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Penn family papers

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Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19107

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

The British colony of Pennsylvania was given to William Penn (1644-1718) in 1681 by Charles II of England in repayment of a debt owed his father, Sir Admiral William Penn (1621-1670). Under Penn's directive, Pennsylvania was settled by Quakers escaping religious torment in England and other European nations. Three generations of Penn descendents held proprietorship of the colony until the American Revolution, when the family was stripped of all but its privately held shares of land.

Sir Admiral William Penn was born in 1621 and started his life-long seafaring career as a young boy on merchant ships. In 1642/3, he married Margaret Jasper Van der Schuren (d. 1682). They had three children: William (1644-1718), Margaret (1645-1718) and Richard (1648-1673). Penn joined the Royal Navy, and rose to the rank of rear admiral by 1645. Admiral Penn was a career navy man and was promoted several times over the next two decades. He served as vice admiral of Ireland, admiral of the Streights, vice admiral of England, and in 1653 was made a general during the first war with the Dutch. He served as captain commander under the King in 1664 and was made admiral of the navy by Charles II during the second war with the Dutch. Admiral Penn's efforts were well regarded by both Oliver Cromwell and, after the Restoration, Charles II. Cromwell rewarded his work in 1654 with significant land in Ireland, and he was knighted by Charles II in 1660. In fact, it was in repayment of a debt of roughly £16,000 owed to Admiral Penn from Charles II that his oldest son William Penn was granted the colony of Pennsylvania in 1681. Admiral Penn retired in 1669 and died a year later in Essex in 1670.

His son William Penn was born in London in 1644. He was raised in England and for some part of his youth lived in Ireland, where he met Thomas Loe, who, it is believed, introduced him to Quakerism in 1657. Penn was educated by private tutors and also attended the Chigwig Grammar School and Christ Church College at Oxford. Between 1662 and 1664, he traveled in France and elsewhere in Europe, and spent a year at the Huguenot Academy of Saumur. In 1665, he briefly attended Lincoln's Inn to study law.

In 1666, Penn returned to Ireland, where he became involved in the Quaker faith, which would become central to his life's work. He wrote extensively on and in defense of Quakerism, and traveled across England and Ireland ministering to Quaker communities and advocating for their cause. Like most Quakers, he suffered persecution for his beliefs and was imprisoned several times throughout his life, serving out sentences at Newgate Prison and the Tower of London, among other locations.

It was for the protection of the Quakers that Penn initially sought land in the British colonies of America. In 1675, he became trustee, along with Gawan Lawrie and Nicholas Lucas, of land in western New Jersey, where they established a Quaker community. Then, sometime before 1680, he petitioned King Charles II for additional land to establish another Quaker settlement, which Penn argued would settle a debt owed his late father, Admiral Penn. Charles II agreed and in 1681, Penn received a charter for what was to become the colony of Pennsylvania, making him the largest private landholder in the world. He set up a Free Society of Traders, solicited first purchasers and sent ahead Colonel William Markham as deputy governor to begin administration of the province. Penn himself arrived in 1682.

William Penn remained in Pennsylvania from 1682 to 1684. There he devised a government, laws and plans for Philadelphia's physical development. He established relationships with the local Indians and settled a group of German Quakers in what was to become Germantown. He also built himself a house north of Philadelphia, which he called Pennsbury. In 1683, Penn met with Lord Baltimore to settle a dispute regarding the boundary between Pennsylvania and Maryland. Unable to come to an agreement, Penn returned to England in 1684 to deal with the matter. The border dispute was not resolved until well into the 1700s.

Back in England, Penn continued to write and speak out in defense of Quakerism. As a result, he continued to suffer persecution, particularly after William and Mary came to power in 1688. In 1690, he was imprisoned in the Tower of London for two weeks, and from 1692 to 1693, Pennsylvania was temporarily taken away from him. He also suffered financially, as his lands in Pennsylvania and elsewhere did not earn enough money to cover his expenses.

Meanwhile, Pennsylvania continued to grow in population and develop after Penn's departure, though not without issue or conflict. By the 1690s, colonists already resented British authority, and religious differences caused considerable discord. Penn helped govern the colony from afar through correspondence with local officials until 1699, when he returned to Pennsylvania. He brought with him his secretary, James Logan, who would prove invaluable in the development, growth and governance of Pennsylvania. While there he visited other colonies to learn about development and expansion, and he traveled and ministered to Quakers. In 1701, he agreed to grant the City of Philadelphia a charter, the Charter of Privileges, thereby establishing a municipal government. That year, he set sail to England in an effort to better protect his interests in Pennsylvania, which were threatened due to a potential government takeover of privately owned colonies.

