William Penn Part 2 (Ep7)

The life and legacy of William Penn. This episode, the second of a two-part series, focuses on his founding of the English colony of Pennsylvania. William has direct experience with colonial rule, his father being a landholder in Ireland with Catholic tenant farmers, and his own mediation of a dispute in America in the colony of West Jersey. Penn successfully receives a colonial charter in 1681 but has to navigate many hostile parties – chiefly Charles Calvert, the Lord Baltimore, proprietor of the Maryland colony, and the Anglican Church. Native American tribes already occupy his colony as well as some European settlers – mostly Swedes, Finns and Dutch in the “Lower Counties”. Penn sets up a framework of government and recruits settlers and arrives in Pennsylvania in October of 1682. Under his direction, a great new town is developed, Philadelphia, which will be the capitol of his colony. Penn navigates many challenges associated with a new colony but is increasingly embroiled in a border dispute with Charles Calvert, the Lord Baltimore, and the Maryland colony.   Both proprietors – Penn and Calvert – return to England in 1684 to plead their case and Penn becomes an absentee landlord, not returning to his colony for 15 years. Penn is back in 1699 for two more years and just before his return completes the Charter of Privileges in 1701, which will remain the colony’s framework of government for 75 years. He returns to England and, his financial problems growing, unsuccessfully tries to sell the colony back to the Crown. He suffers a stroke in 1712 and lingers on until he dies in 1718. His second wife, Hannah Callowhill Penn, serves as de facto proprietor from 1712-1718 and then as sole proprietor until her death in 1726.

Timestamps for major events/discussions:

[02:30] – Penn mediates a dispute in West Jersey

[05:59] – Penn petitions King Charles II for a colony

[07:36] – How Pennsylvania got its name

[13:15] – Penn as real estate developer

[21:28] – Penn lands in Pennsylvania in 1682

[27:58] – Penn-Baltimore dispute

[31:54] – Penn returns to England in 1684

[32:57] – Penn returns to Pennsylvania in 1699

[33:29] – The Charter of Privileges of 1701

[41:11] – The later years of William Penn

[41:48] – Hannah Callowhill Penn, proprietor

Books to read:  

Two books relied upon to craft this episodes were:

·      “William Penn – A Life” by Andrew Murphy

·      “The Worlds of William Penn”, which is a book of essays edited by Andrew Murphy and John Smolenski

Calls to action:  

·      Follow us on Instagram to learn when new episodes drop or to be a part of our chat community IG: pennsylmaniapod

·      Join our email list to receive news on the podcast by emailing us at producer@pennsylmania.com

·      Provide feedback on this episode, or give us ideas for new episodes, by emailing us at producer@pennsylmania.com

Link to website:  www.pennsylmania.com