YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 3 9002 06471 8332 Ck3 4-0 AnHiftoricaland Geographical Account OF THE PROVINCE and COUNTRY O F PENSILVANIA; AND OF Weft - New -Jerfey AMERICA. The Richnefs of the Soil, the Sweernefs of the Situation the Wholefomrrefs of the Air, the Navigable Rivers.* and others, the prodigious Encreafe-of Corn, the flourilhing Condition of the Cily of Philadelphia*, with the ftately Buildings, and other Improvements there. The ftrange Creatures, as Bird,, Bea/is, Fijhes, and Fowls, with the feveral forts of Minerals^ Purging Waters, dnd Stones, lately difcoveved. The Natives, JborogmeS, their Lan guage, \eUgion., Laws, and Cujloms ; The firft Planter*, tht'Dutch, Sweeds, and Mngli/h, with the number of its Inhabitants ; Asalfo a Touch upon George Keith's New Religion, m his. fecond Chanee fince he Teft the ajtAf^EliS With .& Map of both Countries. $y GABRIEL THOMAS, "Who refided there about Fifteen Years. London f Printed for, and Sold by A. Baldwin^ at the Oxon Arms in Warwick-Lane^ 1 698. LITHOGRAPH EI) FOR lie nrt)3Utttm 18m&g,%ifmr^ rorxsEiLOR at law: MEMBER OF THE MVV-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETX&e. /¦V r'ni/nur ,'Urt/ir//rr_J. 1848 THE DEDICATIO N. Friend William Penn , I Here prefent Thee with a mc- cincT. (yet compleat) Account ofthe late Improvement, and Prefent State of the Noble Pro vince, and Fertile Countrey of Ten- JUvania ; with the ftrange things that have been found there, as the Salamander-Stone, and feveral others, mentioned in this Treatife -9 difco* • vered fince thou cameft out of thofe Parts. I defire Thee to excufe me for addretfmg to The-, fuch a Plain and Peafknt-like Piece ; yet however homely or coarfeit may appear,Th ou wilt find here a true and genuine A z De- The 'Dedication. Defcription of that (ontfe) obfcure, tho' (now) glorious Place. So con sidering how generous and candid a Man Thouzxt, I know thou wilf bear with my weak and imperfecr. Performance, artd accept of my good Meaning and kind Intention, which may encourage me, in time to come, to add fome more Memoirs to this rough Effay oi mine. Being unwilling to tire Thee wkh any long or tedious Epiftle, I take my Leave of XW, (Mod Noble and Excellent Governor) and am Thy hearty Weli-wijber } ever rtady to [wye Thee on all Occajioasy ( m the way of Truth,) Gabriel Thomas. THE THE PREFACE, R eader, THere never having been any fair or full Account given to the World of Pen- filvania , I thought the Cu rious wou'd he gratified with an ample "Defcription thereof. Bor tho this Country has made little Noife in Story, or td%en up hut frnall room in Maps, jet thus much mtb great fttflice may be- fmd of it) that notmth/landing' the A j Diffir \ The Preface. 'Difficulties and Incoiwenien* cies the Firft Englifh CoL lorries met with before they 'were Well fettled there , yet the mighty Improvements, Additions, and Advantages that have heen made, lately there, are well north Communicating to the TuhlicJL and I am fenjible they will be well receivd. The late Tedious, Hazard ous, and Expenfive War (in which England, in ConjunUion Voith the Allies was fo deeply en- gdg'd) was without doubt no fmall 'Bar or Oh (lack to the Flourifhing of this Nevp Country. The great Difcourtgemenls tbe Traders thither lay under, (to gether The Preface. gether with the frequent Capture of their Ships out and home,coud not chufe but baul\them in their honeft Endeavours* which (now Teace is refold) they may pur- fue with greater Security and Satisfa&ion. Nor is there the leafl aueftion or doubt to he made, but this 'No ble Spot of Earth will thrive ex ceedingly , and that in afhort time tQO) and advance confiderahly to the mighty Advantage of theTre- fent and Future Tropietors, who have, and are willing to give all due Encouragement to any that fhall Tranfport themf elves thi* . then I The Preface. I coud fay much here in Traife of that fweet Trail of Land, hut havinv fpoken fp largely arid particularly thereof in the Bool^ it felf, I [hallfoi- bear the leafl mention in this place. Nor will I Anticipate or foreftai thee, hy prefenting thee here with what thou wilt find there, with the greater Sa- tisfallion. And fo I bid thee heartily fareiyel. Gab. Thomas. THE r E UN ^ YIVAXTA^WEgT J URSIY tTiT '"" "¦' III'IJI IB IS -t