more Building, and Abundance of Corn-Mills in many places of the Country. J. T. Letters to the Proprietor. Honoured Sir, BEing made acquainted with your being in London, was exceeding desirous both to see you, and hear you, which by the assistance of my good Friend Mr John Tailor I had the Happiness to do both; and esteem it my duty( being Capable of no greater service at present) to give you an account of my late being in your Government, I mean Pensylvania, where I received not only the friendship of several very good People, and the pleasure of beholding the most excellent Improvement in the Country of all manner of Husbandry, that I have seen in all the Parts of America where I have been, which is from the Capes of Virginia to the City of New-York and some-what farther North, but also the pleasant Prospect of that Famous City,( in our parts) and situation of Philadelphia, from which, we in Maryland have lately received great benefit and supply for our Fleet, by being furnished with Bread, Beer, Flower and other provisions, to great quantities at reasonable Rates, and short warning, besides, the quiet and peaceable Repose, the Country afforded in these late disorders, gave occasion and invited several persons of good account from New-York and some from Maryland, there to breath a while in peace; which was no small benefit, as well as credit to the peaceable Inhabitants there. I have not said half what I know in the Commendations of the Province of Pennsylvania, but am in hopes cre-long to see it again, and then, or at any other time in my power shall be, Your Honours Humble Servant, R. Hill. November the 18th 1690. R. H. Sir, I Being lately arrived here from your Province of Pennsylvania, where I have lived about ten Years, it being a place I much admire, for its goodness and benefit to the Inhabitants thereof;( and 'tis a thousand pities itis not better known for the Advantage of many Thousands that might settle there, and live better than where they are, both with Ease and Satisfaction) I thought to have moved some discourse to you about it, but thought it might do better this way. I shall mention something in short about the Country, and nothing but what I can declare to be true and just, which may be an encouragement to many that may be minded to Transport themselves, their Families and Estates. It's generally a very fertile Soil, and yields great increase of any thing that is put into the Ground, itis also to be much commended for it's varieties of good Timber, as Oak, black Walnut, chestnut, Cedar, Poppler, &c. and exceedingly well furnished with good Water from Fountains and Springs Husbandry is generally followed there, and is highly commended by our Neighbouring Provinces; Virginia and Maryland, for surpassing them they being chiefly addicted to Planting of Tobacco, of which we make as good as they, though nothing nigh so much, our People only wanting encouragement. Wheat is sold with us for three Shillings, Barley two Shillings, Oats two Shillings, Indian Corn eighteen place per Bushel, a Cow and Calf for less then fore Pounds, a good breeding mere five Pound that money: And in short, all other things accordingly; but English Commodities with which they are usually bought, are sold there to great advance, at least Cent per Cent, as linen, Woollen, Stockings, shoes, Iron, ware, &c. Meat is cheap, considering it is a new Plantation, viz. Beef twelve Shillings per Cent, Pork is fifteen Shillings six Pence, & four fat dear of the Indians, for a Match-Coat, which may be worth here about five Shillings; and wild Turkeys, goose, Ducks, and other Fowls very plentiful, and also several sorts of Fish in abundance. Philadelphia is mightily improved,( for itis famous Buildings, Stone-Brick and Timber-Houses of very great Value, and good wharves for our Shipping) the most of any new Settlement in the World for its time. The Country also prospers very finely, our Merchants, besides their Trading hither with Tobacco, Furs of most sorts, Train-Oyl, &c. have also a smart Trade to the West-Indies, with Provisions, as Beef, Pork, Bread and Flower, and Train-Oyl and Tobacco and sometimes Horses, of which we have very good, with several other Commodities the Country affords, we have all sorts of Grain, so much as Rice, which is of great Increase; for I was formerly acquainted with a Person in Kent-County, that told me, from six Grains he had the first year at least half a pint Increase. We supply New-England with abundance of Wheat, and have carried Bread, Flower, Beef, Pork and strong Beer to Mary-Land and Virginia, which hath vended well; and as for our Bay and River, they are much to be commended, having so good a Channel, and being so