Delaware County PA Archives Biographies.....William PENN, October 14, 1644 - July 30, 1718
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Thomas Smith Tomroysmith@aol.com January 16, 2011, 9:54 am

Source: Original writing by Thos. R. Smith
Author: Thomas R. Smith aka Ghost of William Penn



    The Ghost of William Penn: My Happiest Times I Spent in Delco 
            By: Thomas R. Smith, a.k.a., William Penn

William Penn speaking: Almost without saying, marriage and the birth of 
children rank as life's most pleasurable highpoints. Opposite, in heart 
wrench, ranks a spouse's death, and defying comprehension - the death of an 
offspring. 

This article is my personal telling of my happiest times. Allow me to edge 
into the topic. 

My happiest times came to me by experience felt in (future) Delaware County. 
These happy times were mirror tinged. I wish to tell shares of happy with sad. 
The happy overcomes in outcome. Hear me out.

My first wife, Gulielma nee' Springett, I called Guli. 

Through her I affirm love can take fast hold at first sight. Poet John 
Milton's literary secretary Thomas Ellwood touted: Guli's innocently open, 
free and familiar Conversation, springing from the abundant Affability, 
Courtesy and Sweetness of her natural Temper."  For these traits and more I 
loved her.

I wed Gulielma on April 4, 1672. She bore me seven children, four of whom died 
in infancy. My great blow, however, was the death of my son, Springett, when 
but twenty-one years of age. Guli was my support when others were fainthearted 
and termed Pennsylvania - only a wild  pipedream. Her passing urged my wearing 
of neck locket, which keepsake of her, I worn for the remainder of my life. 
I trekked to Pennsylvania in October 1682. My first steps were padded upon 
future Delaware County. My marriage held fast. In 1692  in our twentieth 
anniversary year  Guli passed from this earthly coil.    I lost 
my dearheart. Pennsylvania lost her most stouthearted champion. 

I did find love again.

I wed Hannah Callowhill in 1696. This was after my return to England. My 
reluctant return was acted-on to counter efforts to dissolve the Penn family 
Proprietorship. Years 1696, 97, 98 blended, bidding no allowance for my 
return to my American Holy Experiment. Finally, in 1699 I returned; this 
after Springett's same year death. Happiness parried morose.

Melancholy can be overcome. I found renewal in November 1699 when I made 
landfall at fond, familiar, Chester. Shortly after my re-arrival a son was 
born, John. Jubilant the populace dubbed him: The American. 

These told tidings were sad tinged. I could have alluded to them and kept them 
vouchsafe close.  I wanted to vent. I needed to vent. I vented. 

Now that I have unburdened, I can the better bespeak in terms Happiness.   

I landed at Opland, which I renamed Chester, in October 1682. The happiness 
that occasioned my arrival I can only hint at. I had sent my kinsman William 
Markham as my advance man. In chief port seat Chester different nationalities 
thrived, Swedish, Dutch, and a few English Quakers. To these natives came ship 
loads of new settlers, some with Markham, plus others in the same sailing 
season, I mean, in 1681. I finally came. I arrived via the last ship that set 
sail in 1682. In the sailing season preceding my own passage, in 1682, several 
hundred settlers landed, preceding me.  

My arrival notched the population up by one digit. This notch sum was notched 
by ninety-nine more,   by those who accompanied me.

Infant Pennsylvania was bounding in pounds.  Mine included, smiles were 
lengthening in miles. I felt better than I had in years. 

I expected to be greeted by Deputy Governor William Markham. I was. I expected 
prearranged lodging.  I was not disappointed. I could not have imagined in a 
million years, however, the presence of a couple who also greeted me. The same 
couple held ownership to the finest dwelling in Chester. The surprise couple, 
who help greet me and who served as my host and hostess were Robert and Lydia 
Wade. 
         
 I was overcome with gladness. Here is some personal history that has somehow 
eluded being told, in the telling of my life story.  Permit me to insert what 
was known, before I recite the unknown. 

