152
T363a
1903
THOMAS'S PENNSYL-
VANIA AND WEST
'N E W E R S K Y
THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
THOMAS'S
PENNSYLVANIA AND
WEST NEW JERSEY
Of this edition, two hundred
and fifty copies have been
printed, and the type distrib-
uted. This is
AN ACCOUNT OF
PENNSYLVANIA AND
WEST NEW JERSEY
BY GABRIEL THOMAS
Reprinted from the original edition of 1698
With Introduction by
\J
CYRUS TOWNSEND BEADY, LL.D.
CLEVELAND
THE BURROWS BROTHERS COMPANY
COPYRIGHT, 1903
BY
THE BURROWS BROTHERS COMPANY
Jlrr
CLEVELAND
F
152
3
1103
INTRODUCTION
GABRIEL THOMAS'S historical account, or geo-
graphical description of "Pensilvania and of
West-New-Jersey," is a very scarce book and
difficult to secure in its original edition. There
are a number of copies in existence but they are
jealously held in libraries and collections and are
not to be had. There is a rapidly increasing
demand for the book by collectors which naturally
produces a corresponding scarcity. The price of
the few perfect copies that have been offered for
sale lately has appreciated in a remarkable degree,
and the startling advance from one dollar to over
one thousand dollars, which has taken place in
less than one hundred years, shows, as nothing
else could, the increasing interest taken in mate-
rial of this kind by libraries and collectors,
private or public.
In the following account the sales, unless specif-
ically stated, were held in America. Probably
some of the sales recorded were re-sales of the
same examples.
The early English records, more or less imper-
fect at first, show that, at the Heath sale in April-
1268081
/ N T R O D V C T I O N
May, 1810, an original copy brought ten shillings
and sixpence; at one of Chalmers' s sales in 1841-42,
the price was thirteen shillings; at the Brighton
sale in March, 1845, sixteen shillings; and that
Willis and Sotheran sold a ropy in 1862 for three
pounds and ten shillings.
Sabin sold a copy in March, 1873, for $300;
a second copy offered a year later brought the
same amount; in November, 1875, a slightly
defective copy was sold for $120 at the Menzies
sale; at the Brinley sale in 1880 three copies
were disposed of for $150, $100, and $65 respec-
tively, the difference in price being due to the
style of binding and the condition of the several
examples. In 1884, at the sale of the Murphy
collection, the price had fallen to $74; at the
Barlow sale in 1890 it had risen to $190; at the
Ives sale in 1891, $200 was realized for an
unusually fine copy. In England in 1893 at the
Simon sale the price was 31, and in 1895, Sotheby
sold one for 34 lO.s. In America again in 1896
three copies were sold for $200, $195, and
$190 respectively; but in 1897 the price fell to
$145. At the Ashburton sale in England in
1900, a copy in the original half binding brought
the record price of 62. At the McKee sale on
June 12, 1902, an exquisite example brought
$805 which is the record auction price at the
present date. At the Lefferts sale in England on
INTRODUCTION
June 17, 1902, a fine but not quite a perfect copy
brought 109. This copy was bound by David in
full green levant tooled to a Derome (so called
from the name of a famous French binder) pattern,
doubled with blue levant, having a richly gilt
heavy border, back and edges gilt, in a solander
case of green levant. With the exception of
the McKee copy this is the finest copy known.
Its only imperfections are that the title-page and
several other leaves have been slightly mended.
This spring the McKee copy mentioned above was
sold by Mr. George H. Richmond of New York
at private sale for $1,050, an advance of $245
over the price of the preceding year. This copy
is thus described :
Small 8vo; full crushed dark crimson levant morocco, floriated
borders on sides, with doublure of green crushed levant morocco,
broad gold borders, by FRANCIS BEDFORD. Enclosed in a morocco
slip case.
This is, I think, the finest copy known. It is in
" superb condition, most of the leaves being uncut,
while it is sound and clean throughout."
There are original examples in the British
Museum and the Library of Congress; in the
Libraries of the Pennsylvania and New York His-
torical Societies ; the Lenox Library of New York
City; the Watkinson Library of Hartford, Conn. ;
the New York State Library at Albany; the
Library of Harvard College (two copies); the
INTRODUCTION
Library of the Boston Athenaeum; the Advo-
cates' Library of Edinburgh, Scotland; the
Heath collection of London, England; the
John Carter Brown Library of Providence, R. I. ;
the E. Dwight Church collection and the Phila-
delphia Library (two copies). Without doubt
there are other examples also in different public
libraries and private collections in America and
England. Strange to say, the New Jersey His-
torical Society has no original copy.
The book was reissued in a rather indifferently
executed facsimile in 1848 for Henry Austin
Brady, a counsellor-at-law and a member of the
New York Historical Society. Six copies in folio
were printed of this edition and at least one small
quarto on blue writing-paper. In the Lenox
Library of New York all states of the Brady
reprint appear the small octavo, which is the size
of the original volume, the quarto, mentioned
above, and the large folio. Watson quotes (im-
perfectly and incorrectly) the portion relating to
Pennsylvania in his Annul* of Philadelphia, and
also states that the book was published in fac-
simile in 185- by J. W. Moore of Philadelphia, and
that the reprint was very scarce in 1857. I have
never seen it. Watson perhaps refers to the Brady
reprint. This portion has also been reprinted in
pamphlet form in the Li forty Bell Lea fiefs, published
by Christopher Sower Co., Philadelphia, 1900.
INTRODUCTION
The portion relating to Pennsylvania only was
translated into German in 1702. This translation
was bound up with Francis Daniel Pastorius's
Beschreibung der Provintz Pensylvanice, published at
Leipsic in 1704. I have not discovered any other
translations or reissues of the book.
Copies of the Brady reprint are offered occa-
sionally and may be had for comparatively small
amounts, although they are becoming rare and
the price is increasing.
Little is known of the personality of the author
save what may be gathered from his book. He
lived in the Province of Pennsylvania between
1682 and 1697 and he was a Quaker. The book
was probably written in England. A person of
his name was again in Pennsylvania in 1702, an
applicant for a commission as collector of quit
rents in New Castle County. As is seen from his
book he inveighed against George Fox in 1697-98,
and in 1702 sided against Penn with Colonel
Quarry.
The variety and extent of his information, the
general accuracy of his statements, the simplicity
and clearness of his style, the pleasing quaintness
of his several addresses to the reader, the admi-
rable brevity with which he has discussed the
subjects he has allotted to himself, the absence in
the main of all exaggeration, the avoidance of the
INTRODUCTION
legendary absurdities with which most travelers 1
tales of the period abound have all conduced to
render his book a classic; of its kind. It has been
quoted again and again by various authorities,
and always with approbation, in spite of its one
fault, the pardonable extravagance of an advocate
whose affections are deeply engaged in the cause
for which he pleads.
One statement has often been pointed out as in-
dicative either of misrepresentation or inaccuracy
on the part of the author; that is in the reference
on page 46 to the "Noble Town-House or Guild -
Hall ' ' as having been lately built. * This building
was not erected until 1707. On page 56 Thomas
plainly indicates that he was writing in England
in the year 1697 ("but now the year 1697," etc.),
which agrees with the date of the publication of
the volume, 1698. Attempts have been made to
explain this discrepancy by surmising that suc-
cessive editions were issued, all bearing the same
original date, in which at the proper time the
reference to the new town hall was inserted by
gome alien hand. I suppose rather that In this
instance Thomas drew upon his imagination and
recorded that which was to be a# actually having
been done. As early as 1688 Penn wrote that he
feared the little Letitia House, which was used
ae the provincial state-house, waw too contracted
*A11 page references are to this present edition.
IO
INTRODUCTION
for such a purpose, and suggesting the erection
of a larger and more suitable building. Thomas
may have had this suggestion in mind when
he wrote.
Another error is found on page 47; where he
refers to the Chestnut Street Wharf the context
shows plainly that he means the Arch Street
Wharf. These are small and unimportant blem-
ishes; not many books are so fortunate in escaping
with so few.
There are several things in his pages to which
it seems advisable specifically to call attention
here. The first is the delicious if unconscious
humor of the testimony on pages 49-51 as to
the qualities of the children and the enviable
condition of the mothers in Pennsylvania, which
certainly showed that there was no thought of
race suicide in that province in those days. I
question whether under the changed conditions
of the present his statements would prove a recom-
mendation to young married folk starting in life ;
but they certainly, if results be a criterion, must
have presented fascinating allurements to the emi-
grants of the past.
Indeed the genial author might well argue why
should not people have large families in such an
earthly paradise as he describes Pennsylvania
and incidentally West New Jersey to have
been ; a claim which the sons ol those two famous
ii
INTRODUCTION
states are quite zealous to maintain, perhaps in
more moderate language but with no less vigor and
enthusiasm even today. The whole situation is
respectfully commended to President Roosevelt,
who has the subject much at heart, that by
studying this glorious past he may find further
inspiration with which to encourage the future.
The second especially interesting feature of the
book is the account unfortunately but too brief
of the aborigines with whom Penn made his famous
Treaty. These Indians were of the Lenni-Lenape
tribe, a branch of the great Algonquin family,
known to the English colonists as the Delawares.
The word Lenni-Lenape may be freely rendered
as "the men of men," or as "we men. 1 ' There
is a touch of savage arrogance in the title as if
one tribe should say of itself to the exclusion of
other less favored tribes, "We, the people."
Those on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware
were known as the Unamis, those on the Jersey
side as the Unalachtigos.
The language of these Indians was rather a
difficult one for the white settlers to master in its
purity. William Penn writes, "I have made it
my business to understand it that 1 might not
want an interpreter on any occasion." Judging
from the specimens contained in this book, taken
in connection with other specimens which have
been preserved, and contrasting them with the
12
INTRODUCTION
language of the remnants of the Delawares now
in existence, Doctor Brinton concludes that what
William Penn learned and what Thomas has
recorded was a "trader's jargon which scorned
etymology, syntax, and prosody, and was about
as near pure Lenape as pigeon -English is to the
periods of Macaulay ! "
The dialect was a stumbling-block to the com-
positor of 1698 also, for in the original no equiva-
lents are provided for the second answer and the
third question, on page 69. The dialogue recorded
is interesting in one particular, for it contains
one of the first appearances in print of what has
become one of our common English words, and
the reader may see the inaccuracy of Thomas's re-
cension when he considers that the word weekin
is evidently intended for wickwam which is the
modern word ' ' wig warn ! ' '
The third point worthy of notice is in the invalu-
able account of the wages prevailing in the colony
on pages 40-44. And as the statement is made
that they are about three times greater than the
amounts paid for the same service in the mother
country, they throw considerable light upon the
labor conditions in England as well. The colony
was a delectable place for all sorts and conditions
of men, saving lawyers and physicians, whose
fortunes languished because it was both peaceable
and healthy to an unusual degree !