William Penn never again returned to his colony, though he was not uninvolved. Politics and religion continued to cause strife among the colonists, and Penn's personal interest in Pennsylvania was endangered more than once. Due to financial troubles and claims made against Penn by Philip Ford, who managed his estate in England, he briefly considered selling the colony in order to pay his creditors. The plan never materialized, however, because Penn fell ill before arrangements could be made, and Pennsylvania was thus governed by the 1701 Charter of Privileges until the American Revolution.

For the rest of his life, Penn continued his work writing and ministering to and about Quakers. In 1712, he suffered the first of several strokes, which ultimately led to his death in 1718.

William Penn was married twice. With his first wife, Gulielma Maria Springett (1643/4-1693/4), he had eight children, three of whom survived childhood: Springett Penn (1675/6-1696), Letitia Penn (1678-1746) and William Penn, Jr. (1680/1-1720). In 1695, Penn married Hannah Callowhill. They also had eight children, five of whom survived childhood: John Penn (1699/1700-1746), Thomas Penn (1701/2-1775), Margaret Penn (1704-1750/51), Richard Penn (1705/6-1771) and Dennis Penn (1706/7-1722/23).

Though contested in court by William Penn, Jr. and his descendants, it was William Penn's four younger sons, with Hannah Callowhill, John, Thomas, Richard and Dennis, who inherited Pennsylvania in 1718. The four brothers shared the proprietorship of Pennsylvania until their own deaths. Thomas Penn and John Penn, who was actually born in Philadelphia in 1699/1700, traveled to Pennsylvania in 1732 and 1734, respectively. John stayed only briefly, returning to England in 1735 to deal with the ongoing legal dispute over the Pennsylvania/Maryland border. Thomas remained in America for roughly nine years, and became the principal proprietor of the province in 1746, when his brother John died. The youngest surviving brother, Richard Penn never visited Pennsylvania; however, his sons, John (1729-1795) and Richard (1736-1811) traveled to and lived in Pennsylvania, and both served, at different times, as lieutenant governor of the colony. Together with their cousin John (1760-1834), Thomas' sons, John and Richard helped protect the family's interests in the colony during and after the American Revolution.

In 1778, though John Penn (1729-1795) swore allegiance to the American cause, the Penn family was stripped of all but its privately held lands in Pennsylvania. He and his brother Richard and cousin John secured £130,000 from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania "in remembrance of the enterprising spirit of the founder, and of the expectations and dependence of his descendants" (Shepherd, 92). Later, after the American Revolution, the English government granted the Penn family an additional £4,000 per year in recognition of its lost sources of revenue.

Even after they were stripped of their proprietorship, members of the Penn family retained several thousand acres of privately held lands in Pennsylvania, which were passed down to the next generation. Peter Gaskell (1764-1831), William Penn, Jr.'s grandson, and William Stuart (1798-1874), Thomas Penn's grandson, eventually inherited or made claim to the remaining privately held Penn family lands in America.

Bibliography:

"Biographical Sketch [of William Penn]." Unattributed article, see collection file.

"The Family of William Penn, A Collated Record." The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine. 25, no. 2, 1967.

Shepherd, William Robert. History of Proprietary Government in Pennsylvania. New York: Columbia University Press, 1896.

Wainwright, Nicholas B. "The Penn Collection." The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography. 87, no. 4 (October 1963): 393-419.

The Penn family papers house the personal and governmental records of William Penn, the proprietor of Pennsylvania, and his family. This collection, which dates from 1592 to 1960 (bulk of materials 1629 to 1834), consists primarily of correspondence, legal records, governmental records, surveys, deeds, grants, receipts, and account books; there are also 19th and 20th century auction catalogs and secondary materials. The collection documents the creation of the Pennsylvania colony through records created by William Penn, as well as the continued development of the colony through records produced by Penn's associates and descendants. These records also provide valuable insights into Penn's relations with American Indians, the Pennsylvania/Maryland border dispute, government framework, as well private correspondence between family members and close associates.

The Penn family papers at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania comprise the most extensive and comprehensive collection of materials related to the Penn family and the creation of the Pennsylvania colony. It is an invaluable resource for studying the founding and development of the Pennsylvania colony, early American colonial history and the Penn family. The Penn family papers have a tumultuous history, and were donated or purchased in small accessions over a long period of time (for more information, see Nicholas B. Wainwright, "The Penn Collection," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 87, no. 4 (October, 1963): 393-419). In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, documents were bound together in large volumes based on the source of materials (i.e. donor) and the genre (e.g. "Correspondence"). The series and the titles in this finding aid reflect as closely as possible these groupings.

This collection is arranged into ten series: "I. Correspondence, 1667-1855," "II. William Penn, 1667-1944," "III. Penn family members, 1654-1866," "IV. Government records, 1687-1790," "V. Land grants, surveys and deeds, 1639-1896," "VI. Penn-Physick manuscripts, 1676-1811," "VII. Penn v. Baltimore, 1606-1834," "VIII. Other legal cases, 1672-1869," "IX. Penn manuscripts, 1592-1910," and "X. Auction catalogs and secondary materials, 1812-1960."

