APPENDIX. HAVING on hand sundry facts further illustrative of our early history, and sundry articles of places, in which we, of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, are sufficiently interested as occasional visiters, or lookers on, tending to describe things as they were, and from which they are now yearly changing, we herein connect them as an appendix to this work, viz. : Landing day of William Penn, at New Castle. On the 27th day of October, 1682, arrived before ye towne of New Castle, in Delawar, from England, Wm. Penn, Esq., proprietary of Pennsylvania, who produced twoo certain deeds of feofment from ye illustrious James, Duke of Yorke and Albany, etc. for this towne of New Castle, and twelve myles about itt, and also for ye two lower counties, ye Whorekills and St. Jones'; wch sd deed bore date 24 August, 1682, and pursuant to the true intent, purpose and meaning of his Royll highnesse in ye same deed, hee, ye sd William Penn, received possession of ye towne of New Castle, ye 28th of October, 1682. The testimony of Richard Townsend a public Friend-delivered about the year 1727. In the year 1682, several ships being provided for Pennsylvania, I found a concern on my mind to embark with them, with my wife and child. I went aboard the Welcome, in company with my worthy friend, William Penn, whose good conversation was very advantageous to all the company. His singular care was manifested in contributing to the necessities of many who were sick on board, of small por, of whom as many as thirty died. [What a loss!] After a prosperous passage of two months, having had in that time many good meetings on board, we arrived there. At our arrival, we found it a wilderness; the chief inhabitants were Indians, and some Swedes, who received us in a friendly manner, and though there was a great number of us, the good hand of Providence was seen in a particular manner; in that provisions were found for us by the Swedes and Indians, at very reasonable rates, as well as brought from divers other parts, that were inhabited before. Our first concern was to keep up and maintain our religious worship, and in order thereunto, we had several meetings in the houses of the inhabitants; and one boarded meeting-house was set up, [the 511 place of the bank meeting,] where the city was to be, near Delaware, and where we had very comfortable meetings; and after our meetings were over, we assisted each other in building little houses for our shelter-[meaning such as the caves and cabins.] After some time, I set up a mill on Chester creek, which I brought ready framed, from London, which served for grinding corn, and sawing of boards; and was of great use to us. Besides, I, with John Tittery, made a net, and caught great quantities of fish, which supplied ourselves and many others; so that although three thousand persons came in the first year, we had no lack. We could buy a deer for two shillings, and a large turkey for one shilling, and Indian corn for 2s. 6d. per bushel. The Indians were to us very civil and loving. As soon as Germantown was laid out, I settled my tract of land, which was about a mile from thence, where I set up a barn and a corn mill, which was very useful to the country round. But there being few houses, people generally brought their corn upon their backs, many miles. I remember, one man had a bull so gentle, that he used to bring the corn on his back. In this location, separated from any provision market, we found flesh meat very scarce, and on one occasion we were supplied by a very particular providence, to wit: As I was in my meadow, mowing grass, a young deer came and looked on me while I continued mowing. Finding him to continue looking on, I laid down my scythe and went towards him, when he went off a little way— I returned again to the mowing, and the deer again to its observation. So that I several times left my work to go towards him, and he as often gently retreated. At last when going towards him, and he not regarding his steps, whilst keeping his eye on me, he struck forcibly against the trunk of a tree, and stunned himself so much as to fall, when I sprang upon him and fettered his legs. From thence I carried him home to my house, a quarter of a mile, where he was killed, to the great benefit of my family. I could relate several other acts of providence, of this kind. Being now in the eighty-fourth year of my age, and the fortysixth of my residence in this country, I can do no less than return praises to the Almighty for the great increase and abundance which I have witnessed. My spirit is engaged to supplicate the continuance thereof; and as the parents have been blessed, may the same mercies continue on their offspring, to the end of time. RICHARD TOWNSEND. The Declaration of the German Friends of Germantown, against Slavery, in 1688. While the Annals are in the progress of publication, there has been found, for the first time, among the papers of the Philadelphia yearly meeting, of 1688, the original MS. declaration; being the same addressed to the monthly meeting of Friends, then held at the house of Richard Worrell, in Dublin township. It is in itself a curiosity, and as such is here published. So intelligible a paper, written by Germans, then only four or five years in our country, is