13
INTRODUCTION
It is perhaps hardly necessary to note that the
"Cotton " in the veins of the " Salamander-Stone "
to which Thomas refers on page 30 is evidently
asbestos.
To sum up, the enthusiastic author so describes
the countries to which he wishes to attract that
emigration of "the Idle, the Sloathful, and the
Vagabonds of England, Scotland, and Ireland"
which we feel quite sure would not be best
designed to occupy it after all, and so paints the
conditions as he sees them, that we are reminded
of a famous line from Lalla Rookh :
And oh! If there be an elysium on earth,
It is this, it is this.
CYRUS TOWNSEND BBADY.
BROOKLYN, N. Y., November i, 1903.
I 4
THOMAS'S PENNSYLVANIA
AND WEST NEW JERSEY
LONDON : A. BALDWIN
1698
Title-pages, map, and text reprinted from a copy
of the original edition in the Lenox
Library, New York City.
O F T II R
PROVINCE and COUNTRY
o F
PEN SILVAN! A
A N D' O F
Well. J 'New - 7er/ey
J */'. J ' .
I N
m
^o
&
The Riehnefs of the Soil, the Sweets-Is cf the .Situation,
the Whn/tTomnefs of 'fhe Air, the N.iv-?alu- Rjv. .
others, the prodigious Eicre.ifi? of Corn, the flouriCutyg
Condi'.ionof the: City of Phii,icit:f.hi.i, wich fhe
Buildings, anther Improvftrmts there. The ilnw^c
Creatures, js #wff, iw/?j, /y,' ;i
feveral forts c f Minerals, J J /..r .-; x ;/ |
lately dflcovered The N.ur.'?:,
.vi'Wt... $*>''*', Lain, and C;//?cw j The
\btj>tttch, tree<ls, .1 id ^ /////.-, w.'
bitants ; A>-;jifo a "f
eJ:zicn , ui h:$ fl-cond Cf,
GABIUt, i.
wliorcfidcd t ! .
THE
DEDICATION.
Friend William Perm,
I Here present Thee with a succinct (yet com-
pleat) Account of the late Improvement, and
Present State of the Noble Province, and Fertile
Countrey of Pemilvauia ; with the strange things
that have been found there, as the Salamander-
Stone, and several others, mentioned in this
Treatise; discovered since thou earnest out of
those Parts. I desire Thee to excuse me for
addressing to Thee, such a Plain and Peasant-like
Piece; yet however homely or coarse it may
appear, Thou wilt find here a true and genuine
Description of that (once) obscure, tho' (now)
glorious Place. So considering how generous and
candid a Man Thou art, I know thou wilt bear
with my weak and imperfect Performance, and
accept of my good Meaning and kind Intention,
which may encourage me, in time to come, to add
some more Memoirs to this rough Essay of mine.
Being unwilling to tire Thee with any long or
tedious Epistle, I take my Leave of Thee,
(Most Noble and Excellent
Governor) and am
Thy hearty Well-wisher, ever
ready to serve Thee on all
Occasions, (in the way of
Truth,)
Gabriel Thomas.
19
THE
PREFACE.
Reader,
THere never having been any fair or full Account
given to the World of Pensilvania, I thought
the Curious wou'd be gratified with an ample Descrip-
tion thereof.
For tho' this Country has made little Noise in Story,
or taken up but small room in Maps, yet thus much
with great Justice may be said of it, that notwith-
standing the Difficulties and Inconveniencies the First
English Collonies met with before they ivere well
settled there, yet the mighty Improvements, Additions,
and Advantages that have been made lately there, are
well worth Communicating to the Publick, and I am
sensible they will be well received.
The late Tedious, Hazardous, and Expensive War
(in which England, in Conjunction with the Allies
was so deeply engaged) was without doubt no small Bar
or Obstacle to the Flourishing of this New Country.
The great Discouragements the Traders thither lay
under, (together with the frequent Capture of their
Ships out and home, cou'd not chuse but baulk them in
their honest Endeavours, which (now Peace is restor'd)
they may pursue with greater Security and Satis-
faction.
21
T H O M A S ' .V P /. X N S Y L \ ' A N I A
Nor is there the least question or doubt to he made,
but this Noble Spot of Earth trill thrive exceedingly,
and that in a short time too, and adcance considerably
to the might a Advantage of the Prevent and Future
Proprietors, who hare, and are willing to gire all due
Encouragement to any that shall Transport themselves
thither.
I con'd sat/ much here in Praise of that sweet Tract
of Land, but having spoken so largely and particularly
thereof in the Book it self, I shall forbear the least
mention in this place. Nor trill I Anticipate or fore-
stal thee, by presenting thee here with what thou wilt
find there, with the greater Satisfaction. And so I
bid thee heartily farewel.
Gab. Thomas.
22
THE
HISTORY
OF
Pensilvania, &c.
PEnsilvania lies between the Latitude of Forty
and Forty five Degrees: West- Jersey on the
East, Virginia on the West, Mary-Land South,
and Canada on the North. In Length three hun-
dred, and in Breadth one hundred and eighty
Miles.
The Natives, or first Inhabitants of this Country
in their Original, are suppos'd by most People to
have been of the Ten Scattered Tribes, for they
resemble the Jews very much in the Make of their
Persons, and Tincture of their Complexions : They
observe New Moons, they offer their first Fruits to
a Maneto, or suppos'd Deity, whereof they have
two, one, as they fansie, above (good,) another
below (bad,) and have a kind of Feast of Taber-
nacles, laying their Altars upon Twelve Stones,
observe a sort of Mourning twelve Months, Customs
of Women, and many other Rites to be toucht
(here) rather than dwelt upon, because they shall
be handled more at large at the latter end of this
Treatise.
23
THOMAS'S PENNSYLVANIA
They are very Charitable to one another, the
Lame arid the Blind (amongst them) living as well
as the best ; they are also very kind and obliging
to the Christians.
The next that came there, were the Dutch, (who
call'd the Country New Neither land) between Fifty
and Sixty Years ago, and were the first Planter*
in those Parts; but they made little or no Improve-
ment, (applying themselves wholly to Trafique in
Skins and Furs, which the Indians or Natives
furnish' d them with, and which they Barter' d for
Rum, Strong Liquors, and Sugar, with others,
thereby gaining great Profit) till near the time of
the Wars between Enylaml and Them, about
Thirty or Forty Years ago.
Soon after them came the Swedes and Fins, who
apply' d themselves to Husbandry, and were the
first Christian People that made any considerable
Improvement there.
There were some Disputes between these two
Nations some Years, the Dutch looking upon the
Swedes as Intruders upon their Purchase and
Possession, which was absolutely terminated in
the Surrender made by John Rizeiny, the Swedes
Governour, to Peter Styreant,* Governour for the
Dutch, in 1655. In the Holland War about the
* So printed in the original for Stuyvesant.
24
AND WEST NEW JERSEY
Year 1665. Sir Robert Carr took the Country from
the Dutch for the English, and left his Cousin,
Captain Carr, Governor of that place; but in a
short time after, the Dutch re-took the Country
from the English, and kept it in their Possession
till the Peace was concluded between the English
and them, when the Dutch Surrendered that
Country with East and West-Jersey, New-York,
(with the whole Countries belonging to that
Government) to the English again. But it
remain' d with very little Improvement till the
Year 1681, in which William Penn Esq; had the
Country given him by King Charles the Second, in
lieu of Money that was due to (and signal Service
done by) his Father, Sir William Penn, and from
him bore the Name of Pensilvania.
Since that time, the Industrious (nay Indefatig-
able) Inhabitants have built a Noble and Beautiful
City, and called it Philadelphia, which contains
above two thousand Houses, all Inhabited; and
most of them Stately, and of Brick, generally
three Stories high, after the Mode in London, and
as many several Families in each. There are very
many Lanes and Alleys, as first, Huttons-Lane,
Morris-Lane, Joneses-Lane, wherein are very good
Buildings; Shorter 8- Alley, Yowers-Lane, Wallers-
Alley, Turners-Lane, Sikes- Alley, and Flowers- Alley.
All these Alleys and Lanes extend from the Front
25
THOMAS'S PENNSYLVANIA
Street to the Second Street. There is another Alley
in the Second Street, called Carters-Alley. There
are also besides these Alley* and Lanes, several
fine Squares and Courts within this Magnificent
City, (for so I may justly call it.) As for the
particular Names of the several Street* contained
therein, the Principal are as follows, viz. Walnut-
Street, Vine- Street, Mulberry-Street, Chesnut-Street,
Sassafras- Street, taking their Names from the
abundance of those Trees that formerly grew
there; High- Street, Broad- Street, Delaware- Street,
Front- Street, with several of less Note, too tedious
to insert here.
It hath in it Three Fair* every Year, and Two
Markets every Week. They kill above Twenty Fat
Bullocks every Week, in the hottest time in Sum-
mer, for their present spending in that City,
besides many Sliee/t, Calces, and Hoys.
This City is Situated between Schoolk ill- 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 these
two Rivers. Moreover, in this Province are Four
Great Market-Towns^ viz. Chester, the (rerman
Town, New-Castle, and Lewis-Ton- H, which are
mightily Enlarged in this latter Improvement.
-26-
AND WEST NEW JERSEY
Between these Towns, the Water-Men constantly
Ply their Wherries ; likewise all those Towns have
Fairs kept in them, besides there are several
Country Villages, viz. Dublin, Harford, Merioneth,
and Radnor in Cumbry ; all which Towns, Villages
and Rivers, took their Names from the several
Countries whence the present Inhabitants came.
The Air here is very delicate, pleasant, and
wholesom; the Heavens serene, rarely overcast,
bearing mighty resemblance to the better part of
France; after Rain they have commonly a very
clear Sky, the Climate is something Colder in the
depth of Winter, and Hotter in the height of
Summer; (the cause of which is its being a Main
Land or Continent; the Days also are two Hours
longer in the shortest Day in Winter, and shorter
by two Hours in the longest Day of Summer) than
here in England, which makes the Fruit so good,
and the Earth so fertil.