The first series, "I. Correspondence, 1667-1855" includes official and private correspondence associated with William Penn, his family members or associates. The second series, "II. William Penn, 1667-1944" includes Penn's financial records, diaries, correspondence, last will and testament, marriage certificate from his second marriage to Hannah Callowhill, and secondary materials such as memorials. The third series, "III. Penn family members, 1654-1866" includes correspondence and financial records associated with specific family members, aside from William Penn (1644-1718). The most represented family members include Sir Admiral William Penn (1621-1671), John Penn (1699/1700-1746), and Thomas Penn (1701/2-1775).

The fourth series, "IV. Government records, 1687-1790" includes materials related to the creation and governance of the Pennsylvania colony. This includes treaties and conferences with American Indians (see also series "IX. Penn manuscripts"), Acts of Assembly and financial records. There are a number of "Pennsylvania journals," 1701-1779, which are accounts of lands and quitrents. The fifth series, "V. Land grants, surveys and deeds, 1639-1896" includes records related to the lands owned or administered by the Penn family. The sixth series, "VI. Penn-Physick manuscripts, 1676-1811" includes the collection of manuscripts previously held by Edmund Physick, "Keeper of the Great Seal" for the Penn family. Physick managed the Penn properties and interests in the colonies for half a century. These records include correspondence, financial records, lecture notes, and legal records.

The seventh series, "VII. Penn v. Baltimore, 1606-1834" includes the extensive records produced over the border dispute between William Penn and Lord Baltimore (Cecilius "Cecil" Calvert). These records include court documents and correspondence. The eighth series, "VIII. Other legal cases, 1672-1869" includes court documents, the bulk of which refer to the Penn v. Ford case. A dispute arose between William Penn and the family of Philip Ford, to whom Penn had temporarily signed over the deed to Pennsylvania while fighting charges of treason. During this time the treason charges were dropped and Ford passed away, leaving in his will the interests of Pennsylvania to his family, unless Penn paid the exorbitant sum of £11,000. This case was eventually resolved with Penn paying £7,600 to the Ford family. This series also includes a letter-book of attorney John F. Mifflin, as well as records related to various other cases.

The ninth series, "IX. Penn manuscripts, 1592-1910" includes miscellaneous items and collections from various sources. The Penn-Forbes papers, collected by Stewart Forbes, were purchased by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in 1882, and contain an extraordinary group of letters from Admiral Penn and the Founder, as well as copies of items from within this collection and related materials at other repositories. The Penn-Justice papers, collected by George M. Justice, relate to land warrants, surveys, financial accounts with the Penns, and political and domestic affairs, 1769-1804. The Tempsford Hall papers are a miscellaneous group of Penn and related family papers gathered or retained by the Stuart family, descendants of William Penn through Thomas Penn's youngest daughter, Sophia Margaretta Juliana Penn, who married William Stuart, archbishop of Armagh, Anglican primate of Ireland. For a number of years the collection was kept at Tempsford Hall, Bedfordshire, one of the Stuart family houses. The collection was purchased from a Stuart family descendant in 1968 with the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Gratz Fund.

The final series, "X. Auction catalogs and secondary materials, 1812-1960" includes records related to the sale of Penn materials at auction and Penn family history.

Bibliography:

Wainwright, Nicholas B. "The Penn Collection." The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 87, no. 4 (Oct., 1963): 393-419.

Series I. Correspondence

Series II. William Penn

Series III. Penn family members

Series IV. Government records

Series V. Land grants, surveys and deeds

Series VI. Penn-Physick manuscripts

Series VII. Penn v. Baltimore

Series VIII. Other legal cases

Series IX. Penn manuscripts

Series X. Auction catalogs and secondary materials

The materials in this collection were received at various times through donation and purchase. For more information about the history of the Penn family papers, see Nicholas B. Wainwright, "The Penn Collection," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 87, no. 4 (Oct., 1963): pp. 393-419.

The processing of this collection was made possible through generous funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, administered through the Council on Library and Information Resources' "Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives" Project.

This collection was minimally processed in 2009-2011, as part of an experimental project conducted under the auspices of the Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections Libraries to help eliminate processing backlog in Philadelphia repositories. A minimally processed collection is one processed at a less intensive rate than traditionally thought necessary to make a collection ready for use by researchers. When citing sources from this collection, researchers are advised to defer to folder titles provided in the finding aid rather than those provided on the physical folder.

Employing processing strategies outlined in Mark Greene's and Dennis Meissner's 2005 article, More Product, Less Process: Revamping Traditional Processing Approaches to Deal With Late 20th-Century Collections, the project team tested the limits of minimal processing on collections of all types and ages, in 23 Philadelphia area repositories. A primary goal of the project, the team processed at an average rate of 2-3 hours per linear foot of records, a fraction of the time ordinarily reserved for the arrangement and description of collections. Among other time saving strategies, the project team did not extensively review the content of the collections, replace acidic folders or complete any preservation work.

