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<?el, FronuStreet, with feveral of lefs Note, too tedious to infert here. It hath in it Three Fairs every Year, and Two Markets every Week, They kill above Twenty Fat Bullocks every Week, in the hotteft time in Summer, for their prefent fpending in that City, befides many Sheep , Calt/es, and Hogs. This City is Situated between Schoolkill-River and the great River Delaware, which derives its Name from Captain Delaware, who came there pretty early: Ships of Two or Three Hundred Tuns may come up to this City, by either of thefe two Rivers. Moreover, in this Province are Four Great Market-Towns, viz, Chefier, of PenhTvama. Chefler, the German Town, Nerv- C affile, and Lewis-Town, which are mightily Enlarged in this latter Improvement. Between thefe Towns, the Water-Men con- flantlyPly their Wherries; like- wife all thole Towns have Fdrs kept in them, befides there are feveral Country Villages, via. Dublin, Harford, Merioneth, and Radnor in Carfthry; all which Towns, Villages and Rivers, took their Names from the feveral Countries whence the prefent In habitants came. The Air here .is very delicate, pleaJant, and wholefom; tbe Heavens ferene,, rarely overcaft, bearing mighty refemblance to the better part of France ; after Rain they have commonly a ve ry clear Sky, the Climate is fome-, thing Colder m the depth of Winter, and Hotter iu the height of Summer ; (the caufe of which is its, being a Main Land or Continent; the Days alfo are B 4 two g The iiijtory two Hours longer in thefhorteft Day in Winter, and fhorter by two Hours in the longed Day of Summer) than here in Eng land, which makes the Fruit fo good, and the Earth fo fertil. The Corn-Harveft is ended be fore the middle of July, and mofl Years they have commonly be tween Twenty and Thirty Bufhels of Wheat for every one they Sow. Their Ground is harrowed with Wooden Tyn- ed Harrows, twice over in a. place is fufficient; twice mend ing of their Plow-Irons in a Years time will ferve. Their Horfes commonly go without being fhod; two Men may clear be tween Twenty and Thirty A- cres of Land in one Year, fit for the Plough, in which Oxen are chiefly us'd, though Horfes are not wanting, and of them Good and well lnap,d. A Cart or a Wain may go through the mid dle of- the Woods, between the Trees of Penfilyania. 9 Trees without getting any da mage, and of men Land in a convenient place, the Purchafe will coft between Ten and Fif teen Pounds for a Hundred Acres. * Here is much Meadow Ground. Poor People both Men and Wo men, wul get near three times more Wages for their Labour in this Country, than they can earn either in England or Wales. What is Inhabited of this Country, is divided into Six Counties, though there is-not the Twentieth Part of it yet Peopled by the ChrijHans; It hath in it feveral TSJavigable Rivers for Shipping to come in, bendesthe Capital Delaware, whereiria Ship of Two Hundred Tuns may Sail Two Hundred Miles up. There are alfo feveral other fmall Rivers, in number hardly Cre dible; thefe, as the Brooks, have for the moft part gravelly and hard Bottoms ; and it is iup- pos'd that there are many other further up in the Country, which are IO The Hfilory Site not yet difcover'd; the Names of the aforefaid Rivers, are, Hoorkill-Ri'ver, alias Lewis River, which runs up to Lewis Town, the chiefeft in Suffey. Coun ty; Cedar-River, MusimeMon-Ri- ver, all taking their Names from the great plenty of thefe things growing thereabouts ; Mother-fall alias Dover-River, §{. Jones 's alias Cranbrook-River, where one John- Curtice lives, who hath Three Hundred Head of Neat Beafts, befides great Numbers of Hogs, Horfes, and Sheep; Great Duci- River^ Little Duck-River, Black- Bird-River, thefe alfo took their Original Names from the great Nfumbers of thofe Fowls which are found there in van* quan tities : Apequinemy-River , where their Goods come to be Carted over to Mary-Land. St. Georges- River, Chriften-River , Brandy- Wine-River, Vpland alias Chester- River, which runs by Chester- Toim, being the Shire or Court- \ ty-Town ; Schoolhid-River, Frank- * ford- of Penfilvania. 1 1 ford-River, near which, Arthur Coek hath a moft Stately Brick- j Houfe; and Ntfha?nany-Rix'^r) i1 where Judge Growd#n< hath a ve ry Noble and Fine Houfe, very pleafantly Situated, and likewife a Famous Orchard adjoyn- ing to it, wherein are con tain 'd above a Thoufand Apple Trees of various forts ; likewife there is the famous Derby-Rifer , which comes down from the Cumbry by Derby-Tnwn, wherein are fe veral Mills, viz. Fuiling-MiUs, \ Corn-Mills, &c, There is curious Building-Stone and Paving-Stom, alfo Tile-Stow, with which latter, Governor Penn covered his Greet and St airly Pile, which he call'd Pennsh-ury- Houfe, the Name it ftill Tetains. There is likewife Iron-Stone or Oar, (lately found) which far ex ceeds that in England, being RicheTandlefsDrofly; fome Pre parations have been made to carry on an lion-Work : There is s z fix Hislory- is alfo very good Lime-Stone in great plenty, and cheap, of great ufe in Buildings, and alfo in Manu ring Land, (if there were occa- fion) but Nature has made that of it felf fufficiently Fruitful; befides here are Load-Stones, Tfing- Glafs,axid (thatWonder of Stones) the Salamander-Stone, found near Brtwdy-Wim-River, having Cotton in Veins within