The Corn -Harvest is ended before the middle of
July, and most Years they have commonly between
Twenty and Thirty Bushels of Wheat for every
one they Sow. Their Ground is harrowed with
Wooden Tyned Harrows, twice over in a place is
sufficient; twice mending of their Plow-Irons in a
Years time will serve. Their Horses commonly
go without being shod; two Men may clear
27
THOMAS'S PENNSYLVANIA
between Twenty and Thirty Acres of Land in
one Year, fit for the Plough, in which Oxen are
chiefly us'd, though Horses are riot wanting, and
of them Good and well shap'd. A Cart or a Wain
may go through the middle of the Woods, between
the Trees without getting any damage, and of
such Land in a convenient place, the Purchase
will cost between 7V// and Fifteen Pounds for a
Hundred Acres.* Here is much Meadow Ground.
Poor People both Men and Women, will 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 Twen-
tieth Part of it yet Peopled by the Christians: It
hath in it several Navigable Rivers for Shipping
to come in, besides the Capital Delaware, wherein
a Ship of Two Hundred Tuns may Sail Two Hun-
dred Miles up. There are also several other small
Rivers, in number hardly Credible; these, as the
Brooks, have for the most part gravelly and hard
Bottoms; and it is suppos'd that there are many
other further up in the Country, which are not
yet discover' d; the Names of the aforesaid Rivers,
are, HoorkiH-JRiver, alias Lewis Hirer, which runs
up to Lewis Town, the chief eat in tinw.r. County;
Cedar-River, Muskmellon-River, all taking their
28
AND WEST NEW JERSEY
Names from the great plenty of these things
growing thereabouts ; Mother-kill alias Dover-River,
St. Jones's alias Cranbrook-River, where one John
Curtice lives, who hath Three Hundred Head of
Neat Beasts, besides great Numbers of Hogs,
Horses, and Sheep; Great Duck-River, Little Duck-
River, Black-Bird-River, these also took their Orig-
inal Names from the great Numbers of those
Fowls which are found there in vast quantities;
Apequinemy- River, where their Goods come to be
Carted over to Mary -Land. St. Georges-River,
Christen-River, Brandy -Wine-River, Upland alias
Chester -River, which runs by Chester-Town, being
the Shire or County-Town; Schoolkill-River,
Frankford-River, near which, Arthur Cook hath a
most Stately Brick-House; and Nishamany -River,
where Judge Growden hath a very Noble and Fine
House, very pleasantly Situated, and likewise a
Famous Orchard adjoyning to it, wherein are
contain' d above a Thousand Apple Trees of
various sorts ; likewise there is the famous Derby -
River, which comes down from the Cumbry by
Derby -Toicn, wherein are several Mills, viz. Ful-
ling-Mills, Corn-Mills, &c.
There is curious Building-Stone and Paving-Stone,
also Tile- Stone, with which latter, Governor Penn
covered his Great and Stately Pile, which he call'd
Pennsbury -House, the Name it still retains. There
29
THOMAS'S PENNSYLVANIA
is likewise Iron-Stone or Oar, (lately found) which
far exceeds that in England, being Richer and less
Drossy; some Preparations have been made to
carry on an Iron -Work: There is also very good
Lime- Stone in great plenty, and cheap, of great
use in Buildings, and also in Manuring Land, (if
there were occasion) but Nature has made that of
it self sufficiently Fruitful ; besides here are Load-
Stones, Ising- Glass, and (that Wonder of Stones)
the Salamander- Stone, found near Brandy- Wine-
River, having Cotton in Veins within it, which will
not consume in the Fire, though held there a
long time.
As to Minerals, or Metals, there is very good
Copper, far exceeding ours in England, being much
Finer, and of a more glorious Colour. Not two
Mile from the Metropolis, are also Purging Mineral-
Waters, that pass both by Siege and Urine, all out
as good as Epsom : And I have reason to believe,
there are good Coals also, for I observ'd, the Runs
of Water have the same Colour as that which
proceeds from the Coal-Mines in Wales.
Here is curious Diversion in Hunting, Fishing,
and Fowling, especially 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 Chesepeck-Bay, in
30
AND WEST NEW JERSEY
which place there are an Infinite Number of Sea
and Land Fowl, of most sorts, viz. Swans, Ducks,
Teal, (which two are the most Grateful and most
Delicious in the World) Geese, Divers, Brands,
Snipe, Curlew ; as also Eagles, Turkies (of Forty or
Fifty Pound Weight) Pheasants, Partridges, Pid-
geons, Heath-Birds, Black-Birds', and that Strange
and Remarkable Fowl, call'd (in these Parts) the
Mocking-Bird, that Imitates all sorts of Birds in
their various Notes. And for Fish, there are
prodigious quantities of most sorts, viz. Shadds
Cats Heads, Sheeps-Heads, Herrings, Smelts, Roach,
Eels, Perch. As also the large sort of Fish, as
Whales (of which a great deal of Oyl is made)
Salmon, Trout, Sturgeon, Rock, Oysters, (some
six Inches long) Crabs, Cockles, (some as big
as Stewing Oysters of which are made a Choice
Soupe or Broth) Canok and Mussels, with many
other sorts of Fish, which would be too tedious
to insert.
There are several sorts of wild Beasts of great
Profit, and good Food; viz. Panthers, Woolves,
Either, Deer, Beaver, Otter, Hares, Musk-Rats, Minks,
Wild Cats, Foxes, Rackoons, Rabits, and that
strange Creature, the Possam, she having a false
Belly to swallow her Young ones, by which means
she preserveth them from danger, when any thing
comes to disturb them. There are also Bears some
_ o i ___
THOMAS'S PENNSYLVANIA
Wolves, are pretty well destroy' d by the Indiana,
for the sake of the Reward given them by the
Christians for that Service. Here is also that
Remarkable Creature the Fly ing- Squirrel, having
a kind of Skinny Wings, almost like those of the
Baft, though it hath the like Hair and Colour
of the Common Squirrel, but is much less in
Bodily Substance; I have (my self) seen it fly
from one Tree to another in the Woods, but how
long it can maintain its Flight is not yet exactly
known.
There are in the Woods abundance of Red Deer
(vulgarly called Stays) for I have bought of the
Indians a whole Buck, (both Skin and Carcass) for
two Gills of Gunpowder. Excellent Food, most
delicious, far exceeding that in Europe, in the
Opinion of most that are Nice and Curious People.
There are vast Numbers of other Wild Creatures,
as Elks, Bufalos, &c. all which as well Beasts,
Fowl, and Fish, are free and common to any Per-
son who can shoot or take them, without any lett,
hinderance or Opposition whatsoever.
There are among other various sorts of Frogs,
the BuH-Frny, which makes a roaring noise, hardly
to be distinguished from that well known of the
Beast, from whom it takes its Name: There is
another sort of Froy that crawls up to the tops of
32
AND WEST NEW JERSEY
Trees, there seeming to imitate the Notes of sev-
eral Birds, with many other strange and various
Creatures, which would take up too much room
here to mention.
Next, I shall proceed to instance in the several
sorts of Wild Fruits, as excellent Grapes, Red,
Black, White, Muscadel, and Fox, which upon fre-
quent Experience have produc'd Choice Wine,
being daily Cultivated by skilful Vinerons; they
will in a short space of time, have very good
Liquor of their own, and some to supply their
Neighbours, to their great advantage; as these
W ines are more pure, so much more wholsom ; the
Brewing Trade of Sophisticating and Adulterat-
ing of Wines, as in England, Holland (especially)
and in some other places not being known there
yet, nor in all probability will it in many Years,
through a natural Probity so fixed and implanted
in the Inhabitants, and (I hope) like to continue.
Wallnuts, Chesnuts, Filberts, Heckery-Nuts, Hartle-
berries, Mulberries, (white and black) Rasberries,
Strawberries^ Cramberries, Plumbs of several sorts,
and many other Wild Fruits, in great plenty,
which are common and free for any to gather; to
particularize the Names of them all, would take
up too much time ; tire, not gratifie the Reader,
and be inconsistent with the intended Brevity of
this little Volume.
33
THOMAS'S PENNSYLVANIA
The common Planting Fruit-Trees, are Apples,
which from a Kernel (without Inoculating) will
shoot up to be a large Tree, and produce very
delicious, large, and pleasant Fruit, of which
much excellent Cyder is made, in taste resembling
that in England press' d from Pippins and Pear-
mains, sold commonly for between Ten and Fifteen
Shillings per Barrel. Pears, Peaches, &c. of which
they distil a Liquor much like the taste of Ruwm
or Brandy, which they Yearly make in great quan-
tities: There are Quinces, Cherries, Goosberries,
Currants, Squashes, Pumpkins, Water-Mellons, Musk-
inellons, and other Fruits in great Numbers, which
seldom fail of yielding great plenty. There are
also many curious and excellent Physical Wild
Herbx, Roots, and Drugs of great Vertue, and very
sanative, as the Sassafras, and Sarsaparilla, so
much us'd in Diet-Drinks for the Cure of the
Veneral Disease, which makes the Indians by a
right application of them, as able Doctors and
Surgeons as any in Europe, performing celebrated
Cures therewith, and by the use of some particu-
lar Plants only, find Remedy in all Swelling*,
Burn inns, Ctifs, &c. There grows also in great
plenty the Black Snake-Root, (fam'd for its some-
times preserving, but often curing 1 the Plague,
being infused only in Wine, Brandy or Rumm)
Rattle- Snake-Root, Poke- Root, called in England
Jail op, with several other beneficial Herbs, Plants
34
AND WEST NEW JERSEY
and Roots, which Physicians have approved of, far
exceeding in Nature and Vertue, those of other
Countries.
The Names of the Counties are as followeth ;
First, Philadelphia County, Second, Bucks County,
Third, Chester County, Fourth, New-Castle County,
Fifth, Kent County, Sixth, Sussex County. The
chiefest and most commodious places for raising
Tobacco, as also for Breeding and Improving all
sorts of Cattle, are the Counties of Kent and New-
Castle ; the other chiefly depend upon Raising and
Improving English Grain, of which they have a
prodigious Encrease, which I have particularly
instanced in the beginning of this Book, both as
to their Quality and Quantity: All those Coun-
ties also very much abound in all sorts of Cattle,
both small and great, for the Use and Service of
Man.
Their sorts of Grain are, Wheat, Rye, Pease, Gates,
Barley, Buck-Wheat, Rice, Indian-Corn, Indian-Pease,
and Beans, with great quantities of Hemp and
Flax-, as alsOi several sorts of eating Roots, as
Turnips, Potatoes, Carrats, Parsnips, &c. all which
are produc'd Yearly in greater quantities than in
England, those Roots being much larger, and
altogether as sweet, if not more delicious; Cucum-
bers, Coshaws, Artichokes, with many others; most
_ 2 f
99
THOMAS'S P E N N S Y L V A N T A
sorts of Saladings, besides what grows naturally
Wild in the Country, and that in great plenty
also, as Mustard, line, Sage, Mint, Tatizy, Worm-
wood, Penny -Royal and Purxlain, and most of the
Herbs and Roots found in the Gardens in England.