Publisher
Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Finding Aid Author
Finding aid prepared by Celia Caust-Ellenbogen and Michael Gubicza
Finding Aid Date
May 26, 2011
Sponsor
The processing of this collection was made possible through generous funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, administered through the Council on Library and Information Resources' "Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives" Project.
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions

Copyright restrictions may apply. Please contact the Historical Society of Pennsylvania with requests for copying and for authorization to publish, quote or reproduce the material.

Collection Inventory

Private correspondence I, 1654-1735.
Volume NV-019
Private correspondence II, 1736-1739.
Volume NV-020
Private correspondence III, 1740-1751.
Volume NV-021
Private correspondence IV, 1752-1759.
Volume NV-022
Private correspondence V, 1760-1855.
Volume NV-023
Official correspondence I, 1683-1727.
Volume NV-024
Official correspondence II, 1728-1735.
Volume NV-025
Official correspondence III, 1736-1743.
Volume NV-026
Official correspondence IV, 1744-1749.
Volume NV-027
Official correspondence V, 1750-1752.
Volume NV-028
Official correspondence VI, 1753-1754.
Volume NV-029
Official correspondence VII, 1755.
Volume NV-030
Official correspondence VIII, 1756-1757.
Volume NV-031
Official correspondence IX, 1758-1764.
Volume NV-032
Official correspondence X, 1765-1771.
Volume NV-033
Official correspondence XI, 1772-1775.
Volume NV-034
Official correspondence XII, 1776-1817.
Volume NV-035
Penn correspondence I, 1729-1742.
Volume NV-211 Reel XR168-171; XR464
Penn correspondence II, 1742-1750.
Reel XR168-171; XR464 Volume NV-212
Penn correspondence III, 1750-1754.
Reel XR168-171; XR464 Volume NV-213
Penn correspondence IV, 1754-1756.
Reel XR168-171; XR464 Volume NV-214
Penn correspondence VI, 1758-1761.
Volume NV-216 Reel XR168-171; XR464
Penn correspondence V, 1756-1758.
Volume NV-215 Reel XR168-171; XR464
Penn correspondence VII, 1761-1763.
Volume NV-217 Reel XR168-171; XR464
Penn correspondence VIII, 1763-1766.
Volume NV-218 Reel XR168-171; XR464
Penn correspondence IX, 1766-1769.
Reel XR168-171; XR464 Volume NV-219
Penn correspondence X, 1769-1775.
Reel XR168-171; XR464 Volume NV-220
Penn correspondence XI, 1757-1775.
Reel XR168-171; XR464 Volume NV-221
Penn correspondence XII, 1804-1832.
Volume NV-222 Reel XR168-171; XR464
Penn family to James Logan, volumes I and II, circa 1700-1715.
Box NB-006
Penn-Bailey section (old box XI), 1683-1802.
Box NB-024
Penn-Bailey section, correspondence exclusive of Penn family (old box XII), 1667-1799.
Box NB-025
Instructions to Governors (old box XIII), 1746-1775.
Box NB-026
Penn-Hamilton, 1748-1770.
Volume NV-082
Penn-Logan correspondence. Transcripts (old box XXI), 1711-1720.
Box NB-036
Penn-Logan correspondence. Transcripts (old box XXII), 1720-1726.
Box NB-037
Penn-Logan correspondence. Transcripts and copies of William Penn letter-book (old box XXIII), 1699-1738.
Box NB-038
Penn-Logan correspondence. Transcripts (old box XXIV), 1713-1731.
Box NB-039
Penn-Logan correspondence. Transcripts (old box XXV), undated.
Box NB-040

Account book of interest on loans, 1710-1728.
Volume NV-130
Cash book or ["mottled blank book no. 7"], 1710-1718.
Volume NV-139
"Charter and Acts of the Province of Pennsylvania, 1682-1701" [printed 1740]; Minutes of the assembly of Pennsylvania at Chester, Philadelphia, New Castle (1682-1701) [manuscript], 1682-1701.
Volume NV-152
Hannah and William Penn's marriage certificate, from Tempsford Hall section.
Item 2
Irish journal, 1669.
Volume NV-153
Journey into Holland and Germany, 1677.
Volume NV-135
Laws of Pennsylvania, 1682-1688.
Volume NV-147
Laws of Pennsylvania (photocopy), 1682 December 16.
Volume NV-124
Letter to Sir Henry Chitchley, 1683 February 15.
Volume NV-142
Letter to the Free Society of Trades, undated.
Volume NV-136
Letter to Thomas Lloyd, 1685 March 19.
Volume NV-120
Letter to Thomas Lloyd, 1686 July 21.
Volume NV-122
Letter-book, 1667-1675.
Volume NV-148
Letter-book, 1699-1703.
Volume NV-149
Letters of William Penn (1681-1692) copied by J. Francis Fisher, [1822].
Volume NV-144
Penn's works volume I, 1726.
Volume NV-173
Penn's works volume II, 1726.
Volume NV-174
Power of Attorney from William Penn to Edward Shippen and others, 1711.
Volume NV-121
The Planter's Speech to His Neighbors & Country-men of Pennsylvania, East & West Jersey, 1684.
Volume NV-131
Volume IV: Bristol merchant's account book, 1717.
Volume NV-132
Volume V: An inventory of my estate [merchant account book], 1717.
Volume NV-137
Volume VI: Bristol merchant's account book, 1717.
Volume NV-138
William Penn's prayer for Philadelphia, 1684 August 12.
Volume NV-123
Will of William Penn, 1699/1700 January 20.
Item 1
Miscellaneous items related to William Penn, many formerly in the Society Miscellaneous Collection (old box XXVI), circa 1800-1944.
Box NB-041
Miscellaneous documents and correspondence (old box III), 1671-1699.
Box NB-012

