Born in London to an ancient family of Gloucestershire, William Penn descended from a long line of yeomen Penns. His father Admiral Sir William Penn broke the trend and became a successful merchant and sea captain helping to develop a powerful navy for King Charles II.1 The seventeenth century was a period of great upheaval in the British Isles with religious conflict (Protestant verses Catholic) and the rule of Oliver Cromwell (protector-ship verses Stuart rule); Sir William managed to maneuver himself to the winning side of the conflicts. In addition the wealthy admiral made substantial loans to Charles II and his brother the Duke of York (later James II) who had vast land holdings in the North America. With the death of Sir William, Penn began the petition process in order to receive land in the colonies as re-payment for his father’s loans.2
During Penn’s youth he was attracted to the preaching and philosophy of the Society of Friends (Quakers) even as a student while at Oxford University. In both Ireland and England the Quakers were growing in numbers and were greatly distrusted by the government due in part for their refusal to take oaths, serve in the military and the protocol of removing one’s hat in the presence of the king or government officials. Many were put in prison for their behavior and taxed heavily for refusing to attend the Church of England.3
In 1681 Penn was given a charter by Charles II to one of the largest land grants ever presented to an individual in the colonies. The territory was situated five degrees longitude west of the Delaware River between New York on the north and Maryland on the south. The tract would be named Pennsylvania and the Penn family would become feudal lords only answerable to the king. William called the state his Holy Experiment and extended religious freedom to all groups especially welcoming Protestant dissenter sects and the Society of Friends.4 One feature made Penn unique among all other colonial founders was his interest and respect for the native Indian population. He looked upon them as “simple children of nature unspoiled by the vices of civilization” and wanted to understand their culture.5 As a result he would not allow them to be exploited and for seventy years the colony lived in peace with the native people.
There were agents promoting the sale of land in the colony all over the British Isles and on the continent. Most settlers were cash poor; as a result, they would obtain a mortgage agreement through the state’s land office that would include an annual fee, a quitrent. A great influx of diverse settlers immigrated to Pennsylvania including: English, Welsh, Irish, Scots, Scotch-Irish, Germans, joining Swedes and Finns who had already resided along the Delaware River.6
Penn visited the colony twice 1692 and 1699 staying two years each time. The colony was mainly administered from England, relying on the Deputy Governor for information. The new government structure was composed of a powerful Deputy Governor appointed by the Proprietor and a less powerful General Assembly elected by all freeman regardless if they were land holders or not. Even though Pennsylvania was a large enterprise the income from the sale of land was below what had been expected. Also, Penn’s charter could be revoked at any time by the monarch. Therefore by residing in England Penn had the advantage of maintaining his influence at court and protecting his holdings in Ireland and the colonies.7
William’s personal life was that of a pious Quaker providing for a large family and generously supporting many causes of the Society of Friends. It should be noted that Penn was born into the gentry and continued to maintain a gentry life style: large estates, lavish entertaining, commissioning fine furniture and paintings, and educating his children well. As a result he had to generate large sums of money and spent much of his adult life being in debt.8
Penn’s first wife Gulielma Springett (1643-1694) had no involvement with the colony but his second wife Hannah Callowhill (1670-1726) had been trained by her father to take on administrative duties and became very helpful to William. For the last ten years of Penn’s life he suffered from gout and had several strokes; Hannah was able to take over. With William’s death in 1718 Hannah directly administered Pennsylvania until her sons reach maturity. She appointed William Keith as Deputy Governor and he proved to be much better at governing than several of the men appointed by William.9
This institution is unique in the fact that it has two physical structures in two different locations with the same name. The East Pomfret Street site, the Shrine Church is the original location for the catholic faith’s presence in Cumberland County.
[1] John B.B. Trussell, Jr., William Penn: Architect of a Nation, (Harrisburg, PA.: Historical & Museum Commission, 1980) p 5.
[2] Ibid., p 27.
[3] Ibid., p 9.
[4] Samuel Eliot Morison, The Oxford History of the American People, (New York: Oxford University Press, 1965) p 126 .
[5] Trussell, p 37.
[6] Morison, p128.
[7] Trussell, p 43.
[8] Ibid., p 66.
[9] Ibid., p 69.