There are several Husband -Men, who sow Yearly
between Seventy and Eighty Acres of Wheat each,
besides Barley, Gates, Rye, Pease, Beans, and other
Grain.
They have commonly Two Harvests in the Year;
First, of English Wheat, and next of Buck, (or
French) Wheat. They have great Stocks both of
Hogs and Horses, kept in the Woods, out of which,
I saw a Hog kill'd, of about a Year old, which
weigh' d Two Hundred weight; whose Flesh is
much sweeter, and even more luscious than that
in England, because they feed and fatten on the
rich (though wild) Fruits, besides those fatned at
home by Peaches, Cherries and Apple*. Their
Horses are very hardy, insomuch that being very
hot with riding or otherwise, they are turn'd out
into the Woods at the same Instant, and yet
receive no harm ; some Farmers have Forty, some
Sixty, and from that Number to Two or Three
Hundred Head of Cattle: Their Oxen usually
weigh Two Hundred Pounds a Quarter. They
are commonly fatter of Flesh, and yield more
Tallow (by feeding only on Grass) than the Cattle
-36-
AND WEST NEW JERSEY
in England. And for Sheep, they have consider-
able Numbers which are generally free from those
infectious Diseases which are incident to those
Creatures in England, as the Rot, Scab, or Maggots;
They commonly bring forth two Lambs at once,
some twise in one Year, and the Wooll is very fine,
and thick, and also very white.
Bees thrive and multiply exceedingly in those
Parts, the Sweeds often get great store of them in
the Woods, where they are free for any Body.
Honey (and choice too) is sold in the Capital City
for Five Pence per Pound. Wax is also plentiful,
cheap, and a considerable Commerce. Tame
Fowls, as Chickens, Hens, Geese, Ducks, Turkeys,
&c. are large, and very plentiful all over this
Countrey.
And now for their Lots and Lands in City and
Countrey, in their great Advancement since they
were first laid out, which was within the compass
of about Twelve Years, that which might have
been bought for Fifteen or Eighteen Shillings, is
now sold for Fourscore Pounds in ready Silver;
and some other Lots, that might have been then
Purchased for Three Pounds, within the space ot
Two Years, were sold for a Hundred Pounds a
piece, and likewise some Land that lies near the
City, that Sixteen Years ago might have been
37
THOMAS'S PENNSYLVANIA
Purchas'd for Six or Eight Founds the Hundred
Acres, cannot now be bought under One Hundred
and Fifty, or Two Hundred Pounds.
Now the true Reason why this Fruitful Coun-
trey and Florishing City advance so considerably
in the Purchase of Lands both in the one and the
other, is their great and extended Traffique and
Commerce both by Sea and Land, viz. to New-
York, New-England, Virginia, Mary-Land, Carolina,
Jamaica, Barbadoes, Nevis, Monserat, Anteao, St.
Cristophers, Barmudoes, New-Found-Land, Maderas,
Saltetudeous, and Old-England', besides several
other places. Their Merchandize chiefly consists
in Horses, Pipe- Staves, Pork and Beef Salted and
Barrelled up, Bread, and Flower, all sorts of Grain,
Pease, Beans, Skins, Furs, Tobacco, or Pot-Ashes,
Wax, &c. which are Barter' d for Rnmm, Suyar,
Molasses, Silver, Negroes, Salt, Wine, Linen, Hous-
hold- Goods, &c.
However there still remain Lots of Land both
in the aforesaid City and Country, that any may
Purchase almost as cheap as they could at the
first Laying out or Parcelling of either City or
Country; which is, (in the Judgment of most
People) the likeliest to turn to account to those
that lay their Money out upon it, and in a shorter
time than the aforementioned Lots and Lands
-38-
AND WEST NEW JERSEY
that are already improved, and for several Rea-
sons. In the first place, the Countrey is now well
inhabited by the Christians, who have great
Stocks of all sorts of Cattle, that encrease extra-
ordinarily, and upon that account they are oblig' d
to go farther up into the Countrey, because there
is the chiefest and best place for their Stocks,
and for them that go back into the Countrey,
they get the richest Land, for the best lies there-
abouts.
Secondly, Farther into the Countrey is the Prin-
cipal Place to Trade with the Indians for all sorts
of Pelt, as Skins and Furs, and also Fat Venison,
of whom People may Purchase cheaper by three
Parts in four than they can at the City of
Philadelphia.
Thirdly, Backwards in the Countrey lies the
Mines where is Copper and Iron, besides other
Metals, and Minerals, of which there is some Im-
provement made already in order to bring them,
to greater Perfection ; and that will be a means to
erect more Inland Market-Towns, which exceed-
ingly promote Traffick.
Fourthly, and lastly, Because the Countrey at
the first, laying out, was void of Inhabitants
(except the Heathens, or very few Christians not
39
THOMAS'S PENNSYLVANIA
worth naming) and not many People caring to
abandon a quiet and easie (at least tolerable) Life
in their Native Countrey (usually the most agree-
able to all Mankind) to seek out a new hazardous,
and careful one in a Foreign Wilderness or Desart
Countrey, wholly destitute of Christian Inhab-
itants, and even to arrive at which, they must
pass over a vast Ocean, expos' d to some Dangers,
and not a few Inconveniencies : But now all those
Cares, Fears and Hazards are vanished, for the
Countrey is pretty well Peopled, and very much
Improv'd, and will be more every Day, now the
Dove is return 1 d with the Olive-branch of Peace
in her Mouth.
I must needs say, even the present Encourage-
ments are very great and inviting, for Poor People
(both Men and Women) of all kinds, can here get
three times the Wages for their Labour they can
in England or Wales.
I shall instance in a few, which may serve; nay,
and will hold in all the rest. The first was a
black- Smith, (my next Neighbour) who himself
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 prr Pound
(and that is the common Price in that Countrey)
amounts to that Summ.
40
AND WEST NEW JERSEY
And for Carpenters, both House and Ship, Brick-
layers, Masons, either of these Trades-Men, will
get between Five and Six Shillings every Day con-
stantly. As to Journey-Men Shooe- Makers, they
have Two Shillings per Pair both for Men and
W omens Shooes: And Journey-Men Taylors have
Twelve Shillings^/- Week and their Diet. Saw-
yers get between Six and Seven Shillings the
Hundred for Cutting of Pine-Boards. And for
Weavers, 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. Potters have
Sixteen Pence for an Earthen Pot which may be
bought in England for Four Pence. Tanners, may
buy their Hides green for Three Half Pence per
Pound, and sell their Leather for Twelve Pence
per Pound. And Curriers have Three Shillings
and Four Pence per Hide for Dressing it; they
buy their Oyl at Twenty Pence per Gallon. Brick-
Makers have Twenty Shillings per Thousand for
their Bricks at the Kiln. Felt-Makers will have
for their Hats Seven Shillings a piece, such as
may be bought in England for Two Shillings a
piece; yet they buy their Wooll commonly for
Twelve or Fifteen Pence per Pound. And as to
the Glaziers, they will have Five Pence a Quarry
for their Glass. The Rule for the Coopers I have
almost forgot ; but this I can affirm of some who
41
THOMAS'S PENNSYLVANIA
went from Bristol, (as their Neighbours report)
that could hardly get their Livelihoods there, are
now reckon'd mPensilvania, by a modest Computa-
tion to be worth some Hundreds, (if not Thou
sands) of Pounds. The Baker* make as White
Bread as any in London, and as for their Rule, it
is the same in all Parts of the World that I have
been in. The Butchers for killing a Beast, have
Five Shillings and their Diet ; and they may buy
a good fat large Cow for Three Pounds, or there-
abouts. The Breirers sell such Beer as is equal in
Strength to that in London, half Ale and half
Stout for Fifteen Shillings per Barrel ; and their
Beer hath a better Name, that is, is in more esteem
than Knalish Beer in Barbadoes, and is sold for a
higher Price there. And for Silver- Smiths, they
have between Half a Crown and Three Shillings
an Ounce for working their Silver, and for Gold
equivalent. Plasterers have commonly Eighteen
Pence per Yard for Plastering. Last-Makers have
Sixteen Shillings }>er dozen for their Lasts. And
Heel-Makers have Two Shillings a dozen for
their Heels. Wheel and Mill - Wriahts, Joy tiers,
Br osiers, Pewterers, Dyers, Fullers, Comb-Makers,
Wyer-Drawers, Caae-Makers, Card-Makers, Painters,
Cutlers, Rope-Makers, Carvers, Block-Makers, Turners,
Button-Makers^ Hair and Wood Sieve-Makers, Bodies-
Makers, Gun-Smiths, Lock-Smiths, Nailers, File-
C liters, Skinners, Furriers, Glovers, Patten-Makers,
42
AND WEST NEW JERSEY
Watck-Makerss Clock-Makers, Sadlers, Colter-Makers,
Barbers, Printers, Book-Binders, and all other
Trades-Men, their Gains and Wages are about the
same proportion as the forementioned Trades in
their Advancements, as to what they have in
England.
Of Lawyers and Physicians I shall say nothing,
because this Countrey is very Peaceable and
Healt[h]y ; long may it so continue and never have
occasion for the Tongue of the one, nor the Pen
of the other, both equally destructive to Mens
Estates and Lives; besides forsooth, they, Hang-
Man like, have a License to Murder and make
Mischief. Labouring-Men have commonly here,
between 14 and 15 Pounds a Year, and their Meat,
Drink, Washing and Lodging; and by the Day
their Wages is generally between Eighteen Pence
and Half a Crown, and Diet also ; But in Harvest
they have usually between Three and Four Shil-
ling each Day, and Diet. The Maid Servants
Wages is commonly betwixt Six and Ten Pounds
per Annum, with very good Accommodation.
And for the Women who get their Livelihood by
their own Industry, their Labour is very dear, for
I can buy in London a Cheese-Cake for Two
Pence, bigger than theirs at that price, when at the
same time their Milk is as cheap as we can buy
it in London, and their Flour cheaper by one half.
43
THOMAS'S P E N N S V L V A N I A
Corn and Flesh, and what else serves Man for
Drink, Food and Rayment, is much cheaper here
than in England ^ or elsewhere; but the chief rea-
son why Wages of Servants of all sorts is much
higher here than there, arises from the great Fer-
tility and Produce of the Place; besides, if these
large Stipends were refused them, they would
quickly set up for themselves, for they can have
Provision very cheap, and Land for a very small
matter, or next to nothing in comparison of the
Purchace of Lands in England \ and the Farmers
there, can better afford to give that great Wages
than the Farmers in England- can, for several
Reasons very obvious.