it, which will not confume in the Fire, though held there along time. As to Minerals, or Metals, there is very good Copper, far exceeding ours in England, be ing much Finer, and of a more glorious Colour. Not two Mile from the Metropolis, are alfo Purg ing Mineral-Waters, that pafs both by Siege and Urine, all out as good asEpfom; And I have rea- fon to- believe, there are good Cools alio, for I obferv'd, the Runs of Water have the fame Colour as that which pro ceeds from the Coal-Mines in Wales. Here - of Penfilvania. | , Here is curious Diverhon in Hunting, Fifhing, and Fowling, efpecially upon that Great and Famous River Suskahanah, which runs down quite through the heart of the Country to Mary- Land, where it makes the Head of Chefepeck-Bay, in which place there are an Infinite Number of Sea and Land Fowl, of moft forts, viz. Swans, Duds, Ted, (which two are the mofl Grate ful and moft Delicious in the Woild) Geefe, Divers, Brands, Snipe, Curlew; as alfo > 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<SWr- geons as any in Europe, perform ing celebrated Cures therewith, and by the ufe of fome particu lar Platan only, fmd Remedy in all Smllings, Burnings, Cuts', &C, There grows aifo in great plenty the Black Snake-Root, (fam"d for its fometimes preferving, but of ten curing the Plague, being in- fufed only in Wine, Brandy or Rumrn) Rattle-Smke-Roor. Poke- Root, called in England "^allof, with feveral other beneficial Herbs, Plants and Roots, which Vhyfioims have approved of, far exceeding in Nature and Vertue, thofe of other Countries. The Names of the Comities are. as followeth ; Firft, Phtla- ddphia/' County; Second, Backs County; Third, Chejler. County; Fourth, New-Cafih County; Fifth, JQnt County ; Sixth, Suffex Coun- C 1 ty. zo The Htftory ty. The chiefeft and moflcom- modious places for raifmg Te- bacco, as alfo for Breeding and Improving all forts of Cattle, are the Counties of Kent and N&w-Cafih ; the other chiefly de pend upon Railing and Improv ing Engtifb Gram-, of which they have a prodigious Encreafe, which I have particularly- in- flanced in the beginning of this Book, both as to their Quality and Quantity: All thofe Coun ties alfo very much abound in all forts of Cattle, both fmall and great, for the Ufe and Service of Man. Their forts of Grain axe,Wheat, Rye, Peafe, Oates, Barley ', Buck wheat, Rice, IrUtan-Corn, Indian. Peafe, and Beans, with great quantities of Hemp and Flax ; as alfo feveral forts of eating Roots, as Turnips, Potatoes, Carratsf Parf- ntps, Sec. all which are produe'd Yearly in greater quantities than in England, thofe Roots heing much of Ftn (il van ia. 21 much larger, and altogether as fweet, if not more delicious; Cucumbers , Cofhaws, Artichokes, with many others ; moil forts of Saladings, befides what grows naturally Wild in the Country, and that in great plenty alfo, as Muflard, Rue, Sage, Mint, Tanzy, Wormwood, Penny ^Royd and P-ur- Jlain, and moft of the Herbs and Roots found in the Gardens in England. There are feveral Husband Men, who fow Yearly between Seventy and Eighty Acres of J^^^each, befides Bar ley, Oates, Rye, Peafe, Bea-ns, and other Grain. They have commonly Two Harvefts in the Year ; Firft, of EnglifhJVheat, and next of Buck, (or French) Wheat. They have great Stocks both of Hogs and Horfes, kept m the Woods, out of which, I faw a Hog kill'd, of about a Year old, which weigh'd Two Hundred weight; whofe Flefh is much fweeter, and even C 3 more 21 The Hifiory more lufcious than that in Eng land, becaufe they feed and fat ten on the rich (though wild) Fruits, befides thofe fatned at home by Peaches, Cherries and Affles. Their Horfes are very hardy, infomuch that being ve ry hot with riding or other- wife, they are turn'd out into the Woods at the fame Inliant, and yet receive no harm ; fome Farmers have Forty, fome Sixty, and from that Number to Two or Three Hundred Head of Cattle : Their Oxen ufually weigh Two Hundred Pounds a Quar ter. They are commonly fatter of Flefh, and yield more Tal low (by feeding only on Grafs) than the Cattle m England. And for Sheep, they have confi- derable Numbers which are ge nerally free from thofe infectious Difeafes which are incident to thofe Creatures in England, as the Rot, Scab, or Maggots ; They commonly bring forth two Lambs at once, fome twife in one Tear, of Penfilvania. zj Tear, and the Wooll is very fine, and thick, and alfo very white. Bees thrive and multiply ex ceedingly in thofe Parts, the Sweeds often get great flore of them in the Woods, where they are free for any Body. Honey (and choice too") is fold in the Capital City for Five Pence per Pound. Wax is alfo plentiful, cheap, and a confiderable Com merce. Tame Fowls, as Chickens, Hens, Geefe, Ducks, Turkeys, &c. are laTge, and very plentiful all over this Countrey. And now for their Lots and Lands in City and Countrey, in their great Advancement fince they were firft laid out, which was within the compafs of about Twelve Years, that which might have been bought for Fifteen or Eighteen Shillings, is now fold for Fourfcore Pounds in Teady Silver ; and fome other Lots, that might have been then C a Pur- 24 The, Hiflory Purchafed for Three. Pounds* within the fpace of Two Years, were fold fora Hundred Pounds a piece, and likewife fome Land that lies near the City, that Sixteen Years ago might have- heen Purchas'd for Six or Eight Pounds the Hundred Acres, can not now be bought under One Hundred and Fifty, or Two Hundred Pounds. Now the true Reafon why this Fruitful Countrey and Flo- rifhing City advance fo confi- derably m the Purchafe of Lands both in the one and the other, is their great and extended TTaf- \ fique and Commerce both by Sea and Land, viz>. 