ikIIIIM'IMIliU tiitcs l>j> Philip 'Xea Lon?on. THE HISTORY O F Tenflvanid, &G PEvfiliuama lies between the Latitude of Forty and Forty five Degrees ; Wefi- Jerfey ontheEaft, Vtrgi- xe'aon the W e\\.,Ma.iy-La?U South, and Canada- on the North. In Length three hundred, and in Breadth one hundred and eighty Mijes. The Natives, or firft Inhabi tants of this Country in their Ori ginal, are fuppos'd by moft Peo ple to have been of the Ten Scat tered Tribes, for they refemble the Jews very much in the Make B of The tiiftory of their Perfpns, and Tinttureofc their Complexions : They obferve New Moons, they offer their first Fruits to aMandcfix fuppos'dDei- ty, whereof they have two, one, as they fanfie, above (good,) ano ther below (bad^) and have a kind of Veafl of TabervaclesfaymQ their Altars upon Twelve Stones, ob ferve a fort of Mourning twelve Months, Caftoms of Women, and many other Kites to be toucht (here) rather than dwelt upon,be- caufethey fhall be handled more at large at the latter end of this Treatife. They are very CharitabLe to one another, the Lame and the Blind (amongft them) living as well as the beft ¦ they are alfo yery kind and obliging to the Christians. The next that came there, were the Dutch, (who call'd the Country New NeU'herla,n£) be tween Fifty and Sixty Years a- of Peirfilvania. go, and were the fail Planters in thofe Parts; but they made lit tle or no Improvement, (apply ing themfelves wholly to Tra- fique in Skins and Furs, which the Tndiaw- or Natives furniilfd them with, and which they Bar tered for Rum, Strong Liquors, and Sugar, with others, thereby gaining great Profit) till near the time or the Wars between Eng- /a7tda.T\& Tbem, about Thirty or Forty Years ago. Soon after them came the Swedes and Fins, who apply 'd themfelves to Husbandry, and were the firft Christian People that made any considerable Im provement there. There were fomeDifputes be tween thefe two Nations fame Years, the Dutch looking upon the Swedes as Intruders upon their Purchase and Poffefilon, which way abfolutely terminat ed in the Surrender made by John B % TMzcing 4 The Hiftory Rizeing, the Swedes- Governour, to Peter Styr&ant, Governour for theD^^, in 1655. In the Holland War about the Year 1665. Sir Robert Carr took the Country from the Dutch for the EngUfh, and left his Coufm, Cap tain Carr, Governor of that place ; but in a fhort time after, the Dutch re-took the Country from the Engtifh] and kept it in their Poffeflion till the Peace was con eluded between the Englifh and them, when the Dutch Surren dered that- Country with £,2/? and Weji-ferfey, New-Tork, (with the whole Countries belonging to that, Government) to the Englifh again. ' But it remain 'd with ve ry little Impovement till the Year 1681. in which William- Pe?m Efq; had the Country given him by King Charles the Second, in lieu of Money that was due to (and fignal Service done by) his Father, Sir William Pem^ and from him bore the Name of Pen- fylvtmia. Since of Penfilvania. 5 Since that time, the Induflri- ous (nay Indefatigable) Inhabi tants liave built aivc^and Beau- riftd City, and called it Philadel phia, which contains above two thoufand Houfes, all Inhabited; and moft of them Stately, and of Brick, generally three Stories high, after the Mode in London, and as many feveral Families in each. There are ' very many Lanes and Alleys, as firlt, Hut- tons-Eane, Morris-Ea-ne, Jones' 's- Lane, wherein are very good Buildings ; Shorters- Alley, Towers- Lane, Wallers- Alky, Turners- Lane, Sikes-AUey^ and Fhwers-AUey. AH fhefe Alleys and Lanes ex tend from the Front Street to the Second- Street. There is another Alley in the Second Street, called Carters- Alley. There are alfo befides thefe Alleys and Earns, feveral fine Squares and Courts within this Magnificent City, (for fo I may )uftly call it,) As for the particular Names of the feveral B 3 Streets Ihe Hiftory Streets contained therein, the Principal areas follows, viz, Wal nut-Street, Vine-Street, Mulhe-rry. Street, Chefnwt-Slreet, Saffafrts- Street, taking their Names from the abundance of thofe Trees that formerly grew there; High- Street,BroaA.