Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 08.djvu/285

 PENN

PENNELL

released the tract of land called Pennsylvania, to William Penn. He acquired the land as " King's tenant," having the right to make laws, and to appoint judges and other officers. The laws enjoined that all persons who confessed one almighty God to be creator and ruler of the world and who lived peaceably and justly in society were not to be molested for their religious practice or ministry. All children at the age of twelve were to be taught some useful trade; all proceedings in the courts of law were to be made as short as possible; capital crimes to con- sist of two, murder and treason; all prisons to be made into workhouses; no oaths to be re- quired, and drinking healths, trading in rum, cursing, lying, fighting, gaining and the pleasures of the theatre, were prohibited. Colonists soon sought the land across the sea, a hundred acres being promised for forty shillings; but in cleaning the ground, one acre of trees was to be left for every five acres cleared. The Indian difficulties were to be settled by a jury of six planters and six Indians. Penn sailed for the colony in 1683 on the ship Welcome with one hundred passengers, mostly Quakers. Twenty- five died of smallpox on the voyage and the re- mainder landed at Newcastle, Del., Nov. 28, and entered Pennsylvania, Nov. 29, 1682. He estab- lished his capital city at a place called by the Indians Coaquannoc and which he called Phila- delphia. He now made his famous treaty with the Indians, recognizing them as the owners of the land. Several meetings between the Quakers and Indians to transfer land took place beneath the spreading elm at Shackamaxton, June 23, 1683. The generosity shown by Penn to the Indians contributed to peace, and emigrants arrived in large numbers. The indefinite bound- ary line between Pennsylvania and Maryland caused serious complications, as Lord Baltimore claimed considerable of the territory held by Penn, including Philadelphia. Hearing that Baltimore was on his way to England to lay the question before the privy council, Penn im- mediately followed him in August, 1684. Upon the death of Charles II., in 1685, and the accession of James, the Duke of York, Penn, although op- posed to the Roman Catholic religion, kept the position of favorite and agent of the court. He obtained the freedom of all Quakers, and sup- ported the king in the abolishment of the " tests," which prevented Roman Catholics from holding office, claiming that the declaration of indulgence was the sovereign remedy of the English consti- tution. Thus during James's reign Penn became influential in affairs of state. In 1688, when James was dethroned and William of Orange suc- ceeded, Penn was arrested and upon examination said that he had done nothing but what he could

answer for before God and all the princes in the world and that he loved his country and the Pro- testant religion above his life. He was thereupon released. In 1690 he was accused of receiving a letter from James asking for help; but he replied that " he could not hinder the king from writing to him," and was again discharged. Later in the year he was arrested with others, imprisoned for several months awaiting trial, and hearing after his release that another warrant was out against his liberty, hid himself for tliree years. He was publicly proclaimed a traitor and deprived of the government of his colony. His pardon was se- cured in 1693. He was married secondly, in 1695, to Hannah, daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Hollister) Callowliill of Bristol, England. In 1699 Penn made his second visit, bringing his family with him to Philadelphia which was at this time a city of nearly seven thousand popula- tion. During his exile the colony had divided into two parties, the proprietary and the popular. The acting governor was a soldier and his warlike notions confused the Quakers. Although slaves were brought into the colony, they were well treated, Penn liberating them in 1701. When a movement to put an end to all proprietary govern- ments was instigated, Penn returned to England, Oct. 28, 1701. Upon his withdrawal, disputes again arose in the colony on the question of bearing arms, and an unending strife began between the governor's deputy and the people. Affairs became so disheartening that in 1713 he thought seri- iously of selling the governorship. His affairs in Ireland claimed his attention, since by an un- molested system of fradulent bookkeeping Penn found himself in debt to the estate of Pliilip Ford, his late manager, for more than ten thous- and pounds and Ford's widow sued Penn for three thousand pounds' rent, which was due from the property held by Penn as tenant. He was ar- rested while at a religious meeting; was inipris- soned for debt in the Fleet jail, buc released by the subscription of his friends, and a com- promise was made with the Fords. The colony also was improving under the administration of a new governor and the province soon yielded Penn a substantial income. He suffered a paralytic stroke in 1712 which impaired his memory. He died at Ruscombe, Berkshire, England, July 30, 1718.

PENNELL, Joseph, artist and autlior, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., July 4, 1860. He at- tended the Philadelphia public schools, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and the Pennsylvania School of Industrial Art. He was married to Elizabeth Robins. For his art work he was awarded honorable mention and medals at various exhibitions in Paris. Philadelphia and Chicago, and a gold medal at the World's