*

fortunate in having so able a man to help in its development. His administration, notwithstanding his ability, was a stormy one, and he longed for the arrival of Penn, but at last, being discouraged and dissatisfied with the course of events, he resigned his position and the government was given into the hands of a deputy named John Blackwell. Of John Blackwell, Penn wrote to the five commissioners, "For your case I have appointed one that is not a Friend, but a brave, sober, wise man. He married old General Lambert's daughter, was Treasurer to the Commonwealth army in England, Scotland and Ireland. * * * Let him see what he can do awhile. I have ordered him to confer in private with you and square himself by your advice. If he do not please you he shall be set aside." At the time of his appointment, Blackwell was a resident of New England. He was not a Quaker, but by profession a soldier and proud of the title which his military career had conferred upon him. He was an obstinate, arbitrary fellow and did not seek to acquire popularity by wise and conservative action that would have so aided him in advancing the interests of the province. He arrived in Philadelphia, in December, 1688. He made a failure of his administration from the start, and after considerable strife and contention with both citizens and officials, begged to be relieved of his post. In writing to Penn, he said among other things, "The climate is overhot for my constitution and age and the hosts of mosquitoes are worse than of armed men. I hope by the first travelling season you will come and dismiss me.” His wish was not gratified at once, but after a year's delay he was reneved of his position and Thomas Lloyd was once more elected President of the Council. He had bitterly fought Blackwell during his administration, and tock great pains in pointing out his shortcomings. About this time party spirit was beginning to develop in the province.

In 1692, Penn made Thomas Lloyd Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania, and William Markham Deputy Governor in the Territories, that is the three counties of Delaware. These frequent changes in the government worked to the detriment of the province. In a year's time the system of government had been altered six times.

The City of Philadelphia, notwithstanding the contention in the matter of political administration, was spreading out in every direction. To the south were the villages of Wicaco, Passyunk and Moyamensing, while to the north the District of Northern Liberties, and the Townships of Dublin, Oxford, Byberry, Moreland and Frankford were developing rapidly. The Friends still had a commanding influence, and were building substantial meeting houses and exercising a great influence for good on the morals of the community. They took special care in the matter of the instruction of the young, and taught them not only the rudiments of education, but the immorality of laying wagers and of betting on horse races. Flirtations and attendance upon young ladies, without honorable intentions, were discouraged. It was urged that the marriage ceremony should be simple and without ostentation. They also strongly opposed the use of ardent drink and began a propaganda against the institution of slavery.

In 1695, the Church of England purchased land for the erection of a suit

able temple of worship, which eventually resulted in the erection of Christ Church.

The growth of the city necessitated the introduction of a method for the extinguishment of fires. Already there had been several conflagrations, and a volunteer fire department was organized. Many of the houses were frame and these wooden structures were increasing in numbers. In 1697, each householder, under a penalty of a fine, was to keep a "swab" at least twelve or fourteen feet long, as also two leathern buckets to be ready at hand in case of fire. The swabs were made of material that would hold great quantities of water, and after they were soaked they were placed upon the roofs and cornices that were already burning, and upon the roofs and cornices that were in danger of ignition. It was a very primitive method as compared with present fire systems, but it seems to have been pretty effective, and indeed often prevented the spread of what otherwise would have been very dangerous fires. At the cry of "Fire" the inhabitants in the immediate neighborhood of the conflagration threw their buckets out of the windows to the pavement below, to be used by citizens who volunteered their services. The buckets were usually made of leather and marked with the name of the owner. The people formed themselves into lines or chains, passing buckets from the pump to the building that was in flames. while another line returned the empty buckets. Frequently large hooks were used, with a rope attached to them, to tear down buildings in the line of the fire which were in danger of being burned.

Wood instead of coal was, of course, used for the purposes of cooking and heating. In consequence, large accumulations of soot gathered in the flue and in a high wind this would take fire and blaze out of the top of the chimney. In fact, most of the fires were caused in this way and this gave a vocation to a class of men and boys who were designated as chimney sweeps.