-Street,Dela.ivare-Str Eagles, Tur- kies (of Forty or Fifty Pound Weight) Pheafants, Partridges, Pidgeons, Heath-Birds, Black- Birds; and that Strange and Re markable Fowl, cali'd (in thefe Parts) the Mocking-Bird , that Imitates all forts of Birds in their various Notes. And for Fifh, there are prodigious quan tities of moft forts, viz,. Shadds Cats He.ids, She^eps -Heads, Her rings \ Sm^Us, Roach, Eels, perch. As 1 4 The HiStory As alfo the large fort of Fifh, as Whales (of which a great deal of Oyl is made) Salmon, Trout, Sturgeon, Rock, Oyjlers, (fome fix Inches long) Crabs, Cockles, (fome as big as Stewing Oyfers of which are made a Choice Soupe or Broth) Canok and Muff els, with many other forts of Fifh, which would be too tedious td infert. There are feveral forts of wild Beafls of great Profit, and good Food ; viz. Panthers, Woolves, Either, Deer, Beaver, Otter, Hares, Musk-Rals , Minks , Wild Cats, Foxes, Rackoons, Rabils, and that ffrange Creature, the Poffam, fhe having a falfe Belly to fwal- low her Yonng ones, by which means fhe preferveth them from danger, when any thing comes to diflurbthem.. There are alfo Bears fome Wolves, are pretty well deflroy'd by the Indians, for the fake of the Reward gi ven them by the Chriftian-. for that of Penfilvania. \ j that Service. Here is alfo that Re markable Creature the Flying- Squirrel, having a kind of Skinny Wings, almoft like thofe of the Batt:, though it hath the like Hair and Colour of the Com mon Squirrel, but is much lefs iu Bodily Subflance; I have (ray felf ) feen it fly from one Tree to another in the Woods, but how long it can maintain its Flight is not yet exaftly known. There are in the Woods abun dance, of Red Deer (vulgarly call ed Stags) for I have bought of the Indians a whole Buck, (both Skin and Carcafs) for two Gills of Gunpowder. Excellent Food, mofl delicious, far exceeding that in Europe-, in the Opinion of mofl that are Nice and Curious People. There are vaft Numbers of other Wild Creatures, as Elks, Bufa- los, &.c. all which as well Beafts. Fowl, and Fifh, are free and Common to any Perfon who can moot or take them, without anv 1 6 The Hiftory any lett, hinderanee or Oppofi- tion whatfoever. There are among other vari ous forts of Frogs^ the Butt-Frog, which makes a roaring noife,hard- ly to be diftinguifhed from that well known of the Beafl, from whom it takes its Name: There is another fort of Frogthat crawls up to the tops of Trees, there feeming to imitate the Notes of feveral Birds, with many other ftrange and various Creatures, which would take up too much room here to mention. Next, I fhall proceed to in- flance in the feveral forts of Wild Fruits, as excellent Grapes, Red, Black, White, Mufcadel, and Fox, which upon frequent Experience have produe'd Choice Wine, being daily Cultivated by skil ful Vin&rons ; they will in a fhort fpace of time, have very good Liquor of their own, and fome to fnpply their Neighbours, to their of Penfilvania. 1 7 their great advantage, as thefe Wines are more pure, fo much more wholfom ; the Brewing Trade of Sophifticating and Adulterating of Wines, as in England, Holland, (efpecially) and in fome other places not being known there yet, nor in all pro bability will it in many Years, through a natural Probity fo fixed and implanted in the In habitants, and (I hope) like to continue. Wallnuts, Chefnuts, FiU/erts, Hechery-Nuts, Hartleber- rtes, Mulberries, (white and black) Raslerrks, Strawberries, Cramber- ries, Plumbs oi feveral forts, and many other Wild Fruits, in great plenty, which are common and free for any co gather; to particularise the Names of them aIl,would take up too much time ; tire, not gratifie the Reader, and. be inconfiftent with the in tended Brevity of this little Vo lume . C The 18 Tin Fftttory The common Planting Fruit- Trees, are Affhs, which from a Kernel (without Inoculating) will fhoot up to be a large Tree, and produce very delicious, large, and pleafant Fruit, of which much excellent Cyder is made, in tafte refembling that in England prefs'd from Pippins and Pear- mains, fold commonly for be tween Ten and Fifteen Shillings per Barrel. Pears, Peaches, Sec. of which they diflil a Liquor much like the tafle of Rumrn, or Brandy, which they Yearly make in great quantities : There are Oainces, Cherries, Goosherries, Currants , Squafhes, Pumfkins , Water-Mellons , Muskmellons , and other Fruits in great Numbers, which feldom fail of yielding great plenty. There are alfo many curious and excellent Phy- fcal Wild Herbs, Roots, and Drugs of great Vertue, and very fana- tive, as the Sajfafras, and Sarfa- farilU, fo much us'd in Diet- Drinks of Penfilvania. 