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<?r/£,are fold at any time much cheaper than in England (which anfes from their Plenty) our Wheat is .veiy white and clear from Tares, making as good and white Bread as any in Europe. Plappy Bleflings, for which we owe the higher! Grati tude to our Plentiful Provider, the great Creator of Heaven and Earth- The Water-Mills far ex ceed thofe in England, both for quicknefs and grinding good Meal, their being great choice of good Timber, and earlier Corn than in the aforefaid Place, they are made by one Peter Deal, a Fa mous and Ingenious Workman, elpecially for inventing fuch like Machines. 4^ The Hiftory All, forts of very good Paper are made in the Gemnan+Town; as alfo very fine German Linen, fuch as no Perfon of Quality need he afham'd to wear ; and in feveral places they make very good Druggets, Crapes, C*™hlets, and Serges, befides other WooUen Chathes, the Manufacture of all which daily improves : And iri moft parts of the Countrey there are many Curious and Spacious Buildings, which feveral of the Gentry have erected for their Country-Houfes. As for the Fruit-Trees they Plant, they ar rive at fuch Perfection, that they bear in a little more than half the time that they com monly do in England. The Chrifiian Children, born _here are generally welt-favoured, and Beautiful to behold; I ne ver knew any come into the World with the leaft blemifh on any part of its Body, being in the general, obferv'd to be better Natur'd, Milder, and more ten der of Penfilvania. 43 der Hearted than thofe born in England. There are very fine and de lightful Cardens and Orchards, in moft parts of this Countrey; but Edward Shippey (who lives near the Capital City) has an Orchard and Gardens adjoyning to his Great Houfe that equa lizes (if not exceeds) any I have ever feen, having a very famous and pleafant Surnmer-Houfe e- rected in the middle of his ex traordinary fine and large Gar den abounding with Tulips, Pinks, Carnations, Rofes, (of feveral forts) Lilies, not to mention thofe that grow wild in the Fields. Reader, what I have here written, is not a Ft&ion, Flam, Whhpi, or any finifler Defign, either to impofe upon the Ignorant, or Credulous, or to curry Favour with the Rich and Mighty, but in meer Pity and pure 44 The H&ory pure Compaffion to the Num bers of Poor Labouring Men, Women, and Children in Eng land, half ftarv'd, vifible in their meagre looks, that are continual ly wandering up and down looking for Employment with out finding any, who here need not lie idle a moment, nor "want due Encouragement or Reward for their WTork, much lefs Va gabond or Drone it about. Here are uo Beggars to be feeu (it is a Shame and Difgrace to the State that there are fo many in England) nor indeed have any here theleaftOccafion or Temp tation to take up that Scandalous Lazy Life. Jeaioufie- among Men is' here very rare; and Barrennefs among Women hardlv to be heard of, nor are old Maids to be met with ; for all commonly Marry before they are Twenty Years of Age, and feldom any young Married of Penfilvama.. 45 Married Worrian but hath a Child in her Belly, or one upon her Lap. What I have deliver'd con cerning this Province, is indif- putably true, I was an Eye-Wit- nefs to it all, for I went in the firft Ship that was bound from England for that Countrey, fince it received the Name of Penfd- vania,, which was in the Year 1 68 1. The Ship's Name was the John and Sarah of London, Henry Smith Commander. I have declin'd giving any Ac count of feveral things which I have only heard others fpeakof, becaufe I did not fee them my felf, for I never held that way infallible, to make Reports from Hear-fay. I faw the firft Cellar when it was digging for the ufe of our Governour WM. Penn. 46 The Hiftory I fhall now hafle to, a Con- clufion, and only hint a little concerning the Natives or Abo rigines, their Perfons, Language, Manners, Religion and Govern ment; .Oi Perfon- they are ordi narily Tall, Straight, well-turn'd, and true Proportion'd ; their Tread ftrong and clever, gene rally walking with a lofty Chin. Of Complexion Black, but by defign, Gypfie-like, greafing them felves with Bears-Fat Clarified, and ufing no defence againft the Injuries of the Sun and Wea ther ', their Skins fail not to be Swarthy. Their Eyes are fmall and black. Thick Lips andftat Nofes fo frequent with Negroes and Eajk Indians, aTe rare with them. They have Comely Faces and Tolerable Complexions, fome of their Nofes having a rife like the Roman. Their of Penfilvania. 