William Baker. Letter-book, 1769-1789.
Volume NV-150
Granville Penn. Book, 1670-1779.
Volume NV-128
Hannah Penn. Cash book, 1712-1720.
Volume NV-050
John Penn. Boundary of Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland [printed court records], with additional items tipped in, 1743.
Volume NV-066
John Penn. Commonplace book, 1681-1786.
Volume NV-129
Sir William Penn. "The Office of the Admiral[sy]", undated.
Volume NV-133
Sir William Penn. Algernon Earle of Northumberland, 1646.
Volume NV-134
Sir William Penn. Correspondence, 1650-1667.
Box NB-013
Sir William Penn. Journals of Sir William Penn, 1644-1647.
Volume NV-083
Thomas Penn (1701/2-1775), (old box II), 1730-1767.
Box NB-011
Thomas Penn. "Account of money due to me", 1769.
Volume NV-140
Thomas Penn. Account book, 1719-1720.
Volume NV-054
Thomas Penn. Letter-book, 1738-1741.
Volume NV-151
Thomas Penn. Marriage settlement, 1751.
Volume NV-061
Thomas, John and Richard Penn. Thomas and Richard Penn, Instructions to James Hamilton (1753-1759); Thomas and John Penn, Instructions to James Hamilton for Government of Province of Pennsylvania (1771), 1753-1759, 1771.
Volume NV-163
Will of Harbert Springett (1718); Will of Anthony Springett (1682), 1718, 1682.
Volume NV-127
Various Penn family members (old box I), circa 1674-1866.
Box NB-010
Scope and Contents note

This box contains correspondence and papers from the following individuals: Anne Allen Penn (d. 1830); Granville Penn (1802-1867); Hannah Penn (1731-1791); John Penn (1699/1700-1746); John Penn (1729-1795); John Penn (1760-1834); Juliana Fermor Penn (1790-1801); Letitia Penn (1678/9-1746); Margaret Penn (1704-1750/1); Richard Penn (son of Thomas of Marston); Richard Penn (1705/6-1771); Richard Penn (1784-1863); Springett Penn (1738/9-1766).

Various Penn family members (old box IV), 1700-1740.
Box NB-014
Scope and Contents note

This box contains correspondence and papers from the following individuals: William Penn (the founder, 1644-1718); William Penn Jr. (1680/1-1720); William Penn III (1702/3-1746/7); William Penn IV (1776-1845); Third person correspondence and papers: James Calder, Thomas Cuppage, James Logan, Richard Peters, James Steel

Accounts, 1759-1762, 1765-1766.
Volume NV-051
Accounts, 1763-1764, 1767-1768.
Volume NV-053
Act of Parliament (printed), 1697.
Volume NV-125
Acts of Assembly, 1710-1759.
Volume NV-178
Acts of Assembly of Pennsylvania, 1700-1763.
Volume NV-199
Acts of Parliament, Orders in Council &c., 1637-1790.
Volume NV-177
Address to the King from Pennsylvania, undated.
Volume NV-200
Assembly and Provincial Council of Pennsylvania, circa 1681-1765.
Volume NV-176
Connecticut Claims, 1684-1775.
Volume NV-184
Deale/Sussex County court records, 1681-1683.
Volume NV-056
Existence and Location of Copies note

Use instead UDE KFD 516 .S97 A7 1677.

Deale/Sussex County court records, 1683-1688.
Volume NV-057
Existence and Location of Copies note

Use instead UDE KFD 516 .S97 A7 1678.

Deale/Sussex County court records, 1693-1710.
Volume NV-058
Existence and Location of Copies note

Use instead UDE KFD 516 .S97 A7 1679.