19 Drinks for the Cure of the Ve- neral Difeafe, which makes the Indians by a right application of them, zsahh Bafflers and. to JVew-Tork, New-England , Virginia , Mary- Land, Carolina, "Jamaica, Barba does, Nevis, Monferat, Antego, St. Criftophers, Barmudoes , New-Found- Land, Maderas^ Saltetudeous, and Old-England; befides feveral o- ther places. Their Merchandize chiefly confifts in Horfes, Pipe- Stavesj of Peniilvanu. 25 Staves, Pork and Beef Salted and Barrelled up, Bread, and Flower, all forts of Grain, Peafe, Beans, Skins, Furs, Tobacco, or PotAJhes, Wax, 8tc. which are Barter'd for Rumrn, Sugar, Mo- lajfes, Silver, Negroes, Sals, Wine, Linen, Houfhold-Goods, SdC. However, there ftill remain Lots of Land both in the afore- faid City and Country, that a- ny may Purchafe almoft as cheap as they could at the firft Laying out or Parcelling of either City or Country; which is, (in the Judgment of moft People) the likeheft to turn to account to thofe that lay their Money out upon it, and in a fhorter time than the aforementioned Lots and Lands that are already im proved, and for feveral Reafons. In the firft place, the Countrey is now well inhabited by the Chrifhans, who have great Stocks of all forts of Cattle, that encreafe extraordinarily, and up- 071 2 6 The Biftory on that account they are oblig'd to go farther up into the Coun trey, becaufe there is the chiefeft and beft place for their Stocks, and for them that go back into the Countrey, they get the richeft Land, for the beft lies thereabouts. Secondly, Farther into the Countrey is the Principal Place to Trade with the Indians for all forts of Pelt, as Skins and Furs, and alfo Fat Venifon, of whom People may Purchafe cheaper by three Parts in four than they can at the City of Philadelphia. Thirdly, Backwards in the Countrey lies the Mines where \s Copper and Iron, befides other Metals, and Minerals, of which there is fome Improvement made already in order to bring them, to greater Perfection; and that will be a means to ere£t more Inland Market-Towns, which of Penfilvania. ij which exceedingly promote Traffick. Fourthly, and laftly, Becaufe the Countrey at the firft, lay ing out, was void of Inhabi tants (except the Heathens, or very few Chriftians not worth naming) and not many People caring to abandon a quiet and eafie (at leait tolerable) Life in their Native Countrey (ufually the mofl agreeable to all Man kind) to feek out a new hazard ous, and careful one in a Fo reign Wildernefs or Defart Coun trey, wholly deftitute of Chri- ftian Inhabitants, and even to arrive at which, they mufl pafs over a vaft Ocean, expos'd to fome Dangers, and not a few In- conveniencies : But now all thofe Cares, Fears and Hazards are vanifhed, for the Countrey is pretty well Peopled, and very much Improv'd, and will be more every Day, now the Dove is 28 The Hifiory isreturn'dwith the Olive-branch of Peace in her Mouth. I muft needs fay, even the prefent Encouragements are ve ry great and inviting, for Poor People (both Men and Women) of all kinds, can here get three times the Wages for their La bour they can in England or Wales. I fhall inftance in a few, which may ferve ; nay, and will hold in all the reft. The firft was a Black-Smith, (my next Neighbour) who himfelf and one Negro Man he had, got Fifty Shillings in one Day, by working up a Hundred Pound Weight of Iron, which at Six Pence per Pound (and that is the common Price in that Coun trey) amounts to that Summ. And for Carpenters, both Houfe and Ship, Brick-layers, Ma- Jons, either of thefe Trades-Men, will of Penfilvania. 2p will get between Five and Six Shillings every Day conflantly. As to Journey-Men- Shooe-Makers, they have Two Shillings per Pair both for Men and Womens Shooes: And Journey-Men Tay lors have Twelve Shillings per WTeek and their Diet. Sawyers get between Six and Seven Shil lings the Hundred for Cutting of Pine-Boards. And for Wea vers, they have Ten or Twelve. Pence the Yard for Weaving of that which is little more than half a Yard in breadth. Wooll- Combers , have for combing Twelve Pence per Pound. Por ters have Sixteen Pence for an Earthen Pot which may he bought in England for Four Pence. Tanners, may buy their Hides green for Three Half Pence per Pound, and fell their Leather for Twelve Pence per Pound. And Curriers have Three Shillings and Four Pence per Hide for Drefling it ; they buy their Oyl at Twenty Pence jo The HiStory Pence ?