Pennsylvania Pa Handwritten Manuscript/document 1697

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Pennsylvania Pa Handwritten Manuscript/document 1697 Picture(s) and Description:

EXCEEDINGLY SCARCE, ORIGINAL 1697 HANDWRITTEN AMERICAN MANUSCRIPT. Historically important 17th century document was penned on August 10th, 1697, at Burks [i.e. Berks] County, Pennsylvania. Manuscript was inked under the name of "William Markham Governor of the Province". Markham was Pennsylvania's first provincial governor and first cousin to William Penn. With the help of Penn's surveyors, Markham selected the site for Philadelphia. Manuscript pertains to a decree in council to build a new road from "the Poquessin brook to the falls of the Delaware River," and to establish the town of "Burkingham," with the road being "through the said town." Original 17th century manuscripts from the American colonies are increasingly rare, with many being institutionally held or acquired. William Markham (1635 1704) served as deputy governor of the Province of Pennsylvania. He was the acting governor of Pennsylvania from 1681 1682 and from 1693 1699, and was a member of the Church of England who tended to favor the interests of minority religious groups in the primarily Quaker colony. On April 10th, 1681, Markham was appointed by his first cousin, Governor William Penn, and served as acting governor while Penn was in England. Markham sailed for America soon after his appointment, where he showed his credentials and took official control of the Delaware territories which had also been given to Penn.

On August 3rd, 1681, Markham arrived in Upland [now Chester, Pennsylvania], the only town in the colony at that time. He assembled a governing council that included six Quakers and three other early colonists. As governor, Markham helped select the site for Philadelphia, bought land from the Indians along the Delaware River and Pennsbury Manor, and began the discourse with Lord Baltimore over the disputed boundary between Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Penn returned to Pennsylvania in October 1682 and relieved Markham of his duties. Markham became a representative for the colony in England and lobbied on its behalf in the boundary dispute with Maryland. He served in various other positions including secretary of the province, secretary to the proprietary, a commissioner to sell lands, and an auditor of accounts. Markham supported John Blackwell over Thomas Lloyd in their dispute over the governorship.

In 1691, Delaware was separated from Pennsylvania, and Markham became the acting deputy governor of the new colony. The Glorious Revolution overthrew the Stuart dynasty with which Penn had his connections. By 1683, he temporarily fell from court popularity and lost control of the colony. The crown gave official control to Benjamin Fletcher, but Markham served a second term as acting governor as Fletcher's deputy. Penn was reinstated as official governor in August 1694, but Markham maintained control of the colony until Penn's return from England in December 1699.

Markham had several disputes with the legislative body and issued his own version of the Frame of Government of Pennsylvania in an attempt to resolve some of this conflict. Markham's version of the Frame gave greater power to the lower house of the legislature, the General Assembly, greatly weakening his executive power as well as that of the upper house, the Council. Markham was criticized by the surveyor general of customs for allowing pirates to run rampant, as Pennsylvania did not have the military capacity to protect the Delaware Bay. Penn also complained of fraudulent financial transactions with Markham, but still had him appointed, through the deputy governor, register general of wills in 1703.

Condition: Rare manuscript remains in good condition [see images]. Written in a 17th century hand, ink remains bold and legible with minor scattered smudging; some toning, minor staining, a bit of edge wear, typical folds with a few reinforced by thin tape, couple of small closed cuts. All in all, this desirable American manuscript remains very presentable. Folio sized sheet measures approx 7.5" wide x 11.5" tall. Quite a find and a very worthy acquisition indeed.

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