PENNSYLVANIA
For organic acts relating to the lands now included within Pennsylvania see in other parts of this work:
- Charter of Virginia, 1606 (Virginia, p. 3783).
- Council of New England, 1620 (Massachusetts, p. 1827).
- Dutch West India Company, 1621 (p. 59).
- Charter of Maryland, 1632 (Maryland, p. 1669).
- Charter of Connecticut, 1662 (Connecticut, p. 529).
- Grant to the Duke of York, 1664 (Maine, p. 1637).
- Grant to the Duke of York, 1674 (Maine, p. 1641).
ARTICLES OF THE SWEDISH SOUTH COMPANY—1626[1]
(See the “Argonautica Gustaviana,” printed at Frankfort-on-the-Main, 1633; see Delaware, p. 557.)
CHARTER FOR THE PROVINCE OF PENNSYLVANIA—1681[2]
[Charles the Second by the Grace of God King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland Defender of the Faith &c To our Right Trusty and Welbeloved Chancellor Heneage Lord Finch our Chancellor of England greeting Wee will and comand you that under our Great Seale of England remaining in your Custody you cause our Letters to be made forth patents in form following][3]
- ↑ This company, which was established under the patronage of King Gustavus Adolphus, founded the first agricultural colonies on the banks of the Delaware River, although the Dutch had previously established trading-posts there, which had been destroyed by the Indians. The Swedes acquired, by successive purchases from the Indian chiefs, “all the land extending from Cape Henlopen to the great falls of Delaware.” It was also asserted that when John Oxenstiern went to England, in 1631, as Swedish ambassador, Charles I ceded to Sweden all the pretensions that the English had upon the Delaware Valley, which consisted merely in the right of first discovery. Historians have never found this treaty, and the cession is regarded as doubtful.
- ↑ This charter, granted by Charles II to William Penn, constituted him and his heirs proprietors of the province, which, in honor of his father, Admiral Penn, (whose cash advances and services were thus requited,) was called Pennsylvania. To perfect his title, William Penn purchased, in August, 1682, a quit-claim from the Duke of York to the lands west of the Delaware River embraced in his patent of 1664.—“Charter to William Penn and Laws of the Province of Pennsylvania, passed between the Years 1682 and 1700, preceded by Duke of York’s Laws in force from the year 1676 to the year 1682, with an appendix, containing Laws relating to the organization of the Provincial Courts and Historical matter. Published under the direction of John Blair Linn, Secretary of the Commonwealth. Compiled and edited by Staughton George, Benjamin M. Nead, Thomas McCamant Harrisburg: Lane S. Hart, State Printer. 1879.” 614 pp.
- ↑ The portion in brackets is found in the original copy, in the Public Record Office, London, Bundle 388, Privy Seals and Signed Bills (Chancery) 33 Charles the Second. See a certified copy in MS. from the Assistant Keeper of Public Records, London, September 25, 1878, in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
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