The market place was the centre of town life and it was located originally at the intersection of High and Front streets. About 1693 it was removed to Second street. The market house was covered with a roof, opened both sides and filled with stalls upon which were displayed the farm and garden products which were for sale. The stalls were on both sides and the avenue in the middle was for the use of pedestrians and buyers. There was a bell house at the end of each market, occupied by a clerk and the ringing of the bell announced the opening of business. The markets were opened from six to seven o'clock in the morning in the summer, and from eight to nine in the winter. All classes met here, farmers, hucksters, pedlers and housewives. Indians brought in their berries, roots, maize, skins and wicker baskets, while the truckers from Jersey and from the Neck exposed their fresh vegetables for sale and the farmers from the western districts of the province offered at a cheap figure, chickens, ducks, eggs and butter.

CHAPTER VI.

CONTENTION BETWEEN PENN AND LORD BALTIMORE IN RELATION TO THE BOUNDARY LINES BETWEEN PENNSYLVANIA AND MARYLAND. VIRGINIA'S CLAIM TO A PORTION OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. CONNECTICUT SEIZES AND SETTLES

THE WYOMING VALLEY. PENN GIVES A CHARTER TO THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA. NIGHT WATCH ESTABLISHED. DEATH OF WILLIAM PENN. CHARACTER OF WILLIAM PENN.

F

ROM the very beginning of the province there were disputes as to the boundary lines between Pennsylvania and the neighboring colonies. These disputes were with Maryland on the south, Connecticut on the north, and Virginia on the west, and it was years before final settlements were made. The claims were resisted by the Penns at every point but always with a fair, just and equitable spirit and were ultimately settled in accordance with a compromise that originally would have been agreed to by William Penn himself. Had the claimants been successful, Pennsylvania today would be a strip of land only about 70 miles in width and 240 in length, and would not include the cities of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

The first contest arose between Maryland and Pennsylvania, and it was this contest that necessitated the presence of Penn in England. Had it not been for the Baltimore claims, Penn unquestionably would have remained several years longer in the province of Pennsylvania until he had the city well organized and well founded. Lord Baltimore claimed territory that covered at least one half of the province of Pennsylvania. The original charter which the crown granted to William Penn, his heirs and assigns, conveyed "all that tract or parts of land in America, with the islands therein contained, as the same is bounded on the east by Delaware River from 12 miles distant northward of Newcastle town unto the three and 40th degree of latitude, if the said river doth extend so far northward. But if the said river shall not extend so far northward then by the said river, so far as it doth extend, and from the head of the said river the eastern bounds are to be determined by a meridian line to be drawn from the head of the said river unto the said 43rd degree. The said land to extend westward 5 degrees of longitude, to be computed from the said eastern bounds and the said lands to be bounded on the north by the beginning of the three and 40th degree of northern latitude and on the south by a circle drawn at 12 miles distant from Newcastle northward and westward unto the beginning of the 40th degree of northern latitude and then by a straight line westward to the limits of longitude above mentioned."

On the other hand the charter granted to Lord Baltimore provided that "his province should run northward along the ocean unto that part of Delaware Bay on the north which lieth unto the 40th degree of northern latitude." This language is not sufficiently explicit to set aside all controversy, for an interpretation can easily be given to it which brought his territory into and covered by

the entire 40th degree of latitude on the north. In tracing the lines of his grant Baltimore took as a landmark on the south, Watkin's Point, a cape on the eastern shore of Maryland extending into the Chesapeake Bay opposite the mouth of the Potomac River, lying in the 38th degree of latitude. From this point he ran his line eastward to the coast and then proceeding northward stopped at the end of the 40th degree of latitude, a short distance north of Philadelphia, and from this point it ran directly west, then south and east to the place of beginning. His warrant for going so far north was the language of his charter which provided that "his province should run northward along the ocean unto that part of Delaware Bay on the north which lieth under the 40th degree of north latitude." He contended that the language "under the 40th degree" reached to the end of and included the said degree, whereas the Penns contended that it meant next to or adjoining the beginning of the said degree, in other words, lying under the same but not included within the same. Under the Penn grant it will be seen that the southern line of Pennsylvania was marked by the beginning of the 40th degree of latitude. This unfortunately overlapped the original charter of the Baltimores and included the greater portion of the state of Maryland as well as the city of Baltimore, and left under the Baltimore grant only a small portion comparatively of what Lord Baltimore considered his original possessions.