#• Gallon. Brick-Makers have Twenty Shillings per Thou- fand for their Bricks at the Kiln. Felt-Makers will have for their Hats Seven Shillings a piece, fuch as may be bought in Eng land for Two Shillings a piece; yet they buy their WooU com* monly for Twelve or Fifteen Pence per Pound. And as to the Glaziers, they will have Five Pence a Quarry for their Glafs. The Rule for the Coo pers I have almofl forgot; but this I can affirm of forne who went from Briflol, (as their Neighbours report) that could: hardly get their Livelihoods there, are now reckon'd in Pen- ftlvania^ by a modeft Computa tion to be worth fome Hun dreds, (if not Thouiands) of Pounds. The Bakers make as White BTead as any in London, and as for their Rule, it is the fame in all Pans of the World that I have been in. The But- chers for killing aBeaft, have Five Shillings of Penfilvania. j l Shillings and their Diet; and they may buy a good fat large Cow for Three Pounds, or there abouts. " The Brewers fell fuch Beer as is equal in Strength to that in Lotidon, half Ale and half Stout for Fifteen Shillings per Barrel ; and their Beer hath a better .Name, that is, is in more efteem than Knglifh Beer in Bar badoes, and is fold for a higher Price theTe. And for Stiver - Smiths', they have between Half a Crown and Three Shillings an Ounce for working their Silver, and for Gold equivalent. Pla.- jterers have commonly Eighteen Pence per Yard for Plaftering. Lajl-Makers have Sixteen Shil lings per dozen for their Lafts. And Heel-Makers have Two Shillings a dozen for their Heels. Wheel and Mill-Wrights, Joyners, Br afters, Pewter ers, Dyers, Fullers, Comb-Makers, Wyer-Draivers, Cage- Makers, Card-Makers, Painters, Carters, Rope-Makers, Carvers, Bdock-Makers , Turners , Button- Makers, ^i The Hi/lory Makers, Hair and Wood Sieve- Makers, Bodies-Makers, Gun- Smiihs, Lock-Smiths, Nailers, File- Cuter s, Skinners^ Furriers, Glovers, Patten-'MaJters, Watch-Makerss Clock-Makens, Sadler s ,C 'oiler-Makers ¦, Barbers, Printers, Book-Binders, and all other Trades-Men, their Gains and Wages are about the fame proportion as the fore- mentioned Trades in their Ad vancements, as to what they have in England. Of Lawyers and Phyficians I fhall fay nothing, became this Countrey is very Peaceable and Healty; long may it fo continue and never have occafion for the Tongue of the one, nor the Pen of the other, both equally deilruc- tive to Mens Eftates and Lives ; befides forfooth, they, Hang- Man like, have a Licenfe to Mur der and make Mifchief. Labour ing-Men have commonly here, between 14 and 15 Pounds a Year, and their Meat, Drink, Wafhing of Penfitvania. 3 3 Wafhing and Lodging; and by the Day their Wages is general ly between Eighteen Pence and Half a Crown, and Diet alfo ; But in Harveft they have ufual- ly between Three and Four Shil ling each Day, and Diet. The Maid Servants Wages is common ly betwixt Six and Ten Pounds per Annum, with very good Accommodation. And for the Women who get their Livelihood by their own Indufhry, their Labour is very dear, for I can buy in London a Cheefe-Cake for Two Pence, bigger than theirs at that price when at the fame time their Milk is as cheap as we can buy it in London, and their Flour cheaper by one half. Corn and Flelh, and what elfe ferves Man for Drink, Food and Rayment, is much cheaper here than in England, or elfewhere ; but the chief rea- fon why Wages of Servants of all forts is much, higher here D than 3 4 The Fliftory than there, arifesfrom the great Fertility and Produce of the Place; befides, if thefe large Stipends were refufed them, they "would quickly fet up for themfelves, for they can have Provifion very cheap, and Land for a very fmall matter, or next to nothing in comparifon of the Purchace of Lands in England; and the Farmers there, can bet ter afford to give that great Wages than the Farmers in Eng land can, for feveral Reafbns ve ry obvious. As Firft, their Land cofts them (as I faid but juft now) little or nothing in