something remarkable in itself, viz. : This is to the monthly meeting held at Richard Worrell's: These are the reasons why we are against the traffic of men's body, as followeth: Is there any that would be done or handled at this manner? viz.: to be sold or made a slave for all the time of his life? How fearful and faint-hearted are many at sea, when they see a strange vessel, being afraid it should be a Turk, and they should be taken, and sold for slaves in Turkey. Now what is this better done, than Turks do? Yea, rather it is worse for them, which say they are Christians; for we hear that the most part of such negers are brought hither against their will and consent, and that many of them are stolen. Now though they are black,† we cannot conceive there is more liberty to have them slaves, as [than] it is to have other white ones. There is a saying, that we shall do to all men like as we will be done [to] ourselves; making no difference of what generation, descent, or colour they are. And those who steal or rob men, and those who purchase them, are they not all alike? Here is liberty of conscience, which is right and reasonable; here ought to be likewise liberty of the body, except of evil-doers, which is another case. But to bring men hither, or to rob, [steal] and sell them against their will, we stand against. In Europe, there are many oppressed for conscience sake; and here there are those oppressed which are of a black colour. And we who know that men must not commit adultery-some do commit adultery in others, separating wives from their husbands, and giving them to others and some sell the children of these poor creatures to other men. Ah! do consider well this thing, you who do it, if you would be done in this manner-and if it is done according to Christianity! You surpass Holland and Germany in this thing. This makes an ill report in all those countries of Europe, where they hear of [it,] that the Quakers do here handel men as they handel there the cattle. And for that reason some have no mind or inclination to come hither. And who shall maintain this your cause, or plead for it? Truly, we cannot do so, except you shall inform us better hereof, viz. that Christians have liberty to practise these things. Pray, what thing in the world can be done worse towards us, than if men should rob or steal us away, and sell us for slaves to strange countries; separating husbands from their wives and children. Being now this is not done in the manner we would be done at, [by]; therefore, we con * The very apprehension before expressed by F. D. Pastorius, of himself, while at sea, in his communication to Governor Lloyd's daughters.-Vide the article Pastorius, in vol. i. page 518 of this work. A colour not familiar to them, at home, as Germans. VOL.II.-3 P tradict [oppose], and are against this traffic of men's body. And we who profess that it is not lawful to steal, must, likewise, avoid to purchase such things as are stolen, but rather help to stop this robbing and stealing, if possible. And such men ought to be delivered out of the hands of the robbers, and set free as in Europe. Then is Pennsylvania to have a good report, instead it hath now a bad one, for this sake, in other countries. Especially whereas the Europeans are desirous to know in what manner the Quakers do rule in their province; and most of them do look upon us with an envious eye But if this is done well, what shall we say is done evil? If once these slaves (which they say are so wicked and stubborn men,) should join themselves--fight for their freedom, and handel their masters and mistresses, as they did handel them before; will these masters and mistresses take the sword at hand and war against these poor slaves, like, as we are able to believe, some will not refuse to do? Or, have these poor negers not as much right to fight for their freedom, as you have to keep them slaves? Now consider well this thing, if it is good or bad. And in case you find it to be good to handel these blacks in that manner, we desire and require you hereby lovingly, that you may inform us herein, which at this time never was done, viz., that Christians have such a liberty to do so. To this end we shall be satisfied on this point, and satisfy likewise our good friends and acquaintances in our native country, to whom it is a terror, or fearful thing, that men should be handelled so in Pennsylvania. This is from our meeting at Germantown, held ye 18th of the 2d month, 1688, to be delivered to the monthly meeting at Richard Worrell's. GARRET HENDERICH, At our monthly meeting, at Dublin, ye 30th 2d mo., 1688, we having inspected ye matter, above mentioned, and considered of it, we find it so weighty that we think it not expedient for us to meddle with it here, but do rather commit it to ye consideration of ye quarterly meeting; ye tenor of it being related to ye truth. On behalf of ye monthly meeting, Jo. HART. This, above mentioned, was read in our quarterly meeting, at Phidelphia, the 4th of ye 4th mo., '88, and was from thence recommended to the yearly meeting, and the above said Derick, and the other two mentioned therein, to present the same to ye above said meeting, it being a thing of too great a weight for this meeting to determine. Signed by order of ye meeting. ANTHONY MORRIS. |