As First, their Land costs them (as 1 said but
just now) little or nothing in comparison, of which
the Farmers commonly will get twice the encrease
of Corn for every Bushel they sow, that the
Farmers in England can from the richest Land
they have.
In the Second place, they have constantly good
price for their Corn, by reason of the great and
quick vent into Barbadoes and other Islands;
through which means Silrer is become more plen-
tiful than here in Engl-and^ considering the
Number of People, and that causes a quick Trade
for both Corn and Cattle; and that is the reason
44
AND WEST NEW JERSEY
that Corn differs now from the Price formerly,
else it would be at half the Price it was at then ;
for a Brother of mine (to my own particular
knowledge) sold within the compass of one Week,
about One Hundred and Twenty fat Beasts, most
of them good handsom large Oxen.
Thirdly, They pay no Tithes, and their Taxes are
inconsiderable; the Place is free for all Persua-
sions, in a Sober and Civil way ; for the Church
of England and the Quakers bear equal Share in
the Government. They live Friendly and Well
together ; there is no Persecution for Religion, nor
ever like to be; 'tis this that knocks all Commerce
on the Head, together with high Imposts, strict
Laws, and cramping Orders. Before I end this
Paragraph, I shall add another Reason why
Womens Wages are so exorbitant ; they are not
yet very numerous, which makes them stand upon
high Terms for their several Services, in Sempster-
ing, Washing, Spinning, Knitting, Sewing, and in
all the other parts of their Imployments ; for they
have for Spinning either Worsted or Linen, Two
Shillings a Pound, and commonly for Knitting a
very Course pair of Yarn Stockings, they have
half a Crown a pair ; moreover they are usually
Marry' d before they are Twenty Years of Age,
and when once in that Noose, are for the most
part a little uneasie, and make their Husbands so
45
THOMAS'S PENNSYLVANIA
too, till they procure them a Maid Servant to bear
the burden of the Work, as also in some measure
to wait on them too.
It is now time to return to the City of Brotherly -
Love (for so much the Greek Word or Name Ph iladel-
phici imports) which though at present so obscure,
that neither the Map-Makers, nor Geographers have
taken the least notice of her, tho she far exceeds
* Thirty her Namesake of Li/flia,* (having above Two
German Thousand Noble Houses for her Five Hundred
Miles from
Smyrna. Ordinary) or Celixia, or Ccelesyria ; yet in a very
short space of time she will, in all probability,
make a fine Figure in the World, and be a most
Celebrated Emporeum. Here is lately built a
Noble Town-House or Guild-Hall, also a Handsom
Market-House, and a convenient Prison. The
Number of Christians both Old and Young
Inhabiting in that Countrey, are by a Modest
Computation, adjudged to amount to above
Twenty Thousand.
The Laws of this Countrey, are the same with
those in Enyl(tn<l\ our Constitution being on the
same Foot: Many Disputes and Differences are
determined and composed by Arbitration ; and all
Causes are decided with great Care and Expedi-
tion, being concluded (generally) at furthest at
the Second Court, unless they happen to be very
-46-
AND WEST NEW JERSEY
Nice and Difficult Cases; under Forty Shillings
any one Justice of the Peace has Power to Try the
Cause. Thieves of all sorts, are oblig'd to restore
four fold after they have been Whipt and Im-
prison'd, according to the Nature of their Crime;
and if they be not of Ability to restore four fold,
they must be in Servitude till 'tis satisfied. They
have Curious Wharfs as also several large and
fine Timber- Yards, both at Philadelphia, and New-
Castle, especially at the Metropolis, before Robert
Turner's Great and Famous House, where are
built Ships of considerable 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 Chesnut- Street
Wharf, besides other Wharfs, as High-Street Wharf,
Mulberry -Street Wharf, and Vine-Street Wharf, and
all those are Common Wharfs ; and likewise there
are very pleasant Stairs, as Trus and Carpenter-
Stairs, besides several others. There are above
Thirty Carts belonging to that City, Four or Five
Horses to each. There is likewise a very conven-
ient Wharf called Carpenter's Wharf, which hath
a fine necessary Grain belonging to it, with suit-
able Granaries, and Store-Houses. A Ship of Two
Hundred Tun may load and unload by the side
of it, and there are other Wharfs (with Magazines
and Ware-Houses) which front the City all along
the River, as also a Curious and Commodious
47
THOMAS'S PENNSYLVANIA
Dock with a Draw-Bridge to it, for the convenient
Reception of Vessels ; where have been built some
Ships of Two or Three Hundred Tuns each : They
have very Stately Oaks to build Ships with, some
of which are between Fifty and Sixty Foot long,
and clear from Knots, being very straight and
well Grain' d. In this famous City of Philadelphia
there are several Ropr-Mnkew, who have large and
curious Rope- Walk* especially one Joseph Wilcox.
Also Three or Four Spacious Malt-Houses, as many
large Brew-Houses^ and many handsom Bake-Houses
for Publick Use.
In the said City are several good Schools of
Learning for Youth, in order to the Attainment
of Arts and Sciences, as also Reading, Writing, &c.
Here is to be had on any Day in the Week, Tarts,
Pies, (Jakes, &c. We have also several Cooks-
Shops, both Roasting and Boyling, as in the City
of London', Bread, Beer, Beef, and Pork, are sold
at any time much cheaper than in England (which
arises from their Plenty) our Wheat is very white
and clear from Tares, making as good and white
Bread as any in Kuro-pp. Happy Blessings, for
which we owe the highest Gratitude to our Plen-
tiful Provider, the great Creator of Heaven and
Earth. The Water-Mills far exceed those in
England, both for quickness and grinding good
Meal, their being great choice of good Timber,
48
AND WEST NEW JERSEY
and earlier Corn than in the aforesaid Place, they
are made by one Peter Deal, a Famous and Ingen-
ious Workman, especially for inventing such like
Machines.
All sorts of very good Paper are made in the
German-Town; as also very fine German Linen,
such as no Person of Quality need be asham'd to
wear; and in several places they make very good
Druggets, Crapes, Camblets, and Serges, besides
other Woollen Cloathes, the Manufacture of all
which daily improves : And in most parts of the
Countrey there are many Curious and Spacious
Buildings, which several of the Gentry have
erected for their Country -Houses. As for the
Fruit-Trees they Plant, they arrive at such Per-
fection, that they bear in a little more than half
the time that they commonly do in England.
The Christian Children born here are generally
well-favoured, and Beautiful to behold; I never
knew any come into the World with the least
blemish on any part of its Body, being in the
general, observ'd to be better Natur'd, Milder, and
more tender Hearted than those born in England.
There are very fine and delightful Gardens and
Orchards, in most parts of this Countrey; but
Edward Shippey (who lives near the Capital City)
49
THOMAS'S PENNSYLVANIA
has an Orchard and Gardens adjoyning to his
Great House that equalizes (if not exceeds) any 1
have ever seen, having a very famous and pleas-
ant Summer-House erected in the middle of his
extraordinary fine and large Garden abounding
with Tulips, Pinks, Carnations, Roses, (of several
sorts) Lilies, not to mention those that grow wild
in the Fields.
Reader, what 1 have here written, is not a Fic-
tion, Flam, Whim, or any sinister Design, either to
impose upon the Ignorant, or Credulous, or to
curry Favour with the Rich and Mighty, but in
meer Pity and pure Compassion to the Numbers
of Poor Labouring Men, Women, and Children in
England, half starv'd, visible in their meagre
looks, that are continually wandering up and
down looking for Employment without finding
any, who here need not lie idle a moment, nor
want due Encouragement or Reward for their
Work, much less Vagabond or Drone it about.
Here are no Beggars to be seen (it is a Shame and
Disgrace to the State that there are so many in
England) nor indeed have any here the least Occa-
sion or Temptation to take up that Scandalous
Lazy Life.
Jealousie among Men is here very rare, and
Barrenness among Women hardly to be heard of,
50
AND WE STNEW JERSEY
nor are old Maids to be met with; for all com-
monly Marry before they are Twenty Years of
Age, and seldom any young Married Woman but
hath a Child in her Belly, or one upon her Lap.
What I have deliver'd concerning this Province,
is indisputably true, I was an Eye- Witness to it
all, for I went in the first Ship that was bound
from England for that Countrey, since it received
the Name of Pensilvania, which was in the Year
1681. The Ship's Name was the John and Sarah
of London, Henry Smith Commander. 1 have
declin'd giving any Account of several things
which I have only heard others speak of, because
I did not see them my self, for I never held that
way infallible, to make Reports from Hear -say. I
saw the first Cellar when it was digging for the
use of our Governour Will. Penn.
I shall now haste to a Conclusion, and only hint
a little concerning the Natives or Aborigines, their
Persons, Language, Manners, Religion and Govern-
ment \ Of Person they are ordinarily Tall, Straight,
well-turn' d, and true Proportion'd; their Tread
strong and clever, generally walking with a lofty
Chin. Of Complexion Black, but by design,
Gypsie-like, greasing themselves with Bears-Fat
Clarified, and using no defence against the
Injuries of the Sun and Weather, their Skins fail
51
THOMAS'S PENNSYLVANIA
not to be Swarthy. Their Eye* are small and
black. Thick Lips and flat AW* so frequent with
Negroes and East Indian^ are rare with them.
They have Comely Faces and Tolerable Complex-
ions, some of their Now* having a rise like the
Roman.
Their Language is Lofty and Elegant, but not
Copious; One Word serveth in the stead of Three,
imperfect and ungrammatical, which defects are
supply' d by the Understanding of the Hearers.
Stce,et, of Noble Sound and Accent. Take here a
Specimen.
Hodi hita nee huska a peechi, nee, machi
Pensilvania huska dogwachi, keshow a peechi
Nowa, huska hayly, Chetena koon peo.
Thus in English.
Farewel Friend, I will very quickly go to
Pensilvania, very cold Moon will come presently,
And very great hard frosts will come quickly.
I might Treat largely of their Customs and Man-
ners, but that will not agree with my proposed
Brevity.
As soon as their Children are born, they wash
them in cold Water, especially in cold Weather.