comparifon, of which the Farmers com monly "will get twice the en- creafe of Corn for every Bti- fhel they fow, that the Farmers in England can from the richeft Land they have. In of Penfilvania. ^ In the Second place, they hav e conflantly good price for their Corn, by reafon of the great and quick vent* into Barbadoes and other Iflands ; through which means Sih'er is become more plentiful than here in Eng- lmdi confidering the Number of People, and that caufes a < Juick Trade for both Corn and iattle; and that is the reafon that Corn diners now from the Price formerly, elfeit would be at half the Price it was at then ; for a Brother of mine (to my own particular knowledge) fold within the compafs. of one Week, about One Hundred and Twen ty fat Beafts, moft of them good handfom large Oxen. Thirdly, They pay no Tithes, and their Taxes are mconfideta- ble ; the Place is free for all Per flations, in a Sober and Civil way ; for the Church of England and the Quakershevx equal Share Pa in 36 The History in the Government. They live Friendly and Well together; there is no Perfecution for Re ligion, nor ever like to be ; 'tis \ this that knocks all Commerce \ on the Head, together with high ilmpofrs, IfrifrLaws, and cramp - ling Orders. Before 1 end- this Paragraph, I fhafl add another Reafon why Womens Wages are fo exorbitant ; they are not yet very numerous, which makes them ftand upon high Terms for their feveral Services, in Sempftering, Waffling, Spinning, Knitting, Serving, and in all the other parts of their Imploy- ments; for they have for Spin ning either Worfted or Linen, Two Shillings a Pound, and commonly for Knitting a very Courfe pair of Yarn Stockings, they have half a Crown a pair; moreover they are ufually Mar- ry'd before they are Twenty Years of Age, and when once in that Noofe, are for the moft part a little nneafie, and make their of Penfilvania. 37 their Husbands fo too, till they procure them a Maid Servant to bear the burden of the Work, as alfo in fome meafure to wait on them too. It is now time to return to the City of Brotherly- Love (for fo much the Greek Word or Name Philadelphia imports) which though at prefent fo ob- fcure, that neither the Map- Makers, nor Geographers have ta.- ken the leaft notice of her, tho fhe far exceeds her "Name- fake of Lydia, * (having above Two Thoufand Noble Houfes G*r^j/-/ for her Five Hundred Ordinary) Miks or Celifia, or Ccelefyria; yet in a^om very fhort fpace of time fhe b'myma- will, in all probability, make a a fine Figure in the World, and be a moft Celebrated Emporeum. Here is lately built a Noble Town-Houfe or Guild-Hall, alfo a Handfom Market-Hook , and a con venien t Prifon-. The Num ber of Chriftians both Old and D 3 Young 3 8 The Hifiory Young Inhabiting in that Coun trey, are by a Modeft Compu tation, adjudged to amount to above Twenty Thoufand. The Laws of this Countrey, are the fame with thofe in Eng land; our Conftitution being on the fame Foot: Many Difputes and Differences are determined and compofed by Arbitration ; and all Caufes are decided with great Care and Expedition, be ing concluded (generally) at fur- theft at the Second Court, unlefs they happen to be very "Nice and Difficult Cafes ; under Forty Shil lings any one Juftice of the Peace has Power to Try the Caufe. Thieves of all forts, are oblig'd to reftore four fold after they have been Whipt and Impri- fon'd, according to the Nature of their Crime ; and if they be not of Ability to reftore four fold, they muft be in Servitude till 'tis fatisfied. They have Curious Wharfs as alfo feveral large of Penfilvania: ^9 large, and fine Timber- Yards, both at Philadelphia, and Neti- Caflle, efpecially at the Metropo lis, before Robert Turner's Great and Famous Houfe, where are built Ships of confiderable Burthen; they Cart their Goods from that Wharf into the City of Philadelphia, under an Arch, over which part of the Street is built, which is called Chefnut- Street-Wharf, befides other Wharfs, as High-Street Wharf, Mulberry- Street Wharf, and Vin&-Sreet Wharf, and all thofe are Com mon Wharfs; and likewife there are very pleafant Stairs , as Trus and Carpenter-Stairs ; befides feveral others. There are above Thirty Carts belonging to that City, Four or Five Horfes to each. There is like- wife a very convenient Wliarf