Biographers relate that Quaker Thomas Loe is to be credited as having been the 
first Quaker preacher with whom I had contact. Yes, I heard him at an 
intersection where he leaned against a sign post. From which station he called 
to passers-by - in verbal pitches - to convert all whom he could to 
Quakerism.  Also, in Ireland, Loe was once a dinner guest in my father's 
manor. It was custom to break bread with travelers.  Loe found welcome, but 
not support from my father - a confirmed Anglican. 

Later, myself a Quaker, with Thomas Loe, I sought the relief from unjust 
persecution, fellow Quakers.   All of this has been told. Now, I reel out my 
Chester store of Penn lore.  

Biographers, with one exception, have missed an early influence. I mean, in 
1666, in London, I met Robert and Lydia Wade. The Wades were very early 
followers of George Fox, founder of Quakerism.  

Loe's pitches hit sensible, but truth be told his mode as a sign-post shouter 
made him seem somehow untrustworthy. His breed of faith-preacher, were 
listened to, but held in suspect.  Note: I had experienced an internal 
awakening at age ten. I was overcome with a sureness of a loving, Heaven[y 
Father.  Thomas Loe , in his shouts, informed all about the Quaker tenet that 
everyone is capable of experiencing a personal, God-sent Inspiration of 
Enlightenment. The shouts of Loe  resonated in me. 

I have long forgotten how I met the Wades. I recall with certainty that they 
impressed me. I wondered over them. In a short time, however, I became aware 
of what made them special. They were devout Quakers. Short time, I also became 
a devout Quaker. I owed them. In yet another short time I lost track of them.  
Someone said the happy pair had removed by ocean sail to West Jersey. The 
Wades lingered as a fond memory. I owed them. The more-so - they had 
introduced me to George Fox.

Once over, I was gladdened beyond imagination when I was greeted by Robert and 
Lydia Wade. We     re-met immediately after making my first steps upon 
Chester.  Backing up: In 1676 the Wades had crossed over the Delaware River 
from West Jersey. In the like of Rhode Island, West Jersey was a Quaker 
colony.  In three years time the Wades claimed the finest dwelling in Opland.  
In three more years their new home, the Essex House, became what U.S. 
historians tag, America's first salon.  ..ln Chester.

Insert fact:  In numbers, impressive ones, persons in the 1600's criss-
crossed, north and south, the Atlantic coast. Among the number: George Fox. 
Fox afterward had a vision that the thinly settled tract opposite West Jersey 
would make a fine place for more Quaker to settle.

 I responded, George, I like your thinking.  This give away surprises me. I 
like persons to think I came up with idea for Pennsylvania.  Hmm.. Try to 
forget I told you different.  

Onward: When the Penn family Proprietorship was threatened, I made a hasty, 
reluctant retreat back to England. My return was longer in coming than I 
wished. In 1699 I wind sailed again to Pennsylvania. Philadelphia was then 
fifteen years old. Again, however, I disembarked at Chester. Robert Wade had 
died a few years before, but Lydia Wade greeted me. This time she was 
gladdened beyond imagination. She knew of my annual wish to return, and more 
specifically my wont to come over in 1699.

Lydia was surprised because she had written and implored me not to come  not 
to come now. Pennsylvania was suffering a virulent attack of Yellow 
Fever.  -- I came. We hugged.  We wept.  

This I affirm: The two happiest times in my life were spent in Delco.  In 
Chester. 

The first was in October 1682, 

The second was in November 1699. 

When in ghost circles I cross flight with the Wades, I say, I owe you. 

Readers, I'll meet with you again in the bye and bye. -- I'll talk more yore.
 
Your Governor thanks you,
William Penn


Additional Comments:
It strikes unfair that though William Penn had two wives, whom he counted, 
equals as life partners, that his second wife is selectively remembered. Yes, 
wife two, Hannah, did hold Penn's shaky hand for legal document signing, this 
after his first stroke, and she did more. However, first wife "Guli" was a 
partner with her husband all the process of gaining and starting Pennsylvania. 
It is half spoiled memory to remember Hannah because she was with her husband 
near his end, and did his work beyond, and not to remember wife one, who was 
with him at the very start of Pennsylvania, and for the colony's first budding 
decade. How this happened is simple enough to grasp. Memory best recalls the 
most recent. In biographies often the latter part of a life seems fresher and 
more important. 

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