(1698) Gabriel Thomas, An Historical and Geographical Account of the Province and Country of Pennsilvania....(London, 1698), 23-45.
William Penn established the colony of Pennsylvania on land he received from the crown in lieu of a debt owed to his father. Initially founded as a religious haven and land of opportunity for English Quakers, the colonyís 1692 proclamation supporting liberty of consciences and Pennís extensive promotion of the area attracted immigrants from throughout Western Europe. One of these early settlers was Gabriel Thomas. A Quaker, he lived in Pennsylvania and western New Jersey from 1682 until 1697, His An Historical and Geographical Account of the Province and country of Pennsilvania and West New Jersey, published in 1698, was among the more widely read works by an American author. In the following excerpt, Thomas discusses conditions facing those who chose to colonize Pennsylvania.
And now for their Lots and Lands in City and Country, 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 of Two Years, were sold for a Hundred Pounds a piece....
Now the true Reason why this Fruitful Country and Flourishing City advance so considerably in the Purchase of Lands both in the one and the other, is their great and extended Traffic and Commerce both by Sea and Land, viz. to New-York, New-England, Virginia, Maryland, Carolina, Jamaica, Barbadoes, Nevis, Monsserat, Antigua, St. Christophers, Bermuda, New-Foundland, Madeiras, Saltetudeous, and Old-England; besides several other places. Their Merchandize chiefly consists in Horses, Pipe-Staves, Pork and Beef Salted and Barreled....Bread, and Flower, all sorts of Grain, Peas, Beans, Skins, Furs, Tobacco, or PotAskers, Wax, &c. Which are Barteríd for Rum, Sugar, Molasses, Silver, Negroes, Wine, Linen, Household-Goods, &c....
....The Contrey at the first, laying out, was void of Inhabitants (except the Heathens, or very few Christians worth naming) and not many People caring to abandon a quiet and easy (at least tolerable) Life in their Native Country (usually the most agreeable to all Mankind) to seek out a new hazardous, and careful one in a Foreign Wilderness or Desert Country, wholly destitute of Christian Inhabitants, and even to arrive at which, they must pass over a vast Ocean, exposed to some Dangers, and not a few Inconveniences: But now all those Cares, Fears and Hazards are vanished, for the Country is pretty well Peopled, and very much Improved, and will be more every Day, now the Dove is returned with the Olive-branch of Peace in her Mouth.
I must needs say, even the Present Encouragements are very great and invitations, for Poor People (both Men and Women) of all kinds, can here get three times the Wages for their Labor they can in England or Wales....
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 reason why Wages of Servants of all sorts is much higher here than there, arises from the great Fertility and Produce of the Place; besides, if these larger 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 Purchase 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 I said but just now) little or nothing in comparison, of which the Farmers commonly will et twice the increase 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 Silver is become more plentiful than here in England, considering the Number of People, and hat causes a quick Trade for both Corn and Cattle; and that is the reason 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 handsome large Oxen.
Thirdly, They pay no Tithes, and their Taxes are inconsiderable; the Place is free for all Persuasions, 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; ëtis 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 Womenís Wages are so exorbitant; they are not yet very numerous, which makes them stand upon high Terms for their several Services, in Sempstering, Washing, Spinning, Knitting, Sewing, and in all the other parts of their Employments; for they have for Spinning either Worsted of Linen, Two Shillings a Pound, and commonly for Knitting a very Coarse pair of Yarn Stockings, they have half a Crown a pair; moreover, they are usually Married before they are Twenty Years of Age, and when once in that Noose, are for the most part a little uneasy, and make their Husbands so 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....
....What I have here written, is not a Fiction, Flam, Whim, or any sinister Design, either to impose upon the Ignorant, or credulous, or to curry Favor with the Rick and Mighty, but in mere Pity and Pire Compassion to the Numbers of Poor Laboring Men, Women, and Children in England, half starveíd, visible in their meager looks, that are continually wandering up and down looking for Employment without finding any, who here need not lie idle a moment....Here are no Beggars to be seen (it is a shame and Disgrace to the State that there are so many in England) not indeed have any here at least Occasion or Temptation to take up that Scandalous Lazy Life...
converted to html by Laura Belmonte, Dept. of History, Oklahoma State University