To harden and embolden them, they plunge them
52
AND WEST NEW JERSEY
in the River; they find their Feet early, usually
at Nine Months they can go. The Boys Fish till
Fifteen, then Hunt, and having given proof of
their Manhood, by a large return of Skins, they
may Marry (else 'tis ashame to think of a Wife)
which is usually at the Age of Seventeen or
Eighteen ; the Girls stay with their Mothers, and
help to hoe the Ground, Plant Corn, bear Bur-
dens, and Marry about Thirteen or Fourteen.
J
Their Houses are Matts, or Barks of Trees set on
Poles, Barn -like, not higher than a Man, so not
expos' d to Winds. They lie upon Reeds or Grass
In Travel they lodge in the Woods about a great
Fire, with the Mantle of Duffils they wear wrapk
about them, and a few Boughs stuck round them.
They live chiefly on Maze, or Indian Corn rosted
in the Ashes, sometimes beaten and boy I'd with
Water, called Homine. They have Cakes, not
unpleasant ; also Beans and Pease, which Nourish
much, but the Woods and Rivers afford them
their Provision ; they eat Morning and Evening ;
their Seats and Tables are the Ground ; they are
reserv'd, apt to resent and retain long: Their
Women are Chaste (at least after Marriage) and
when with Child, will not admit of their Hus-
bands Embraces any more till Deliver'd. Exceed-
ing Liberal and Generous; Kind and Affable;
53
THOMAS S PENNSYLVANIA
uneasie in Sickness, to remedy which, they drink
a Decoction of Roots in Spring- Water, forbearing
Flesh, which if they happen to eat, it must be the
Female; they commonly bury their Kettles and
part of their Goods with their Friends when they
die, suspecting (poor Soulsj they shall make use
of them again at the Resurrection. They Mourn
a whole Year, but it is no other than blacking
their Faces.
Their Government is Monarchical, and Suc-
cessive, and ever of the Mothers (the surest) side,
to prevent a Spurious Issue. The Distaff (as in
France) is excluded the Regal Inheritance. Their
Princes are Powerful, yet do nothing without the
Concurrence of their Senate, or Councils, consist-
ing chiefly of Old, but mixt with Young Men;
slow and deliberate, (Spaniard-like) in resolving,
naturally wise, and hardly to be out-witted.
Their Punishments are Pecuniary. Murder may-
be aton'd for by Feasts and Presents, in Propor-
tion to the Quality of the Offence, Person, or Sex
injur'd; for if a Woman be kill'd, the Mulct is
double, because she brings forth Children. They
seldom quarel, when Sober, and if Boozy, (which
of late they are more apt to be, having learn' d to
drink, a little too much Rum of the Christians, to
their shame) they readily pardon it, alledging the
Liquor is Criminal not the Man.
54
AND WEST NEW JERSEY
The way of Worship the Siveeds use in this
Countrey, is the Lutheran ; the English have four
sorts of Assemblies or Religious Meetings here;
as first, The Church of England, who built a very
fine Church in the City of Philadelphia in the
Year 1695. Secondly, the Anabaptists: Thirdly,
the Presbyterians, and two sorts of Quakers (of all
the most numerous by much) one Party held with
George Keith ; but whether both Parties will joyn
together again in one I cannot tell, for that Gen-
tleman hath alter' d his Judgment since he came
to England, concerning his Church-Orders in
Pensilvania, by telling and shewing them Precepts
that were lawful in the time of the Law, but
forbidden under the Gospel to pay Tithes, or
Ministers to Preach for Hire, &c. As also to
sprinkle Infants; and he tells the Presbyterian
Minister, That he must go to the Pope of Rome for
his Call, for he had no Scripture for it, and that
Water-Baptism and the Outward Supper are not
of the Nature of the Everlasting Gospel; nor
essential Parts of it, see his Truth Advanced page
173. He gives likewise a strict Charge concerning
plain Language and plain Habit, and that they
should not be concern' d in the compelling part of
the Worldly Government, and that they should
set their Negroes at Liberty after some reasonable
time of Service; likewise, they should not take
the Advantage of the Law against one another,
55
THOMAS'S PENNSYLVANIA
as to procure them any Corporeal Punishment:
These Orders he tells his Followers, would make
Distinction between them and Jews and Moral
Heathens, this was in the Year 1698. in Pensil-
vania: But now the Year 1697. since he came to
England, his Judgment is chang'd, for he tells his
Disciples, that Water-Baptism is come in the
room of Circumcision; and by so doing, they
would distinguish themselves from either Jews,
Pagans, or Moral Heat hem : He keeps his Meeting
once a Week at Turners-Hall in Fill-Pot-Lane,
London, on Sundays in the Afternoon; he begins
between Two and Three of the Clock and com-
monly ends between Four and Five.
Friendly Reader, by this thou mayst see how
wavering and mutable Men of great Outward
Learning are, if the Truth of this be by any Body
question' d, let them look in the Creed, and the
Paper against Christians being concerned in Worldly
Government, and the Paper concerning Negroes, that
was given forth by the Appointment of the Meet-
ing held by Gmrye Krith at Philip James's House
in the City of Philadelphia, in Pensilvania; and
his Letter also in Mary-Land against the Presbyterian
Catechism, Printed at Boston in New-England in
1695. with the Answer to it bound up together in
one Book and in Truth Advanced, page 1 73. And
for what relates to him since in England, let them
-56-
AND WEST NEW JERSEY
look into the Quakers Argument Refuted, Concern-
ing Water-Baptism and the Lord's Supper, page 70.
And now Reader, I shall take my leave of thee,
recommending thee with my own self to the
Directions of the Spirit of God in our Conscience,
and that will agree with all the Holy Scriptures
in its right place ; and when we find our selves so,
we have no need to take any Thought or Care
what any Body shall say of us.
The End of the History of
Pensilvania.
57
: COUNTRY
We ft -New -Jerfey
1 N
AMERICA,
A lliortView of their -Laxs, Cujloms zndj%stig:on'..A9
nlfo the TtmrcTitrn&it of the Air zndt<mate , The
is of theSci/, v/iti:the ^ft Produce of /^"ce, 3cc.
/ -tiprovca-.cnt of their Lands (as in ILngland) to
i^ftnfe, Sec. Their making great quantf-
:;v5 of Fitch and 7^v as ,i!fo Turpentine, W^j'ch pro-
reed* fro . witli ;(.{? af c
"'trn-Ar.:- ' their
-
.
, .
! I-'.)MAS
To the Right Honourable Sir John Moor, Sir Thomas
Lane, Knights and Aldermen of the City of Lon-
don, and to the rest of the Worthy Members of the
West-Jersey Proprietors.
Worthy Friends,
TO whom can the History of West- Jersey with
more Justice pertain, than to you the Noble
and Generous Proprietors.
That was the chief Motive that inclin'd me to
this Dedication, which I hope will be the more
acceptable to you, because the Account of that
Country is so Sincere and Candid.
I have endeavour'd (by setting forth) the great
Encouragements there are) to persuade the Poor,
the Idle, the Lazy, & the Vagabonds of these
Kingdoms and of Wales to hasten thither, that
they may live plentifully and happily, and I
doubt not but they will hearken to it, because it
is their true Interest. I have done my best endeav-
ours to possess them and others of the great
Fertility and Plenty in those Parts, which I need
not repeat to you, who must needs be well
acquainted with the State of that Place. That it
may Flourish and mightily tend to your Advan-
tage, as also to the Benefit of England, the hearty
desire of your Friend,
Gabriel Thomas.
61
THE
PREFACE
TO THE
READER.
Courteous Reader,
MY Chief Design in writing this short Account of
West-New-Jersey, is to inform all (but espe-
cially the Poor) what Ample and Happy Livelihoods
People may gain in those Parts, whereby they may
subsist very well without either Begging or Stealing,
for if they Steal, they are Whipt, and oblig'd to pay
Four Fold; and if they are not of Ability to do that,
they must abide in Servitude till they have made Satis-
faction to the injur'd Person : And if they should be
Lazy and turn to Beg, they will get nothing by that
Base and Scandalous Imployment; But if they be so
Poor that they have not of their own to supply their
Wants and Necessities, nor are able to Work, they will
have no need to Beg, for People out of their own free
Compassion and pure Charity will relieve them in their
Necessities. Now if this were all, (though it is not] it
wou'd be a sufficient Encouragement to the Idle, the
Sloathful, and the Vagabonds of England, Scotland,
and Ireland to hasten thither, where besides this, they
have a fair prospect of getting considerable Estates, at
least of living very Plentifully and Happily, which
-63-
THOMAS'S P E N N S Y L V A N I A
Medium of Life is far better than lingering out their
Days so miserably Poor and half Starved ; or Whip-
ping, Burning, and Hanging for Villanies, they will
have little Temptation, nay or Inclination to perpe-
trate here. The French Refugees or Protestant
People, wou'd soon find it their Interest to remove
thither, where they wou'd live for better than in Ger-
many, Holland, Ireland or England. Written by
one who earnestly wisheth thy Well/are and Pros-
perity in the ways of the Lord, and then thou canst not
do amiss in this World.
Gab. Thomas
-6 4 -
THE
HISTORY
OF
If^est-
WEst-New-Jersey lies between the Latitude of
Forty, and Forty two Degrees ; having
the Main Sea on the South, East-Jersey on the
North, Hudson's Bay on the East, and Pensilvania
on the West.
The first Inhabitants of this Countrey were the
Indians, being supposed to be part of the Ten
dispersed Tribes of Israel; for indeed they are very
like the Jews in their Persons, and something in
their Practices and Worship, for they (as the
Pensilvanian Indians) observe the New Moons with
great Devotion, and Reverence: And their first
Fruits they offer, with their Corn and Hunting-
Game they get in the whole Year, to a False Deity
or Sham -God, whom they must please, else (as
they fancy) many Misfortunes will befal them,
and great Injuries will be done them. When
they bury their Dead, they put into the Ground
with them some House-Utensils, and some Money,
(as Tokens of their Love and Affection) with other
Things, expecting they shall have Occasion for
-65-
THOMAS'S PENNSYLVANIA
them again in the other World. And if a Person
of Note dies very far from the Place of his own
Residence they will carry his Bones home some
considerable time after, to be buried there. They
are also very curious, nay, even nice in preserving
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 studious in
observing the Vertues of Roots and Herb*, by which
they cure themselves of many Distempers in their
Bodies, both internal or ex[t|ernal. They will not
suffer their Beards to grow; for they will pluck
the Hair oft with their own Fingers as soon as
they can get hold of it, holding it great Deformity
to have a Beard. They are very loving to one
another ; for if three or four of them come into a
Christian's House, and the Master of it happen to
give one of them Victuals, and none to the rest,
he will divide it into equal Shares among them :
And they are also very kind and civil to any of
the Christians; for I my self have had Victuals
cut by them in their Cabbins, before they took any
for themselves. Their chief Imployment is in
Hunting, Fishing, and Fowling, and making
Canows, or Indian Boats and Bowls, in all which
Arts they are very dexterous and ingenious:
Their Worn ens Business chiefly consists in plant-
ing of Indian Corn, and pounding it to Meal, in
-66-
Mortars, with Pestils, (as we beat our Spice) and
make Bread, and dress their Victuals, which they
perform very neatly and cleanlily. They also
make Indian Matt;, Ropes, Hats, and Baskets, (some
of curious Workmanship) of their Hemp, which
there grows wild, and Natural, in the Woods, in
great Plenty. In short, the Women are very
ingenious in their several Imployments as well as
the Men. Their young Maids are naturally very
modest and shamefac'd: And their young Women
when newly married, are very nice and shy, and
will not suffer the Men to talk of any immodest or
lascivious Matters. Their Houses are, for the
most part, cover' d with Chesnutt Bark, but very
close, and warm, insomuch that no Rain can go
through. Their Age in Computation may be
compared with the Christians. Their wearing
Habit is commonly Deer- Skins, or Duffles. They
don't allow of mentioning the Name of a Friend
after his Death; for at his Decease, 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 Observers of the Weather by the Moon.