47 Their Language is Lofty and Elegant, hut not Copious >, 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. <By GABRIEL THOMAS. L OlsTJD ON: Printed in the Tear 1698. IITHO GPvAPHED POPv COUNSELLOR AT LAW; MEMBER OF THE W-YDMBISTOBIUI SOCIETY &c 1848. To the Right Honoura ble Sir John Moor, Sir Thomas Lane, Knights and Alder men of the City oj London, and to u reft of the Worthy Members of the Weft-Jerfey "Pro. frietors. Worthy Friends, TO whom can the Hiftory of , ferfey with more ftice pertain, than to F 2 you t T'he Epifile. you the Noble and Generous Proprietors, That was the chief Motive that inclined me to this Dedica tion, which I hope will be the more ac ceptable to you, be caufe the Account of that Country is fo Sincere and Candid. I have endeavour'd (by letting forth) the great Encouragements there are) to perfuade the The Efijlle. the Poor, the Idle, the Lazy,& the Vagabonds of thefe Kingdoms and of Wales to haften thi- ther,that they may live plentifully and happi ly ,and 1 doubt not but they willhearken to it, becaufe it is their true lntereft. I have done my beft endeavours to pofTeis them and others of the great Fertility and Plenty in thofe Parts, which I need not repeat to you, who muft needs be well ac, F 3 quainted The Epiftle. quainfed with the State of that Place. That it may Flourifh and mightily tend to your Advantage, as alfo to the Benefit of England^the hearty de- fire of your Friend, Gabriel Thomas. THE PREFACE To THE READER Courteous Reader, MT Chief Defign in writing this fhort Account of Weft-New-Jerfey, is to inform all (hut efpe- cially the <Poor) what Ample and Happy Live. lihoods Teople may gain b 4, m The Preface. in thofe Parts, whereby they may fuhfifl very well -without either 'Beg ging or Stealing, for if they $tea\they are Whipt^ and obligd to pay Four Fold\ and if they are not of Ability to do that, they muft abide in Ser vitude till they haroe made Satisfaction to the injur d Perfon : And if they fhould be Lazry and turn to Beg, they mil gel nothing by that Bafe and Scandalous Imploy- ment 5 Bui if they be fo ¦ Toor The Preface. Poor that they have not of their own to fupply their Wants and Necef fities, nor are able lo WorT^, they will have no need to Beg, for 'Peo ple out of their own free Compaffion andpure Chari ty mllrelieve them in their Necejfiiies. Now if this were all, (though it is nof) it would be a fujfi* dent Encouragement fo the Idle, the Sloathful, and the Vagabonds of England , Scotland, and Ireland to hafien thither*, The Preface. thither, where befides this, they have a fair pro- fpe& of gelling confide, rable Eflates, al leaf of living <very 'Plenti fully and Happily, whifih Medium of Life is far better than lingering out their Days fo mifera- bly 'Poor and half Star ved 5 or Whipping, Burning, and Hanging for ViUanies, they mill have little Temptation, may or Inclination to per petrate here. The French Refugees or Proteftant 'People, The Preface. People, wou'd foon find it their Interefh to re move thither, where they woud live far better than in Germany, Holland, Ireland or England. Written by one who ear- neftly wifheth thy Well- fare and Brofperity in the ways of the Lord, and then thm canft not do ami) sin this World. Gab. Thomas THE THE HISTORY OF Weft - New -jferfey. WEJl-New-Jerfey lies between the La titude of Forty, and Forty two Degrees •, "having the Main Sea on the South , Maft-Jerfiy on the The Mfiory the North, Hud/bn's Bay on the Bail , and Venfilvania on the Weft. The firft Inhabitants of this Countrey were the In dians , being fuppofed to be part of the Ten difperfed Tribes of Iftael ; for indeed they are very like the Jews in their Perfbns, and fomething in their Prattices and Worfhip for they ( as the Penfilvanian Indians) obferve the New Moons with great Devotion , and Re verence : And their firft Fruits they offer , with their Corn and Hunting-Game they get in the whole Year , to a Falle Deity or Sham-God , whom they mull pleafe , elfe ( as they fancy) many Misfor tunes will befal them, and great Injuries will be done them. When they bury their Dead, they put into the Ground with them of Weft-New- Jerfey. fchern fbme Houfe-U tennis, and fome Money, (as Tokens of their Love and Affection) with other Things , expecting they fhall have Occafion for them again, in the other World. And if a Perfon of Note dies very far from the Place of his own Refidence they will carry his Bones home fbme confide- rable time after , to be bu ried there. They are alfo ve ry curious , nay , even nice in preferving and repairing the Graves of their Dead. They do not love to be asked twice their Judgment about one Thing. They are a People who generally delight much in Mirth, and are very iludious in obferving the Vertues of Rods and Herbs, by which they cure themfelves of many Dhtempers in their Bo dies , both internal or exernal. They will not fufFer their Beards to grow \ for they will The Hittory will pluck the Hair off with their own Fingers as foon as they can get hold of it , hold ing it great Deformity to have a Beard. They are very lo ving to one another ; for if three or four of them come in to a Chriftian's Houfe, and the Mafter of it happen to give one of them Victuals, and none to the reft , he will divide it into equal Shares among them : And they are alfo very kind and civil to any of the Chri ftians ; for I my felf have had Victuals cut by them in their Cahbins, before they took any for themfelves., Their chief Imployment is in Hunting , Fifhing , and Fowling , and making Canows, or Indian Boats and Bowls , in all which Arts they are very dexterous and ingenious: Their Womens Bu- finefs chiefly confifts in plan ting of Indian Com, and pound ing of WeiWSIew-Jerfey. ing it to Meal , in Mortars , with Peftils, ( as we beat