“If man is not governed by God,
he will be ruled by tyrants.”
– William Penn, founder and first governor of Pennsylvania
On this date, 3/10/1681, William Penn, received a charter from Charles II, making him the proprietor of the colonial American territory, Pennsylvania. Charles II did this to pay a debt of 16,000 (English) pounds which had been owed to Penn’s father. William Penn (1644–1718) the most well known Quaker, became the sole proprietor of “Pennsylvania” naming it after his father. Penn gave legal rights to Indians and to such persecuted Christians as the Mennonites.
Below are excerpts from a charter for this new colony in the Delaware Valley:
I. That so soon as it pleaseth God that the above-said persons arrive there, a certain quantity of land, or ground plat, shall be laid out…the surveyors shall consider what roads or highways will be necessary to the cities, towns or through the lands. Great roads from city to city not to contain less than forty foot, in breadth, shall be first laid out and declared to be for high-ways…
XV. That the Indians shall have liberty to do all things relating to improvement of their ground, and providing sustenance for their families, that any of the planters shall enjoy.
XVI. That the laws, as to slanders, drunkenness, swearing, cursing, pride in apparel, trespasses…weights, and measures, shall be the same as in England, till altered by law in this province…
XVIII. That, in clearing the ground, care be taken to leave one acre of trees for every five acres cleared, especially to preserve oak and mulberries, for silk and shipping.…
– F. N. Thorpe, ed., Federal and State Constitutions, Vol V, p. 3044 ff.
Separate-Holy 