well furnished with good Creeks and Rivulet. At the scape Inlo●pen, is the Whaling design set forward, by several of our Town of Le●is, a great promotion of the Country. All those things, and much more I can truly declare of my own Knowledge, having been so long time in public Employment both in Trade and Government. It is great pity we have not more Trading, especially in our lower Counties, from whence great Returns might Yearly be made; and a smart Trade I could propose to any Gentlemen that would be willing to settle one there, which might prove very advantageous; and several ways might be found out, for our having a far greater Trade with England than now we have, and if it please God that your-self in person were there, it would introduce abundance thither from other Parts, who in general have a great desire to the Country. I shall not farther be troublesone but begging Pardon for my boldness, shall crave leave( with my hearty wishes for your Health and Happiness, and Good and Prosperity of your Country) hearty to Subscribe Your most Humble Servant, William Roden●y. London, the 14th of October, 1690. I know the Contents hereof to be True, and that much more might be said of the Country and Improvement thereof, having resided there about eight Years. John Holland. AFter my very Humble Service, and due respects to you, thought good to give you the trouble of these Lines, having been several times at your Lodging to wait upon you, as I thought in Duty bound to pay my respects, and give you as far as I know an account of the affairs of your prospering Province of Pennsylvania, and have not had the Happiness to see you there. I was about twelve Months from thence on my last Voyage, and when I arrived at Philadelphia, I found the Government in good order, the People generally in good Health, only some few visited with the Small-Pox, but not many Died, and the improvements( beyond my Expectation) to Admiration, as well in Trade as in Tillage and Building. The Country-men finding the profit now coming in, do clear away the Woods, Plow and improve their Lands in Corn, Hemp and Flax, and enlarge themselves in great stocks of Horses, Oxen, Cows, Hogs, and some Sheep, so that they can, and do now spare great quantities of Corn to our Neighbour Provinces, which formerly we were forced to be beholding to, the Merchants making great merchandises, viz. for the West-Indies. I understand Ten or Twelve Sail went loaden thither the last Summer with Bi●ket, Flower, Beef and Pork: My loading hither, I suppose, you have heard what it is, that is to say, Skins, Beavers, Otters, Minks, Dear, Bear, Fox and Cats, with other Sorts, with oil and Whalebone. There is also a great Flock of Sheep kept in the Town-Liberties, and a Woollen-Manufactory is at work, which keeps several Carders and Spinners at work, and very good Stuffs and Sarges are already made: many Houses were Built the last Summer, and I heard many more are agreed for to be Built. The Bank and River-Street is so filled with Houses, that it makes an enclosed Street with the Front in many places, which before lay open to the River Delaware. There is within the bounds of the City, at least fourteen Hundred Houses, a considerable part of which are very large, and fair Buildings of Brick; we have likewise wharves Built out into the River, that a Ship of a Hundred Tun may lay her side to. Several Families are come from other Colonies, to settle in Pennsylvania, where, Blessed be God, is Peace and Plenty. Wheat three Shillings a Bushel, Beef fifteen Shillings a Hundred, Pork, two pence a pound,( of that money.) Two Dayes in the Week a plentiful Ma●ket, with all manner of Provisions; and Fruit in great plenty, according to the season of the Year. I hope shortly to find an opportunity to wait on you myself, till which time I remain. Sir, your most Humble Servant to command, Richard Morris. December the 12th 1690. governor pen. MY Love, with my Wife's, to Thee and Thy Wife and Family; and these are to give Thee an Account of Pennsylvania, that it is wonderfully improved within these four, or five Years, in Houses and Land and Provision; and most sorts of Trades-Men do good there; and Labouring men may live well there. Wheat is sold for three shillings, Barley at two shillings a Bushel, and Oats at one shilling six pence a Bushel, & Beef & Pork at two pence, Bacon at four pence per pound, all, this Country Money, an English Shilling going for fifteen pence there We also fell abundance of Wheat to New-England, great quantities of Flower, biscuit, Pork & strong Beer to Barbados, and those parts: so being willing to give Thee a short Account, I Remain Thy Loving Friend, Francis Harrison. Dec. 26. 1690. THE END