our Spice ) and make Bread , and drefs their Victuals , which they perform very neatly and cleanlily. They alfo make Indian Mats, Ropes, Hats, and Baskets , ( fome of curious Workmanfhip) of their Hemp, which there grows wild, and Natural ; in the Woods , in great Plenty. In fhort } the Women are very ingenious in their feveral Imployments as well as the Men. Their young Maids are naturally very mo- deft and fhamefac'd : And their young Women when newly married , are very nice and fhy , and will not fuffer the Men to talk of any immodeft or lafcivious Matters. Their Houfes are , for the moft part , cover'd with Chejhutt Bark, but very clofe, and warm, infomuch that no Rain can G go 5 The Hiftory go through. Their Age in Computation may be com pared with the Chriftians. Their wearing Habit is com monly Deer-Shns , or Duffies. They don't allow of mention ing the Name of a Friend after his Death ; for at his Deceafe, they make their Face black all over with black Lead ; and when their Affairs go well with them, they paint their Faces with red Lead, it being a Token of their Joy, as the other is of their Grief. They are great Obfervers of the Weather by the Moon. They take great Delight in Cloaths of various Colours. And are fo punctual that if any go from their firft Offer or Bargain with them, it will be very difficult for that Par ty to get any Dealings with them any more , or to have any farther Converfe with rhem; of Weft-New- Jerfey. them ; And moreover ft is worthy of Remark, that when a Company of them are got together , they never interrupt or contradict one another , - 'till two of then! have made an end of their Difcourfe; for if never fo many be in Compa ny only two muft difcourie at a time, and the reft muft keep Silence. The Englifb and they live very peaceably, by reafon the Englifb fatisfies them for their LancL As to the manner of their Language , it is high and lofty , with a Short Sentence. Their way of counting is by Tens , as to fay Two Tens , Three Tens , Four Tens, Five Tens, crc. I fhall now proceed to fhow fbmething of the manner and way of Difcourfe that happens G 2 between 8 The ffiftary between them andcheNeighbour- ing Chriftians that ufe to deal and traffick with them, or when they meet one another in the Woods accidentally , one a looking for his Car tel , and the other a Hun ting the Wild Deer , or o- ther Game , by way of Queftions and Anfwers. I fhall put the Indian, Tongue on one fide of the Leaf, and the Englifb juft oppofite. Their Difcourfe is as followeth. The Indian The Englifb of Tongue. it. Queft. Hi- ^/.Friend, l ah lahoman ? from whence com'ft ? Anfw. Ando- Anfiv. Yon- gowa neeweekin. der. Queft. Tony Queft. Where andogowafaeivee- yonder ? bin ? Jnfa. of Weft-New-Jerfey. p Ar- Kjco "kee Nee Anfw. ¦waymoufe. Queft. kee hatah wee&m? Anfw. hatah huska wees youfe og huska chetena chafe og hu,sika oril che- kenty. Queft. CUn- go kee leto nee chafe og youfe etka chekmip. Anfw. lopa stka kifbquicka. Ha ni fh a Oueft. Kjco kee hata, kee wec- hin? Anfw. My Houfe. Queft.Where is thy Houfe? Anfw. Jrway- moufe , which is the Name of an Indian Town. Queft. What haft got in thy Houfe? Anfw. I have very fat Veni- fon, and good ftrong Skins , with very good Turkeys. Queft. When wilt thou bring Skins me anc Venifon , with Turkeys ? Anfw. To morrow , or two days hence- G 3 Queft. lo Anfw. Nee hata orit foonk og huska horit haloons eika ne- skec og march- ~ke& ochqueon. (0 huskia orit.) Queft. Kje namewneskec Ita- hay og Tnarch- keo moos eika opeg zvegis? Anfw. Ma- ta namen megis nee namen ne- skec iabay ¦un* dogwa tekany. Queft. Kje Tiamtn march- kec 7noos -undo- gwa tekeny* The Biflory Queft. What haft thou got in thy Houfe ? Anfiv. I have good Powder, and very good Shot, with red and blue Mach- cots. (Very well.) Queft. Did'fr thou fee black Horfes and red Cows , with white Sheep ? Anfw. I faw no Sheep : I did fee black Horfes yonder in the Woods ? Queft. Did'ft fee red Cows yonder in the Woods? Anfw, of Weft-New- Jerfey. 1 i Mo- Anfw. Yes. Anfw gy. Queft. £« fqua og enychan hatah ? Anfw. Mo- 83- Queft. /O- £&z- hatah ? Anfw. Neo. Queft. B*- noingtid etka fquabid ? Anfw. Ni- fba henoiniid og nifha fquaiid. Queft. Tong- iid e?iyohan ha tah? ' Anfw. Mo- gy. Queft. Etka Neo aroolt e Queft. Haft thou a Wife and Children ? Anfw. Yes. Queft. How many haft ? ^#/w\ Four. Queft. Boys or Girls ? Anfw. Two Boys and two Girls. Queft. Haft got a young Child ? Anfw Anfw. Queft. old? Anfw. months. Yes. How Four G Queft. iz The IliUory Queft. Etka Queft. How aroofifelee? old art thou? Anfw. Eele- Anfw. Fifty nacheenckan ka- years old. tingan- aroofts. In the next Place I fhall give an account of their way in counting or numbering; which is as followeth. The Indian The Englifh to Counting. it. Kjoty vifhi One , Two, nacha neo Jiele- Three , Four , nach Kciotafb ni- Five,Six,Seven, fhafh choefh fe- Eight , Nine , skonk teien. Ten. Nifhinehkan Twenty , nachinohkan neo- Thirty, Forty, chinohkan pelen.' Fifty, wc. chinchhan. The of Weft»New»Jerfey. \ ^ The Names of fome of the Indians. Anachkooting, Buffabenaiing^ 0- konycan, Potasko, Quindamen, La mes , AlpoongaM, Xfihank, Hiton, Temeny. The Dutch and Sweeds in form us that they arc great ly decreafed in number to what they were when they came firft into this Country : And the Indians themfelves fay , that