Governor Blackwell's manuscripts, 1688-1690.
Volume NV-146
Indian receipt for $10,000 for money paid by Thomas and Richard for the lands ceded by the Treaty of Fort Stanwix, 1769 July 28.
Volume NV-126
Existence and Location of Copies note

See Etting MSS miscellaneous oversize, p. 49 for facsimile.

Indian treaties and conferences (old box V), 1744-1764.
Box NB-015
Indian treaties and conferences (old box XVI), 1682-1794.
Box NB-033
Pennsylvania Assembly messages, 1727-1771.
Volume NV-080
Pennsylvania journals volume I, 1701-1710.
Volume NV-036
Pennsylvania journals volume II, 1712-1732.
Volume NV-037
Pennsylvania journals volume III, 1743-1757.
Volume NV-038
Pennsylvania journals volume IV, 1757-1776.
Volume NV-039
Pennsylvania journals volume I, 1720-1736.
Volume NV-040
Pennsylvania journals volume II, 1733-1741.
Volume NV-041
Pennsylvania journals volume III, 1741-1742.
Volume NV-042
Pennsylvania journals volume IV, 1749-1751.
Volume NV-043
Pennsylvania journals volume V, 1765-1769.
Volume NV-044
Pennsylvania journals volume VI, 1773.
Volume NV-045
Pennsylvania journals volume VII, 1774.
Volume NV-046
Pennsylvania journals volume VIII, 1775-1779.
Volume NV-047
Receipt book, 1759-1770.
Volume NV-052
Unfinished copy of ancient records of Deale/Sussex County (1681-1682), circa 1870?.
Volume NV-055
Warrants to Affix; the Great Seal, 1748-1775.
Box NB-005

Abstract of the General Title to the Penn Proprietary Estate, circa 1829.
Volume NV-081
Deeds and loose seal (old box XIVa), 1639-1694.
Box NB-027
Deeds (old box XIVb), 1701-1739.
Box NB-028
Deeds (old box XIVc), 1741-1753.
Box NB-029
Deeds (old box XVa), 1762-1776.
Box NB-030
Deeds (old box XVb), 1781-1788.
Box NB-031
Deeds (old box XVc), 1792-1801.
Box NB-032
Family deeds, circa 1716-1788.
Volume NV-175
John Penn Jr. and John Penn. Proprietary manors and lands in Pennsylvania, circa 1760-1875.
Box NB-001
Leases, Mortgages, 1740-1771.
Volume NV-185
Ledger for Account of Land called William Penn's Manor, 1747-1753, 1782-1787.
Volume NV-048
Penn lands, manors, etc. Compilation from Surveyor Generals' Office: warrants, draughts, returns, 1683-1746.
Volume NV-049
Pennsbury account book, quitrents, 1742.
Volume NV-141
Pennsbury manuscripts (old box XXXVII), 1759-1804.
Box NB-022
Scope and Contents note

The materials in this box were purchased by the Dreer fund.

Warrants and surveys, 1684-1776.
Volume NV-183

Volume I: Correspondence, 1682-1788.
Volume NV-084
Volume II: Correspondence, 1789-1803.
Volume NV-085
Volume III: Letter-book, 1769-1804.
Volume NV-086
Volume IV: Land grants and surveys (1676-1801); miscellaneous, 1676-1801.
Volume NV-087
Volume V: Additional letters; returns of warrants and surveys, 1732-1804.
Volume NV-088
Volume VI: Bonds, surveys, powers of attorney, etc., 1681-1769.
Volume NV-089
Volume VII: Bonds, surveys, powers of attorney, etc., 1770-1796.
Volume NV-090
Volume VIII: Bonds, surveys, powers of attorney, etc., 1797-1806.
Volume NV-091
Volume IX: Accounts, 1703-1741.
Box NB-009
Volume X: Accounts, 1742-1749.
Volume NV-092
Volume XI: Accounts, 1750-1760.
Volume NV-093
Volume XII: Accounts, 1761-1774.
Volume NV-094
Volume XIII: Accounts, 1775-1801.
Volume NV-095
Volume XIV: Accounts; miscellaneous, 1802-1804.
Volume NV-096
Volume XV: Warrants to affix; The Great Seal, 1769-1776.
Volume NV-097
Accounts of quitrents, 1701.
Volume NV-099
Accounts; manuscripts, 1796-1811.
Volume NV-105
Daybook, 1751-1754.
Volume NV-102
Daybook, 1779-1804.
Volume NV-103
Daybook, 1776-1779.
Volume NV-104
Daybook, 1796-1801.
Volume NV-106
Extracts from ledgers and journals, circa 1765-1775.
Volume NV-100
Extracts from patent books; and Book of Old Rights; Lists of land warrants, circa 1700-1792.
Volume NV-098
General cash accounts for William Penn from ledgers A to H, 1701-1778.
Volume NV-109
Journal, 1784-1799.
Volume NV-111
Journals, 1742-1772.
Volume NV-101
Ledger, 1784-1810.
Volume NV-110
Ledger, 1788-1804.
Volume NV-107
Ledger, 1796-1800.
Volume NV-108
Notes from Dr. Physick's lectures, 1803-1804.
Volume NV-112
Pennsylvania cash accounts, 1701-1778.
Volume NV-119
Receipts, 1785 January-July.
Volume NV-113
Receipts, 1785 July-December.
Volume NV-115
Receipts, 1769-1773.
Volume NV-114
Receipts, 1774-1787.
Volume NV-116
Receipts, 1787-1788.
Volume NV-117
Receipts, 1795-1800.
Volume NV-118

