Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1882-11-17
The Origin Of William Penn's Ameri-
can Scheme.

W utu luc butCli PROVINCES III
America came by conquest into pos
session of the English crown, the
king had graciously made present
of the whole of that vast tract of
newly-settled country to his broth
er, his Royal Highness the Duke of
York. HissRoyal Highness had in
turn granted that portion of his
territory now comprising the State
of New Jersey to his humble serv-
ants Lord Bcrkley aud Sir George
Carteret. At that time (about 1861
the northeastern part Of this pro-
vince had begun to be sparsely set
tied here and there. Elizabethtown
had grown to four houses, and was
the capital of the province. Mid
dletown, too, had been planted, and
Shrewsbury. But all the western
part, lying upon The Delaware river
and bay, was still un.ouched, saw
ing by few scattered Swedish and
Finnish settlers.
Toward this tract Of country,
comparatively near the ocean coast
upon one side, and washed by a
broad river and bay upon the other,
the attention Of certain Quakers be-
gan TO- be directed. John Fcnwick
and Edward Byllenges, the former
Of Buckinshamshire, the latter
London merchant, both prominent
members of the society, purchased
of Lord Berkeley all his rights and
interests in the Jerseys for the sum
Of one thousand pounds sterling.
The province was then divided by
agreement with Sir George Carter
ct into East and West Jersey, call
ed collectively in the old times
''The Jerseys" This was accom-
olished by a line dawn from Lit
lie Egg Harbor 10 point on the
Delaware river in the 4lst degree
If north latitude.
But in the meantime the settle
nent of this Territory with a regu-
ar provincial government came
practically to naueht. Fenwick
Gems TO have been Of litigious, |
lispu.atious disposition; chickering's
nd back talk ensued between the
he two proprietaries. Unable, be-
ause of the rules of their secls, to
ave the matter settled by law,
be difficulty reached such a stage
hat il became necessary to call
Or arbitration to arrange The mat
er between them. After casting
bout for some one to whom to ap-
'eal, William Penn was selected to
nally adjudge the matter. And so
is attention first became attracted
D the New World. and his interest
wakened in it. The matter was
atisfactorily adjusted, but West
ersey was destined never TO De-
ONE proprietary--or rather BIZ
roprietary-government. Both
'yllinges and Fenwick became in
olved in financial difficulties. and
heir estate passed into the hands
{ trustees, one OF whom was VIII
am Penn In this position be be-
anne still more interested in the
Duntry; he devoted his attention
holly TO The settlement and i'm
rovement Of this part The Jersey,
I'D. as his letters afterwards show
4 he thereby made himself well
1quainted with the resources of
lat which was to him heretofore ,
a almost unknown world. Hei,
~ at glance the vast possibiliti-
J il held forth TO such as would I
ndertale the development Of them
Id finally determined to found
rosince there himself, not in the
'ose, unsys!ena,;c way in which Z
lest jersey was being peopled,
1T endowed with a good govern +
eat fo- a fo1-dsiion aud support. r
1t Is ,hus that Z; eat egents move g
,on lite things, ss a heavy door
,es upon~ nall hinges. If John I
envick had not been Of q dispuf- \
ious nature, in all likelihood vii
arn Penn would never have found I
a province. -Ho orPrrs Hoga-ine. /,