They take great Delight in Cloaths of various
Colours. And are so punctual that if any go from
their first Offer or Bargain with them, it will be
very difficult for that Party to get any Dealings
-67-
THOMAS'S PENNSYLVANIA
with them any more, or to have any farther Con-
verse with them ; And moreover it is worthy of
Remark, that when a Company of them are got
together, they never interrupt or contradict one
another, 'till two of them have made an end of
their Discourse; for if never so many be in Com-
pany only two must discourse at a time, and the
rest must keep Silence. The English and they
live very peaceably, by reason the English satisfies
them for their Land.
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 say Two Tens, Three
Tens, Four Tens, Five Tens, &c.
I shall now proceed to show something of the
manner and way of Discourse that happens
between them and the Neighbouring Christians
that use to deal and traffick with them, or when
they meet one another in the Woods accidentally,
one a looking for his Cattel, and the other a
Hunting the Wild Deer, or other Game, by way
of Questions and Answers. 1 shall put the Indian
Tongue on one side of the Leaf, and the English
just opposite.* Their Discourse is as followeth.
* In the original edition two English sentences have no Indian
equivalents, and the Indian questions and answers do not corre-
spond to their translation. In this reprint the vagary has been
adjusted.
68
AND WEST NEW JERSEY
The Indian Tongue.
Quest. Hitah toko-
man ?
Anew.
weekin.
Quest.
Andogowa nee
The English of it.
Quest, Friend, from
whence com'st?
Answ. Yonder.
Tony ando- Quest. Where yonder?
yowa kee weekin ?
Answ. Ar way mouse.
Quest. Keco kee hatah
kee iceekin ?
Answ. Nee hatah huska
wees youse og huska che-
tena chase og huska orit
chekenip.
Quest. Chingo kee leto
nee chase og youse etka
chekenip.
Answ. Hatopa etka
nisha kishquicka.
Quest. Keco kee hata
kee weekin ?
Answ. Nee hata orit
poonk og huska horit
Answ. My House.
Quest. Where is thy
House?
Answ. Arwaymouse,
which is the Name of
an Indian Town.
Quest. What hast got
in thy House?
Answ. I have very
fat Venison, and good
strong Skins, with very
good Turkeys.
Quest. When wilt
thou bring me Skins
and Venison, with Tur-
keys?
Answ. Tomorrow, or
two days hence.
Quest. What hast thou
got in thy House?
Answ. I have good
Powder, and very good
-69-
THOMAS'S P E N N S Y L V A N I A
haloons etka neskec oy
marchkec ochqueon.
(0 huskia orit.J
Quest. Kee namen ne-
skec kabaij oy marchkec
moos etka opey meals ?
Answ. Mat a namen
megis nee namen neskec
kabay undoywa tekany.
Quest. Kef namen
marchkec moos undogwa
tekeny ?
Answ. Moyy.
Quest. Kee sqna oy
enychan liatnh ?
Answ. Moyy.
Quest. Kacha kaiah ?
Answ. Neit.
Quest. Benoingtid etka
squatid ?
Answ. Nisha benoin-
fid oy nuha xquatiri.
Quest. Tonntid rny-
chan hatah ?
Answ. Moyy.
Quest. Etka aroosiae ?
Answ. Neo fcishow.
Shot, with red and blue
Machcots.
(Very well.)
Quest. Did' st t h o u
see black Horses and
red Cows, with white
Sheep?
Amir. I saw no Sheep :
1 did see black Horses
yonder in the Woods (
Quest. Did'st see red
Cows yonder in the
Woods?
Ansic. Yes.
Quest. Hast thou a
Wife and Children?
A us ic. Yes.
Quest. How many
hast?
Answ. Four.
Qitfsf. Boys or Girls?
Anstr. Two Boys and
two Girls.
Quest. Hast got a
young Child?
An sir. Yes.
Quest. How old?
Answ. Four months.
AND WEST NEW JERSEY
Quest. Etka aroosise Quest. How old art
kee? thou?
Answ. Pelenacheenc- Answ. Fifty years
kan katingan aroosis. old.
In the next Place I shall give an account of
their way in counting or numbering ; which is as
followeth.
The Indian Counting. The English to it.
Kooty nisha nacha neo One, Two, Three,
pelenach Kootash nishash Four, Five, Six, Seven,
choesh peskonk telen. Eight, Nine, Ten.
Nishinchkan nachinch- Twenty, Thirty, For-
kan neochinchkan pelen- ty, Fifty, &c.
chinchkan.
The Names of some of the Indians.
Anachkootiny, Bussabenating, Okonycan, Potasko,
Quindamen, Lames, Alpoonyan, Kohonk, Hiton,
Temeny.
The Dutch and Sweeds inform us that they are
greatly decreased in number to what they were
when they came first into this Country : And the
Indians themselves say, that two of them die to
every one Christian that comes in here. Reader,
1 shall not insist any farther upon this Subject,
because what is deficient or short here, is inserted
71
THOMAS'S PENNSYLVANIA
already in the preceding History of I
for tlie Natives both of that, as well as of this
Country, speak the same Language, and live after
the same manner; for my chief aim, in the next
place, is to acquaint thee how, and after what
manner the Christians live there And 1 hope 1
have pleased thee so far, as it may prove a means
to encourage me to give a larger Description here-
after.
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 Houses, upon an Island
(called since by the English) Stacies- Island', and it
remained so, till about the Year 1675. in which
King Churles the Second (or the Duke of York (his
Brother) gave the Countrey to Edward Billiny, in
whose time, one Major Fenwick went thither, with
some others, and built a pretty Town, and call'd
it Salam ; and in a few Years after a Ship from
London, and another from //////, sail'd thither
with more People, who went higher up into the
Countrey, and built there a Town, and called it
Burlington, which is now the chiefest Town in that
Countrey, though Salam is the ancientest; and a
fine Market -Town it is, having several Faint kept
yearly in it; likewise well furnished with good
store of most Necessaries for humane Support, as
72
AND WEST NEW JERSEY
Bread, Beer, Beef, and Pork; as also Butter and
Cheese, of which they freight several Vessels, and
send them to Barbadoes, and other Islands.
There are very many fine stately Brick-Houses
built, and a commodious Dock for Vessels to come
in at, and they claim equal Privilege with Burling-
ton for the sake of Antiquity; tho' that is the
principal Place, by reason that the late Governor
Cox, who bought that Countrey of Edward Billing,
encouraged and promoted that Town chiefly, in
settling his Agents and Deputy -Governors there,
(the same Favours are continued by the New-West-
Jersey Society, who now manage Matters there)
which brings their Assemblies and chief Courts
to be kept there ; and, by that means it is become
a very famous Town, having a great many stately
Brick-Houses in it, (as I said before) with a delicate
great Market- House, where they keep their Market :
It hath a noble and spacious Hall over-head, where
their Sessions is kept, having the Prison adjoining
to it.
Likewise in the said Town there are very many
fine Wharfs and large Timber-Yards, Malt-Houses,
Brew-Houses, Bake- Houses ; and most sorts of
Trades-Men, (whose Wages are upon the same
Foot with the Pensilvanians) viz. C loath- Workers,
who make very good Serges, Druggets, Crapes, Cam-
73
THOMAS'S PENNSYLVANIA
blets, (part Silk or Worsted, and part Camels Hair)
and good Plushes, with several other Woollen
Cloathfts, besides Linnen.
There are many Fair and Great Brick Houses
on the outside of the Town which the Gentry
have built there for their Countrey Houses,
besides the Great and Stately Palace of John Tate-
ham Esq; which is pleasantly Situated on the
North side of the Town, having a very fine and
delightful Garden and Orchard adjoyning to it,
wherein is variety of Fruits, Herbs, and Flowers;
as Hoses, Tit lips, July -Flowers, Sun -Flowers (that
open and shut as the Sun Rises and Sets, thence
taking their Name) Carnations, and many more ;
besides abundance of Medicinal Roots Herbs,
Plants, and Flowers, found wild in the Fields.
There are kept also in this Famous Town sev-
eral Fairs every Year; and as for Provisions, viz.
Bread, Beer, Beef, Pork, Cheese, Butter, and
most sorts of Fruit here is great Plenty and very
Cheap; all those Commodities 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 my self
have been on Board a Ship of that Burthen there :
And several fine Ships and Vessels (besides Gov-
74
AND WEST NEW JERSEY
eraour COX'B own great Ship) have been built
there.
There are also two handsom Bridges to come in
and out of the Town, called London and York-
Bridges. The Town stands in an Island, the Tide
flowing quite round about it. There are Water-
Men who constantly Ply their Wherry Boats from
that Town to the City of Philadelphia in Pensil-
vania, and to other places. Besides there is
Glocester-Toivu, which is a very Fine and Pleasant
Place, being well stor'd with Summer Fruits, as
Cherries, Mulberries, and Strawberries, whither
Young People come from Philadelphia in the
Wherries to eat Stra[w]berries and Cream, within
sight of which City it is sweetly Situated, being
but about three Miles distance from thence.
There are several Meetings of Worship in this
Country, viz. the Presbi/terians, Quakers, and Ana-
baptists: Their Privilege as to Matter of Law, is
the same both for Plaintiff' and Defendant, as in
England.