two of them die to ' e- very one Chriftian that comes in here. Reader, 1 fhall not in- fift any farther upon this Subje£t, becaufe what is deficient or fhort here , is inferted already in the preceding Hiftory of Pw- filvama; for the Natives both of that, as well as of this Coun try, fpeak the fame Language, and live after the fame manner; for 14 The Hittory for my chief aim , in the next place , is to acquaint thee how', and after what manner the Chriftians live there And I hope I have pleafed thee fo far , as it may prove a means to encourage me to give a lar ger Defcription hereafter. The next who came there were the Dutch; "which was between Forty and Fifty Years agoe, though they made but very little Improvement , only built Two or Three Houfes , upon an Bland (called fince by the Englift ) Sraciez-Iftand ; and it remained fo , till about the Year 1675. in which King Charles the Second ( or the Duke of Tork ( his Brother ) gave the Countrey to Edward Bitting , in whofe time , one Major Eenwick} went thither , with fome others , and built a pretty Town , and call'd it Salam; Weft-TSJew-Jerfey. Salam; and in a few Years after a Ship from London, and another from Hull, iail'd thi ther with more People , who went higher up into the Coun trey, and built there a Town, and called it Burlington, which is now the chiefeft Town in that Countrey, though SdUm is the ancienteft ; and a fine Mariet-Town it is , having fe veral Fairs kept yearly in it; likewife well furnifhed with good flore of moft Neceffaries for humane Support , as Bread , Beer , Beef, and Pork • as alfo Butter and Cheefi _, of which they freight feve ral VefTels , and fend them to Barhadoes , and other I- flands. There are very many fine fla.leh Brick-Houfes built, and a commodious Dock for Veffels to come in at , and they claim equal Privi- l6 The Hiftory Privilege with Burlington for the fake of Antiquity ; tho' .that is the principal Place , by reafon that the late Go vernor Cox , who bought that Countrey of Edward Bitting, en couraged and promoted that Town chiefly , in fettling his Agents aji&Deputy-Governors there, ( the fame Favours are conti nued by the New -Weft -Jerfey Society , who now manage Matters there ) which brings their AfTemblies and chief Courts to be kept there ; and , by that means it is become a very famous Town , having a great many ftately Briok- Houfes in it, ( as I faid before) with a delicate great Market- Houfe , where they keep their Market: It hath a noble and fpacious Hall over-head, where their Seftions is kept, having the Prifbn adjoining to it. Like- of Weft-~New- Jetfey. l j Likewife in the faid Town there are very many fine Wharfs and large Timber-Tards, Malt-Houfes, Brew-Houfes, Bake- Houfis; and moft forts of Trades- Men, (whofe Wages are upon the fame Foot with the Pen- fthanians) viz. C loath-Worker sy who make very good Serges, Druggets, Crapes, Camblets, (part Silk or Worfted, and part Camels Hair) and good Plujhes, with feveral other Woollen C loathes, be fides Linnen. There are many Fair and Great Brick Houfes on the out- fide of the Town which the Gentry have built there for their Countrey Houfes, befides the Great and Stately Palace of John Tateham Efq; which is pleafant- ly Situated on the North fide of the Town, having a very fine and delightful Garden and Or chard , s Tbe Bifiory chard adjoyning to it, wherein is variety of Fruits, Herbs, and Flomrs; as Rofes, Tulips, "luly-Flowers, Sun-Flowers (that open and Ihut as the Sun Rifes and Sets, thence taking their Name) Carnaiions, and many more; befides abundance of Medicinal Roots Herbs, Plants, and Flowers, found wild in the Fields. There are kept alfo in this Famous Town feveral Fairs every Year-, and as for Pro- vifions, viz. Bread, Beer, Beef, Pork, Cheefe, Butter, and moft forts of Fruit here is great Plenty and very Cheap ; all thofe Com modities are to be bought every Market-Day. A Ship of Four Hundred Tuns may Sail up to this Town, in the River Delaware; for I mv felf have been on Board a 3 Ship of WefVNew-Jerfey. jp Ship of that Burthen there : And feveral fine Ships and VefTels (befides Governour Cox's own great Ship ) have been built there. There are alfo two handfom Bridges to come in and out of the Town, called London and Tork- Bridges. The Town Hands in an Iftand, the Tide flowing quite Tound about it. There are Water-Men who conftantly Ply their Wherry Boats from that Town to the City of Philadel phia in Penjilvania, and to other places. Befides there is Glo- cefter-Town, which is a very Fine and Pleafant Place, being well ftor'd with Summer Fruits, as Cherries, Mulberries, and Straw berries, whither Young People come from Philadelphia in the Wherries to eat Straberries and Cream, within fight of which City it is fweetly Situated , being lo The Hiflory being but about three Miles diftance from thence. There are feveral Meetings of Worfhip in this Country, viz, the Presbyterians, Quakers, and Analaflifts •. Their Privilege as to Matter of Law, is the fame both for Plaintiff and Defendant. as in England. The Air is very Clear, Sweet and Wholefom ; m the depth of Winter it is fome thing colder, and as much hotter in the heighth of Summer than in England. Commonly (with them) the Days differ two Hours in length from ours here. The longeft Day in Summer is fhorter by two Hours than the