Volume I, 1606-1732.
Volume NV-189
Volume II, 1733-1735.
Volume NV-190
Volume III, 1736-1739.
Volume NV-191
Volume IV, 1740-1742.
Volume NV-192
Volume V, 1743-1747.
Volume NV-193
Volume VI, 1747-1752.
Volume NV-194
Volume VII, 1753-1755.
Volume NV-195
Volume VIII, 1756-1774.
Volume NV-196
Old box I, 1653-1724.
Box NB-002
Old box II, 1725-1739.
Box NB-003
Bill of revivor and supplemental bill, 1754.
Volume NV-207
Bill of revivor and supplemental bill, 1754.
Volume NV-208
Bill of revivor brief for the plaintiffs, 1754.
Volume NV-209
Boundary of Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland [printed court records], 1742.
Volume NV-064
Boundary of Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland [printed court records], 1743.
Volume NV-065
Brief for the plaintiffs, 1747.
Volume NV-205
Brief of the original bill against Frederick, Lord Baltimore, 1754.
Volume NV-072
Briefs of the amended bills etc. with some depositions, 1749.
Volume NV-206
Copies of papers in the Plantations Office, London, which concern the controversy between the proprietaries of Pennsylvania and Maryland..., 16[33]-1734.
Volume NV-143
Decree, 1735.
Volume NV-165
Decree, 1750 October 27.
Volume NV-073
Depositions, undated.
Volume NV-166
Depositions, Annapolis, 1740.
Volume NV-171
Depositions, London, 1740.
Volume NV-168
Depositions, London, 1743.
Volume NV-172
Depositions, Philadelphia I, 1740.
Volume NV-169
Depositions, Philadelphia II, 1740.
Volume NV-170
Draft of bill of revivor - imperfect, 1754.
Volume NV-070
Drafts of Interrogatories, circa 1739.
Volume NV-063
Drafts of the agreements with Frederick Lord Baltimore, 1757-1760.
Volume NV-210
Drafts of the bill of June 21, 1735.
Volume NV-202
In Chancery briefs, 1742.
Volume NV-201
Kent County records, circa 1740.
Volume NV-062
Lands on Delaware Bay, 1683.
Volume NV-145
Lord Baltimore's Answer, 1737.
Volume NV-071
Lord Baltimore's Answer, 1740.
Volume NV-167
Penn and Baltimore, Penn family, 1740-1756.
Volume NV-067
Penn and Baltimore, Penn family, 1756-1768.
Volume NV-068
Penn and Baltimore, Penn family, 1768-1834.
Volume NV-069
Penn v. Baltimore, New York records I, 1740.
Volume NV-197
Penn v. Baltimore, New York records III, 1740.
Volume NV-198
Penn v. Baltimore; accounts; miscellaneous, circa 1700-1750.
Volume NV-074
Petition, 1735.
Volume NV-164
Relating to particular points in the case, 1743.
Volume NV-203
Relating to particular points in the case, 1743.
Volume NV-204
Report of the Commissioners, 1733-1734.
Volume NV-060

Ford v. Penn, circa 1697-1707.
Volume NV-075
Ford v. Penn, 1697-1708.
Volume NV-182
Ford v. Penn: Accounts, 1672-1694.
Volume NV-076
Ford v. Penn: Plea of the defendants, 1706.
Volume NV-077
Ford v. Penn: Plea of the defendants, 1707.
Volume NV-078
John F. Mifflin letter book, 1788-1802.
Volume NV-059
Law suits I, 1713-1730.
Volume NV-187
Law suits II and Penn-Engart-Lewis papers, 1730-1869.
Volume NV-188
Penn v. Penn, 1722-1727.
Volume NV-079

Catalogue and Letters I, 1870-1872.
Volume NV-155
Coleman Catalogue, Allen Catalogue, Coleman Supplement II, 1870.
Volume NV-156
Chronological listing of printed papers and books in Edward G. Allen's catalog III, 1877.
Volume NV-157
Chronological listing of printed works in Puttick and Simpson catalog IV, 1874.
Volume NV-158
Chronological listing of manuscripts in Puttick and Simpson catalog V, 1874.
Volume NV-159
Subscribers for obtaining foreign state papers and historical documents relative to the early history of Pennsylvania VI, 1846, 1870-1871.
Volume NV-160
Extracts from Puttick and Simpson catalog, books inscribed "William Penn Esq., Proprietor of Pennsylvania, 1703" VII, 1872.
Volume NV-161
Puttick and Simpson catalog (photocopy) VIII, 1872.
Volume NV-162
Annotated auction catalogs, 1870.
Volume NV-154
Catalogues, William Penn memorials, Penn family history, and John Penn documents, 1812-1960.
Box NB-023
Catalogues; family notes, genealogy; misc and ephemera; correspondence regarding 1901 purchase of Penn papers; old box VIII, 1870-1901.
Box NB-018