The Air is very Clear, Sweet and Wholesom;
in the depth of Winter it is something 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 longest
75
THOMAS'S PENNSYLVANIA
Day in Summer is shorter by two Hours than the
longest Day in England, and the shortest Day
longer by two Hours than with us here.
As for Corn, they have Wheat, Rye, Pease, Oates,
Barley, Rice, &c. in vast quantities: Also Indian-
Corn, Pease and Beans, likewise English Hemp and
Flax, which prospers there exceedingly. Eating
Roots, Pumpkins, Cashews, Water-Melons^ Muskmel-
lons, Cucumbers, Squashes, Carrots, Artichokes,
Potatoes, Turnips, Garlic k, Onions, and Leeks grow
there in greater Plenty than in En[a]land. And
for Herbs, they have Cabbages, Coleworts, Savoys,
Lettice, Purslane, and other Sallads in abun-
dance; beside Wild Herbs which are there very
commom [sic], as Penny-Royal, Mint, Mustard,
Sane, Rue, Tansey, &c. and likewise there are
choice Phisical Roots, as Sassafras, Sarsaparilla,
Black- Snake -Root, Rattle- Snake Root, and Poake-Root,
with divers others, which there is great store of.
Of Fish, they have Whales, Sturyeon, Cod, Scale-
Fish, Cole and Hake-Fish, large Mackeril, Flatfish,
Rock, Shadds, Cattes, Eels, Perch, and many other
sorts in prodigious Shoals: And Wild- Water-
Fowl, as Geese, Ducks, Swans, Divers, &c. are very
numerous, even beyond all expectation. As to
Land-Fowl, Turkeys, Geese, Pheasants, Partridges,
*, Woodcocks, Blackbirds, &c. they are there in
-76-
AND WEST NEW JERSEY
extraordinary great abundance, and very large.
There is also that uncommon and valuable Bird
(being near the bigness of a Cuckoo) called the
Mocking-bird (known, but not very well in England,
being so very Nice and Tender, that they usually
die by the way) with several other Charming and
Curious Birds, too tedious here to specific.
As to the Wild Vermin, There are Otters, Beavers,
Foxes, Mush-Rats Minx's, Wild-Cats, Rackoons, Poll-
cats, and also that cunning Creature the Possom,
particularly mention' d and distinguish' d in the
annex' d Account of Pensilvania for its remarkable
Qualities, whither I refer the Reader, not in the
least being fond of Tautology. This Creature is
about the bigness of an English Cat, being of a
light gray colour. Likewise there were some
Wolves and Bears, but now they are very rare to
be seen, by reason the Indians destroy them (as
before). Also that strange Creature the Flying
Squirril, mention' d in the foregoing Book. There
are great numbers of Wild Deer, and Red Deer also ;
and these wild Creatures are free and common for
any to kill and take. And for Wild Fruits, there
are Chesnuts, Filberts, Hickery-Nuts, Grapes, Mul-
berries, Strawberries, Rasberries, Huckleberries, and
Craneberries, with several sorts of Plumbs, and all
those Fruits in great plenty being free for any
Body to gather.
THOMAS'S PENNSYLVANIA
Now I am a coming to the Planted Fruit-Trees,
as Apples, Pears, Apriwks, (guinea*, Plumbs, Cher-
ries, Gooseberries, Currants, and ^caches, from
which last they distil a liquor as in Pensilvania,
much like Jin nun or Bram///, in the taste; and all
those Trees will come to bear in a little more than
half the time, they do in Knyltind, the Soil is so
rich ; they have great plenty of the aforementioned
Fruits, which are exceeding delicious. These, as
also many other Fruits that come not to any pitch
of Perfection in Knyhml^ are the Natural Product
of this Country, which lies warmer, being more
befriended by the Sun's hot and glorious Beams,
which without doubt is the chief Cause and true
Reason, why the Fruit there so far excells the
Enf/Iish. They have likewise great Stocks of
Horses and Hoys, raised in the Woods; of the
latter of which I have seen some of a Prodigious
Weight that only fed there, their Horses are very
hardy, strong, and of good Spirit for Labour or
Travelling; they commonly go unshod (which in
many Years saves much Money). Their Plow-
shears require but small Reparation, wearing out
but little. They Hnn-oic their Ground with a
Wooden-tyned Harrow, and twice over does the
business.
Of Bees also they are well provided, & abound
in Sheep naturally very sound, and that stand
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AND WEST NEW JERSEY
well, the Rot, Scab, Maggots, &c. rarely invading
them ; they usually 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 commonly weigh well.
Tame Fowl there are (almost) incredible in num-
bers, viz. Geese, Turkeys, Hens, &c.
In this Country also is great Plenty of working
Timber, as Oaks, Ash, Chesnuts, Pine, Cedar, Wal-
nut, Poplar, Firr, and Masts for Ships, with Pitch
and Rosin, of great Use and much Benefit to the
Countrey. Here are several good Navigable Rivers,
besides that famous River Delaware (which 1 have
mentioned elsewhere, and where the Tobacco is
excellent) being deep enough for Vessels to come
in: First Prince Morise's River, where the S weeds
used to kill the Geese in great numbers, for their
Feathers (only) leaving their Carcasses behind
them; Cohansey River, by which they send great
store of Cedar to Philadelphia -City, Allaway -River;
Solam-River, which runs by Salam-Town (of great-
est Antiquity ;) Naman-River, Rackcoon- River, which
had its Name from the great numbers of those
Creatures that always abound thereabouts; Old
Man's River; Manto- River; Woodberry- River; Great
Eggharbor River (up which a Ship of two or three
hundred Tuns may sail) which runs by the back
79
THOMAS'S PENNSYLVANIA
part of the Country into the Main Sea; I call it
back, because the first Improvement made by the
Christians, was Del a war River-side: This Place is
noted for good store of Corn, Horses, CO/AS, Sheep,
Hoys, &c. the Lands thereabouts being much
improv'd, and built upon : Little Egg- Harbor-Creek,
which take their N ames from the great abundance
of Eggs, which the Swans, Geese, Ducks, and other
wild Fowls on those Rivers lay thereabouts: Tim-
ber-River, alias Glocefifer-'RiveT, which hath its
Name (also) from the great quantity of curious
Timber, which they send in great Floats to Phila-
delphia, a City in Pensilvania, as Oaks, Pines,
Chesnut, Ash, and Cedars. This River runs down
by Glocester-Town, which is the Shire-Town ' t And
Newton-River, that runs by Newton; Cooper-River;
Pensokin-River; Northampton- River, with several
others, at a convenient distance upon the Sea, the
Shores whereof are generally deep and bold) of
less Note, as Wissahiskonk- River, that runs down
into the great River Delaware, by Burlington. The
Countrey inhabited by the Christians is divided
into four Parts or Counties, tho' the Tenth part
of it is not yet peopled; 'Tis far cheaper living
there for Eatables than here in Kny/<im/; and
either Men or Women that have a Trade, or
are Labourers, can, if industrious, get near
three times the Wages they commonly earn in
England.
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AND WEST NEW JERSEY
Courteous Reader, As yet I have given thee no
Account of East- Jersey, because I never was there,
so in reality cannot properly or pertinently speak
to that Matter. I will not pretend to impose any
thing on the World, but have all along, and shall
still declare nothing but Verity; therefore one
Word of that by and by. I might have given
thee a much larger Account of this Countrey, and
have stretch' d this (now) Pocket Volume to an
extraordinary Bulk and Size; and yet without
straining or deviating in the least from the Prin-
ciples of my Profession, which are Truth it self.
I have no Plot in my Pate, or deep Design, no,
not the least expectation of gaming any thing by
them that go thither, or losing by those who stay
here. My End chiefly in Writing, nay, indeed
my great Aim, is to inform the People of Britain
and Ireland in general, but particularly the Poor,
who are begging, or near it, or starving, or hard
by it (as I before took notice in my Preface) to
encourage them (for their own Good, and for the
Honour and Benefit of their Native Countrey, to
whom they are now a Scandal and Disgrace ; and
whose Milk and Honey these Drones eat up, and
are besides a heavy Burden to the Common-
wealth, in the Taxes paid by every Parish in Eng-
land, &c. to support them.
Law-Causes are here (as in Pensilvania) speedily
81
THOMAS'S PENNSYLVANIA
determined, in the second Court at least, unless in
some difficult Business. One Justice of the Peace
hath Power to try a Cause, and give Judgment
therein, if the Original Debt be under forty Shil-
lings. And for Thieves and Robbers (as I hinted
before in the Preface) they must restore fourfold;
which, if they are not able to do, they must work
hard till the injured Person is satisfied.
I shall conclude with a Word or two on New-
East-Jersey. This Countrey is exceeding fruitful
in Cartel, of which I have seen great numbers
brought from thence, viz. Oxen, Cows, Sheep, Hogs,
and Horses, to Philadelphia, the Capital of Pensil-
pftniti. The chief est Manufactory (besides English
and Indian Grain) fit for Traffick that this Coun-
trey affords.
Now I shall give thee an Account of the English
Manufactory, that each County in West-New-
Jersey affords. In the first Place I shall begin
with Burlington-County, as for Pelf age, or Beavers
Skins, Offer- 8k ins, Minks Skins, Musk- rots Skins,
Karkcoon, Wihl Cats, Martin, and Deer -Skins, &c.
The Trade in GloceMer- County consists chiefly in
Pitch, Tar, and 7iW ; the latter of which is made
by Robert Style*, an excellent Artist in that sort
of Work, for he delivers it as clear as any Gum-
Arabick. The Commerce carried on in Salam-
82
AND WEST NEW JERSEY
County, is chiefly Rice, of which they have won-
derful Produce every Year ; as also of Cranberries
which grow there in great plenty, and which in
Picle might be brought to Europe. The Commodi-
ties of Captnaif -County, are Oyl and Whale-Bone,
of which they make prodigious, nay vast quan-
tities every Year, having mightily advanc'd that
great Fishery, taking great numbers of Whales
yearly. This Country for the general part of it,
is extraordinary good, and proper for the raising
of all sorts of Cattel, very plentiful here, as Cows,
Horses, Sheep, and Hogs, dr. likewise it is well
Stor'd with several sorts of Fruits which make
very good and pleasant Liquors, snch [sic\ as their
Neighbouring Country before mention' d affords.
Now Reader, having no more to add of any mo-
ment or importance, 1 salute thee in Christ;
and whether thou stayest in England, Scotland,
Ireland, or Wales, or goest to Pensilvania, West or
East-Jersey, 1 wish thee all Health and Happiness
in this, and Everlasting Comfort (in God) in the
World to come. Fare thee well.
FINIS
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