longeft Day in Eng land, and the fhorteft Day lon ger by two Hours than with us here. As of Weft-New- Jerfey. % \ As for Corn, they have Wheat, Rye, Peafe, Oaies, Barley, Rice, 8cc. in vaft quantities: Alfo Indian- Corn, Peafe and Beans, like- wife Englifh Hemp and Flax, which profpers there exceeding ly. Eating Roots, Pumpkins, Cufhews, Water-Melons, Muskmel- lons, Cucumbers, Squafhes, Carrots, Artichokes, Potatoes, Turnips, Gar- lick, Onions, and Leeks grow there in greater Plenty than in Enland. And for Herbs, they have Cabbages, Coleworts, Savoys, Lettice, Pur/lam, and other Sal- lads in abundance; befide Wild Herbs which are there very commom, as Penny-Royal, Mint, Muftard, Sage, Rue, Tanfey, &c. and likewife there are choice Phi- fical Roots, as Saffafras, Sarfa- pariUa, Black-Snake-Root, Rattle- Snake Root, and Poaie-Root, with divers others, which there is great flore of. H Of it The &i(lory Of Fiih,they have Whales,Stur- geon, Cod, Scale-Fifh, Cole and Hale-Fifh, large Mackeril, Flat- fifh, Rock, Shadds,Caites, Eels, Perch, and many other forts in pro digious Shoals : And Wild-Wa ter-Fowl, as Geefe, Ducks, Swans, Divers, &c. are very numerous, even beyond all expecta tion. As to Land-Fowl, Tur keys, Geefe, Pheafants, Partridges, Pigeons, Woodcocks, Blackbirds, etc. they, are there in extraordinary great abundance, and very large. There is alfo that uncommon and valuable Bird (being near thebignefs of a Cuckoo) called the Mocking-bird (known, but not very well in England, being fo very Nice and Tender, that they ufually die by the way) with feveral other Charm ing and Curious Birds, too te dious here to fpecifie. As of Weft-New- Jerfey. 2\ As to the Wild Vermin, There are Otters, Beavers, Foxes, Mush-Rats Minx's, Wild- Cats, Raokoons , Pollcats , and alfo that cunning Creature the Poffom , particularly mention'd and diftinguiih'd in the an- nex'd Account of Penfilvania for its remarkable Qualities, whi ther I Tefer the Reader, not in the leaft being fond of Tauto logy. This Creature is about the bignefs of an Englifb Cat, be ing of a light gray colour. Like- wife there were fome Wolves and Bears, but now they are very rare to be feen, by Tea- fon the Indiana . deftroy them (as before). Alfo that ftrange Creature the Flying Sguirril, mention'd in the foregoing Book. There are great num bers of Wild Deer, and Red Deer alfo ; and thefe wild Crea tures are free and common for ,H 2 any 24 The Hi (lory any to kill and take. And for Wild Fruits, there are Chefnuts. Filberts , Hickery-Nuts , . Grapes , Mulberries, Strawberries, Rasberries, Hucklelerries!2.Ti&Craneberries,~wiih. feveral forts of Plumbs, and all thofe Fruits in great plenty being free foT any Body to gather. Now I am a coming to the Planted Fruit-Trees, as Apples, Pears, Apricocks, Quinces, Plumbs, Cherries, Goofeberries , Currants , and Peaches ^rova which laft they diftil a liquor as mPenfilvania,much like Rumrn or Brandy,m the tafte ; and all thofe Trees will come to bear in a little more than half the time, they do in England, the Soil is fo rich; they have great plenty of the aforementioned Fruits , which are exceeding delicious. Thefe, as alfo many other Fruits that come not to any pitch of Perfection in England, are the Natural Product of this Coun try, which lies warmer, being mote oj Weft-New -Jerfey. 25 more befriended by the Sun's hot and glorious Beams, which without doubt is the chief Caufe and true Reafon, why the Fruit there fo far ex- cells the EngUfh. They have likewife great Stocks of Horfes and Hogs, raifed in the Woods ; of the latter of which I have feen fome of a Prodigious- Weight that only fed there, their Horfes are very hardy ,ftrong,and of good Spirit for Labour or Tra velling; they commonly go un- fhod (which in many Years faves much Money). Their Plow-fhears require hut fmall Reparation, wearing out but little. They Harrow their Ground with a Wooden-tyned- Harrow, and twice over does the bufinefs. Of Bees alfo they are well pro vided^ aboundin Sheep naturally H 3 Very ^6 TheJUftory very found, and that ftand well, the Rot, Scab, Maggots, osrc. rare ly invading them ; they ufually bring forth two Lambs at once, and their Wooll is very fine, white, and thick; they have great Stocks of Cattle, as Cows, Oxen, &c. Their Oxen com monly weigh, well. Tame Fowl there are (almoft) incredible in numbers, vis. Geefe, Turkeys, Hens, &c. In this Country alfo is great Plenty of working Timber , as Oaks, Afh, Chefnuts, Pine, Cedar, Walnut , Poplar , Firr , and Mafts for Ships , with Pitch and Roftn , of great Ufe and much Benefit to the Countrey. Here are feveral good Navigable Ri vers , befides that famous Ri ver Delaware ( which I have mentioned elfewhere, and where the Tobacco is excellent ) being deep of Weft=New-Jeriey. 2.7 deep enough for Veffels to come in : Firft , Prince Morife's River, where the Sweeds ufed to kill the Geefe in great num bers, for their Feathers (only) leaving their Carcaffes behind them ; Coha?tJey River, by which they fend great ftoTe o^Cedar to PloiUdelphia-City ; Allaway- Rirver ; Salam-Rtver, which runs by. Salanv-Town ( of greater! Antiquity ;) Naman-River, Rack- coon- River, which had its Name from the great numbers of thofe Creatures that . always abound thereabouts ; Old Man's River ; Manto-Riroer ; Wood- berry-Rroer ; Great Eggharbor River ( up which a Ship of two or three hundred Tuns may fail) which runs by the back part of the Country in to the Main Sea ; I call it back , becaufe the firft Im provement made by the Chri ftians , was Delawar River-fide : H4 This 28 The Hiftory This Place is noted for good flore of Corn , Horfes , Cows , Sheep , Hogs, &c. the Lands thereabouts being much im- prov'd, and built upon : Little Egg- Harbor-Creek, which take their Names from the great abundance of Eggs, which the Swans-, Geefe, Ducks, and other wild Fowls or! thofe Rivers lay thereabouts.