The language of the Maryland grant, marked the end of the 40th degree of latitude as the northern line of the same. It does not seem reasonable that these lines were correct under the two grants, for they conflicted unquestionably with each other and the Penns were always willing, in view of the language of the two charters, to settle the matter by compromise. It was natural that disputes in relation to the boundaries of territory should arise at that time for there were no accurate surveys such as have been made since and in granting the charters the authorities had to depend in a great measure upon the maps that had been drawn by the early explorers and navigators. Captain John Smith had made two maps but they were of Virginia and New England. He had never ascended Delaware Bay and the intervening section of country between Virginia and New England had not been explored, and it does look as if there had been a mistake made in the Penn grant in fixing the southern boundary line at the beginning of the 40th degree as well as a mistake in the fixing of the northern boundary line of Maryland at the end of the same degree. Here was an entire degree of latitude in dispute, its ending being claimed as the northern limitation of Maryland and its beginning as the southern limitaton of Pennsylvania. The language of Penn's Charter also involved the matter by the following language: "That the province should be bounded on the south by a circle drawn at 12 miles distant from Newcastle northward and westward at the beginning of the 40th degree of latitude." It is difficult to understand what this means unless we give it the interpretation that evidently was given to it at the time the ultimate compromise was made.

When Penn reached England he had an interview with Lord Baltimore and although the meeting is described as having been cordial his Lordship gave no intimation of surrendering his claim and evidenced no spirit of compromise and the contest was continued. The opinions of the most learned and dis

tinguished lawyers of England were sought by both parties and strange to say these eminent gentlemen in every instance gave an opinion in accordance with the desires and wishes of their clients. No compromise being possible in that direction there was nothing left to do but to submit the matter to the Privy Council and here long and learned arguments were made, pro and con, and judgments entered in favor of the Penns. But Lord Baltimore with a spirit of no surrender resorted to delay and chicanery of every sort and brought into play the ingenuity of his lawyers to hold the matter in abeyance. The controversy extended out into years and still the parties seemed to be as far away from settlement as ever. At last, however, an agreement was entered into between the proprietors of the two provinces, and it was stipulated that the boundaries of Pennsylvania and Maryland should be settled by drawing a line between the same that was to be located fifteen miles south of the parallel passing along South street in Philadelphia, which then was the most southerly portion of the city. This line was to continue to the western limits of the province but no sooner was the contract executed than Baltimore doubtless regretting his action again began to resort to every device to delay a final settlement of the matter. After every effort had been made to induce the Maryland proprietors to comply with their agreement, suit was brought on the contract in a Court of Equity. Up to this time the question of boundary disputes could alone be decided by the Privy Council they having exclusive jurisdiction in such matters, but unfortunately in so far as the Penns were concerned they seem to have had no power to enforce their findings. But a contract having been entered into between the contestants the Court of Equity had jurisdiction and a Bill was filed requesting the aid of the Chancellor and praying the Court to direct specific performance of the contract. Upon further delay a day was fixed for the hearing of the facts in the case and after an argument a Decree was entered, directing the Baltimores to carry out the provisions of the agreement, but they still defied the order of the Court and no settlement was had for a period of ten years. At the end of that time, however, light seemed to dawn upon the minds of the Baltimores, or the proprietors of Maryland and they agreed to enter into another contract, virtually a repetition of the original one. Commissioners were appointed to confer upon the matter. Pennsylvania selected James Hamilton, Richard Peters, Reverend Doctor Ewing, William Allen, William Coleman, Thomas Willing, Benjamin Chew and Edward Shippen, Jr. These were some of the most distinguished men of the province, but they moved too slowly to satisfy the proprietors, and in 1763 two English surveyors and astronomers, Mason and Dixon, were brought over to fix, by actual survey, the line of demarcation, drawing it from the circle surrounding Newcastle that had been referred to in the original grant to the Penns, in a direct line to the western borders of the province. They spent four years upon the task, and cut a pathway through the wilderness, 24 feet wide. They placed stones at regular distances apart, marking one side with the coat of arms of the Baltimores, and the other with the coat of arms of the Penns. The Indians, however, were alert and watched the work of these white men with curious interest. They grew suspicious and threatened violence. They could not understand what was meant by cutting so wide a swath through the woods, nor could they understand the use of the instruments