Volume I: Indian affairs I, 1687-1753.
Volume NV-001
Indian affairs, Volume I, page 34.
Volume NV-001 Item 3
Volume II: Indian affairs II, 1754-1756.
Volume NV-002
Volume III: Indian affairs III, 1757-1772.
Volume NV-003
Volume IV: Indian affairs IV (1733-1801); Indian walk (circa 1737), 1733-1801.
Volume NV-004
Volume V: Wyoming Controversy (1731-1775); Smith & Moore v. the Assembly (1758-1759), 1731-1775.
Volume NV-005
Volume VI: Miscellaneous manuscripts of William Penn (circa 1675-1700); Ford v. Penn, Beranger v. Penn (1674-1716), 1674-1716.
Volume NV-006
Volume VII: Philadelphia land grants, Episcopal Church, Society of Friends, University, Lands in the Delaware, 1684-1772.
Volume NV-007
Volume VIII: Charters and frame of government (1683-1696); Marriage settlement and will of Thomas Penn (1751-1772), 1683-1772.
Volume NV-008
Volume IX: Pennsylvania land grants, 1681-1806.
Volume NV-009
Volume X: Domestic and miscellaneous letters, 1682-1794.
Volume NV-010
Volume XI: Boundaries, Pennsylvania and Maryland (1680-1768); Pennsylvania and Virginia (1773-1775), 1680-1775.
Volume NV-011
Volume XII: Autograph petitions (1681-1764); Receipts for beaver skins, for tenure, etc. (1752-1780), 1681-1780.
Volume NV-012
Volume XIII: Papers relating to iron (circa 1735-1750); Peltries, trade, etc. (1712-1817), 1712-1817.
Volume NV-013
Volume XIV: Impressions of seals, circa 1685-1855.
Volume NV-014
Volume XV: Papers relating to the three lower counties, 1629-1774.
Volume NV-015
Volume XVI: Governor's proclamations, 1670-1775.
Volume NV-016
Volume XVII: Supplementary; Saunders Coates, 1720-1766.
Volume NV-017
Volume XVIII: Correspondence of the Penn Family, 1732-1767.
Volume NV-018
Accounts I, 1682-1751.
Volume NV-179
Accounts II, 1751-1798.
Volume NV-180
Accounts III, 1799-1802.
Volume NV-181
Bonds and Powers of Attorney, 1714-1828.
Volume NV-186
Forbes Collection volume I, circa 1666-1772.
Box NB-007
Forbes Collection volume II, circa 1695.
Box NB-008
Large miscellaneous volume pages 1-61, 1674-1764.
Box NB-050
Large miscellaneous volume pages 65-133 and Penn v. Ford photostats, 1690-1782.
Box NB-051
Penn-Justice section (old box VI), 1663-1756.
Box NB-016
Penn-Justice section (old box VII), 1757-1809.
Box NB-017
Rawle-Cadwalader title box ("Large wooden box") #1, (old box XXXIV), 1684-1896.
Box NB-019
Rawle-Cadwalader title box ("Large wooden box") #2, (old box XXXV), 1751-1771.
Box NB-020
Scope and Contents note

The items in this box include the Thomas Penn marriage settlement and wills.

Rawle-Cadwalader title box ("Large wooden box") #3, (old box XXXVI), 1712-1867.
Box NB-021
Scope and Contents note

This box includes probates of wills and letters of administration for the following people: William Penn, 1712; John Penn, 1746; Richard Penn, 1747 & 1750; John Penn, 1795; William Penn, 1812; Granville J. Penn, 1867.

Tempsford Hall section (old box XIX), 1592-1749.
Box NB-034
Tempsford Hall section (old box XX), 1805-1910.
Box NB-035
Additional miscellaneous volumes I and II, 1683-1854.
Box NB-004
Penn-Forbes section copies (old box XVII), 1653-1706.
Box NB-048
Photostats, charter (old box XXIX), 1681.
Box NB-044
Photostats, charter (old box XXVIII), 1681.
Box NB-043
Photostats (old box XXVII), 1654-1683.
Box NB-042
Photostats (old box XXX), 1683-1705.
Box NB-045
Photostats (old box XXXI), 1706-1720.
Box NB-046
Photostats (old box XXXII), 1721-1789.
Box NB-047
Index (old box XXXIII).
Box NB-049

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