- Tim ber-River , alias Glocefter-~River, which hath its Name ( alfo ) from the great quantity of curi ous Timber , which they fend in great Floats to Philadelphia, a City in Penfilvania , as Oaks, Pines , Chefnut , Afh , and Ce dars. This River runs down by Glocefter-Town, which is the Shire-Town ; And Newton-Ri ver, that runs by Newton ; Coo per-River ; Penfokin-River ; Nor thampton-River , with feveral o- thers, at a convenient diftance upon the Sea , the Shores where- of Weft-New-Jerfey. 29 whereof are generally deep and bold) of lefs Note, as Wiffahifi konk-River , that runs down into the great River IDelaware, by Burlington. The Countrey inhabited by the Chriftians 'is divided into four Parts or Counties, tho"' the Tenth part of it is not yet peopled ; 'Tis far cheaper living there for Eat ables than here in England ; and either Men or Women that have a Trade, or are Labourers, can , if induftrious , get near three times the Wages they com monly earn in England. Courteous Reader , As yet I have given, thee no Account of Eaft-Jerfey , becaufe I never was there , fo in reality can not properly or pertinently fpeak to that Matter. I will not pretend to impofe any thing on the World , but have all along, 30 The Hi (lory along, and fhall ftill declare nothing but Verity ; therefore one Word of that by and by. I might have given thee a much larger Account of this Coun trey , and have ftretch'd this ( now ) Pocket Volume to an extraordinary Bulk and Size ; and yet without ftrainmg or deviating in the leaft from the Principles of my Profeflion , which are Truth it felf. I- have . no Plot in my Pafe , or deep Defign, no , not the leaft ex pectation of gaining any thing by them that go thither , or lofing by thofe who flay here. My End chiefly in Writing , nay, indeed my great Aim, is to inform the People of Bri tain and Ireland in general, but particularly the Poor, who are begging, or near it, or ftar- ving, or hard by it (as I be fore took notice in my Pre face) to encourage them (for their of Weft-New- Jerfey. ? , their own Good, and for the Honour and Benefit of their Native Countrey , to whom they are now a Scandal and Difgrace ; and whofe Milk and Honey thefe Drones eat up, and are befides a heavy Burden to the Commonwealth, in the Taxes paid by every Parifh in Eng land, &c. to fupport them. Law-Caufes are here ( as in Penfilvania ) fpeedily determi ned , in the fecond Court at leaft , unlets in fome difficult Bufinefs. One Juftice of the Peace hath Power to try a Caufe, and give Judgment there in , if the Original Debt be under forty Shillings. And for Thieves and Robbers (as I hin ted before in the Preface) they muft reftore fourfold ; which, if they are not able to do , they muft work hard till the in jured Perfon is fatisfied. I fhall ;i The Hifiory I fhall conclude with a Word or two on New-Eaft-ferfey. This Countrey is exceeding fruitful in Caiiel, of which I have feen grreat numbers brought from t- "~*ce, viz. Oxen, Cows, Sheep , Hogs, and Horfes, to Philadel phia, tlie Capital of Fenfihxutia,. The chiefeft Manufactory (be fides Englifb and Indian Grain) fit for Traffick that this Coun trey affords. Now I fhall give thee an Account of the Englifb Manu factory , that each County in Weft-New-Jerfey affords. In the firft Place I fhafl begin with Bur- linglcn-Counly,as for Peltage, or Bea vers Skins, Otter-Skins, Minks Skins, Musk-rats Skins, Rackcoon, Wild Cats , Martin , and Deer-Skins , 8ac. The Trade in Glocefter- County confifts chiefly in Pitch, Tar, and Roftn; the latter of which of Weft-New-Jerfey. $ $ which is made by Robert Styles, an excellent Artift in that fort of Work, for he delivers it as clear as any Gum-Arabtik. The Commerce carried on in Sdam- County, is chiefly Rice, of which they have wonderful Produce every Year; as alfo of Cran berries which grow there in great plenty, and which in Picle might be brought to Eu rope. The Commodities of Cap- may-County, are Oyl and Whale- Bone, of which they make pro digious, nay vait quantities eve iy Year, having mightily ad- vanc'd that great Fifhery, tak ing great numbers of Whales yearly. This Country for the general part of it, is extraordi nary good, and proper for the railing of all forts of Cattel, very plentiful here, as Cows, Horfes, Sheep, and Hogs, &c. likewife itis well Stor'd with fe veral forts of Fruits which make very 34 The HiHory, &c. very good and pleafant Liquors, fuch as their Neighbouring Coun try before mention'd affords. Now Reader, having no more to add of any moment or im portance, I falute theeinChrift; and whether thou ftayeft in England, Scotland, Ireland, or Wales, or goeft to Penfilvania, Weft or Eaft-Jerfey, I wifh thee all Health and Happinefs in this, and Everlafting Comfort (in God) in the World to come. Fare thee well. FINIS.