1725 Pennsylvania

Image by judy_breck via Flickr

1725- Springett Penn joins with his step-grandmother, Hannah Penn, in appointing Patrick Gordon Lieutenant-Governor of Pennsylvania. Springett Penn was a grandson and heir of William Penn, founder and proprietor of Pennsylvania.

The chancery suit over his grandfather William Penn's will was not yet settled. The founder had several children that died in his lifetime.--His eldest surviving son, William Penn, born about 1676; died in Liege in 1720, came to the colony with Lieutenant-Governor Evans, arriving February 2, 1704, and was made a member of the provincial council on the 8th. As such he joined in a declaration that a clause in his father's instructions suspending the operation of laws passed by the lieutenant-governor until the proprietor's pleasure be known was illegal and void. He raised a militia company, but, being presented before the corporation of the city of Philadelphia, the chief men in which were unfriendly to his father, for disorder at a tavern, he took offence and returned to England.

His son, Springett Penn, succeeded to his father's claims, and was by many persons considered the rightful governor-in-chief. Sir William Keith, the lieutenant-governor, caused a large tract of land on the frontier to be laid out for him, and called Springettsbury Manor. The will of the founder was established by decree of the court of exchequer in 1727, and a compromise between the two branches of the family was in process of adjustment at his death.

Springett was referred to as "Saracen" in his grandfather's letters.

Edward Austin is born to Samuel Austin & Mary Jarman in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

Anthony Levering is born to Jacob Levering & Alice Tunes in Roxbury, Pennsylvania.

(Springett Penn is my fourth cousin 8 times removed. Our common ancestors are Pletjes Driessen & Alet Gobels Syllus.

Edward Austin is my second cousin 7 times removed. Our common ancestors are Thomas Potts & Elizabeth Baset.

Anthony Levering is my second cousin 8 times removed. Our common ancestor is Thonis Klincken.)