called Carpenter's Wharf which hath a fine neceffary train be longing to it, with fuitable Granaries, and Store-Houfes. ' A Ship of Two Hundred Tun may D 4 load 40 The Hifiory load and unload by the fide of- it, and there are other Wharfs (with Magazines and Ware-Houfes) which front the City all along the River, as alfo a Curious and Commodious Dock with a Draw- Bridge to it, for the convenient Reception of Veffels; where have been built fome Ships of Two or Three Hundred Tuns each : They have very Stately Oaks to build Ships with, fome of which are between Fifty and Sixty Foot long, and clear from Knots, being very ftraight and well Grain'd. In this famous City of Philadelphia there are fe veral Rope-Makers, who have large and curious Rope-Walks e- ipecially one Jofeph Wilcox. Al fo Three or Four Spacious Mdt- Houfes, as many large Brew- Houfes, and many handfom Bake- Houfes for Publick Ufe. In the faid City are feveral good Schools of Learning for Youth, in order to the Attain ment of Penfdvania. 41 ment of Arts and Sciences, as al fo Reading, Writing, &c. Here is to be had on any Day in the Week, Tarts, Pies, Cakes, &c. We have alfo feveral Cooks-Shops, both Roafting and Boyling, as in the City of London; Bread, Beer, Beef, ana P, One Word ferveth in the flead of Three,, imperfect and ungram- matical, which defects are fiip- ply'd by the Underftanding of the Hearers. Sweet, of Noble Sound and Accent. Take here a Specimen. Hodi hit a -net husk a a-peechi, nee, machi Penfilvania huska dogwachi. ke- fhow a peechi Novna, huska hayly, Chetena ioon peo. Thus in Engtifh. Farewel Friend,I will very quick ly go to Penfilvania, very cold Moon will come prefently, And very great hard frofts will come quickly. 48 The Hittory I might Treat largely of their Cufloms and Manners, but that will not agree with my pro- pofed Brevity. As foon as their Children are born, they wafh them in cold Water, efpecially in cold Weather.' To harden and embolden them, they plunge them in the River , they find their Feet early, ufual ly at Nine Months they can go. The Boys Fifh till Fifteen, then Hunt, and having given proof of their Manhood, by a large return of Skins, they may Mar ry (elfe 'tis afhame to think of a Wife) which is ufually at the Age of Seventeen or Eighteen ; the Girls flay with their Mothers, and help to hoe the Ground, Plant Corn, bear Burdens, and Marry about Thirteen or Four teen. of Penfilvania. 45? Their . Houfes are Matts, or Barks of Trees fet on Poles, Barn-like, not higher than a Man, fo not exposed to Winds. They lie upon Reeds or Grafs. In Travel they lodge in the Woods about a great Fire, with the Mantle of Dufrils they wear wrapt about them, and a few Boughs ftuck round them. They live chiefly on Maze, or Indian Corn- rofted in the Afhes, Ovnetimes beaten and boyl'd with Water, called Homine. They have Cakes, not unpleafant; alfo Beans and Peafe, which Nourifh much, but the Woods and Ri vers afford them their Provifion; they eat Morning and Evening; their Seats and Tables are the Ground; they are, referv'd, apt to refent and retain long: Their Women are Chafte (at leaft af ter Marriage) and when with Child, will not admit of their E Hus- jo The Hiftory Husbands Embraces any more till Dehver'd. Exceeding Libe ral and Generous; Kind and Affable; uneafie in Sicknefs, to remedy which, they drink a De coction of Roots in Spring- Wa ter, forbearing Flefh, which if they happen to eat, it rnuft be the Female; they commonly bury their Kettles and part of their Goods with their Friends when they die, fufpecting (poor Souls) they fhall make ufe of them again at the Refurrection. They Mourn a whole Year, but it is no other than black' ing their Faces. Their Government is Mo narchical, and Succeflive, and ever of the Mothers (the fureft) fide, to prevent a Spurious Iflue. The Diftaff (as in France) is ex cluded the Regal Inheritance. Their Princes are Powerful, yet do nothing without the Con currence of their Senate, or Councils, of Penirivania. 51 Councils, confifting chiefly of Old, but mixt with Young Men ; flow and deliberate, {Spaniard- like) in refolving, naturally wife, and hardly to be out-witted. Their Punifhmentsare Pecuniary. Murder may be aton'd for by Feafts and Prefents, in Propor tion to the Quality of the Offence, Perfon, or Sex injur'd; for if a Woman be kilfd, the Mulct is double, becaufe fhe brings forth Children. They feldom quarel. when Sober, and if Boozy, (which of late they are more apt to he, having learn'd to drink, a little too much Rum of the Chriftians, to their lhame) they readily pardon it, alledging the Liquor is Criminal not the Man. The way of Worfhip the SmedsMicin this Countrey, is the Lutheran; the Englifh have four forts of Aflemblies or Religious Meetings here : as firft, The E 2 Church 52 The Hi/lory Church of England, who built a very fine Church in the City of Philadelphia in the Year 1695. Secondly, the Anabaptifls : Third ly, the Presbyterians, and two forts of Quakers (of all the moft numerous by much) one Party held with George Keith', but whether both Parties will joyn together again in one I cannot tell, for that Gentleman hath alter'd his Judgment fince he Came to England, concerning his Church-Orders in Penfilvania, by telling and fbewing them Precepts that were lawful in the time of the Law, but forbidden under the Gofpel to pay Tithes, or Minifters to Preach for Hire, eye. As alfo to fprinkle Infants ; and he tells the Presby terian Minijler, That he muft go to the Pope of Rome for his" Call, for .he had no Scripture for it, and that Water-Baptifm and the Outward Supper are not of theNature of the Everlafling Gofpel ; of Penfilvania. j* Gofpel ; nor effential Parts of it, fee his Truth Adv anced-'page 173 He gives likewife a ftrict Charge concerning plain Language and plain Habit, and that they fhould not be concern'd in the compelling part of the World ly Government, and that they fhould fet their Negroes at Liberty after fome reafonable time of Ser vice ; likewife, they fhould not take the Advantage of the Law againft one another, as to pro cure them any Corporeal Pu- nifhment : Thefe Orders he tells his Followers,' would make Di- ftinction between them and Jews and Moral Heathens, this was in the Year 169J. in Pen filvania'. But now the Year 169-7. fince he came to England, his Judgment is chang'd, for he tells his Difciples, that Water- Baptifm is come in the room of Circumcifion ; and by fo doing, they would diftinguifh them felves from either Jews, Pagans, E j or *4 The Httlory or Moral Heathens: He keeps his Meeting once a Week at Turners-Hau in Fill-Pot-Lane, London, on Sundays in the After* noon ; he begins between Two and Three of the Clock and com monly ends between Four and Five. Friendly Reader, by this thou mayft fee how wavering and mutable Men of great Outward Learning are, if the Truth of this be by any Body queftion'd, let them look in the Creed, and the Paper againfl Chriflians being concern d in Worldly Government, and the Paper concerning Negroes, that was given forth by the Ap pointment of the Meeting held by George Keith at Philip Jameses Ftoivfe in the City of Philadel phia, in Penfilvania; and his Letter alfo in Mary-Land againft the Presbyterian Catechifm, Printed at Bojton in New-England in 1695. with the Anfaer to it bound up to- of Penfilvania . er together in one Book and in Truth Advanced, page 173. And for what relates to him fince in England, let them look into the Quakers Argument Refuted, Con cerning Water-BapUfm and the Lord's Supper, page 70. And now Reader, I lhall take my leave of thee, recommending thee with my own felf to the Directions of the Spirit of God in our Conference, and that will agree with all the Holy Scrip tures in its Tight place ; and when we. find our felves fo, we have no need to take any Thought or Care what any Body ffiall fay of us. Th End of the Hifiory of Penfilvania. An Hiftorical Defcripticm OFTHE PROVINCE and COUNTRY O F Weft-New- J er fey AMERICA. A ihortView of their Laws, Cuftoms and l{elig%m: As alfo the Temperament of the Air and Climate; The (itnefs of the Soil, with the vaft Produce of I{rce, gcc. The Improvement of their Lands (as in E^gfaad) to Vaflure. Meadows. 8cc. Their making great quanti ties of Pitch and Tar, as alfo Turftntine, which -pro ceeds from the Vine Trees, with Ro^tn as clear as Gum-Arabick, with particular Remarks upon their Town}, Fairs ami Mar\ei s ; with the great Plenty of Orl and Wheat-Bone made from the great number of Whales they yearly- take : As alfo many other Profita ble and New Improvements. Never made Publick. till now.