of 8th month; and unladed their goods at Choptank. Here, James Harrison and his son-in-law, Phineas, left their respective families at the house of William Dickinson, in order to proceed by land to the place of their original destination, which was near the Falls of the Delaware river. William Penn had arrived on the 24th of 8th month, and was at that time at New York; so they were disappointed of seeing him at Newcastle, as they had hoped. When they arrived at the place where Philadelphia now stands, they could not procure entertainment for their horses. Such was the want of accommodations at that day. They "spancelled them, and turned them out into the woods;" and, next morning, sought them in vain. After two days search, these travellers were obliged to take a boat, and proceed up the river. One of these horses was not found until the 11th month following. It should be recollected, that the city of Philadelphia was not yet founded, and the country a wilderness.

William Yardley, an uncle of Phineas Pemberton, had arrived a few weeks before him, and had taken up land at the Falls, where he commenced the erection of a habitation. Near the same spot, on the banks of the Delaware, opposite to Oreclan's island, Phineas determined to settle, and purchased a tract of three hundred acres of land, which he named "Grove Place." As he and his father-in-law were returning to their families from this tour of investigation, the latter, having been chosen a member of the Assembly, and speaker of the house of Provincial representatives,-remained at Chester, before called Upland. Here the first general Assembly met, in the month called December, William Penn

being president. The session continued three days, in which about sixty laws, or acts, were passed in due form.

In consequence of being landed on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, instead of Philadelphia, they were considerably delayed in transporting themselves and moveables, and did not complete their object until the 2d mo. 1683. Among those who had settled about the Falls, two or three years previous, was Lyonel Britain, with whom Phineas and his family resided, until he could erect a house on his own land. In this year, Phineas Pemberton was appointed by Christopher Taylor, to be his deputy as register for Bucks county; and by William Penn, to the office of clerk of the court. Among the duties of the former were, "to write and register all contracts, and certificates of marriage,—to register births and burials, and the names of all servants that are in, or shall come into the said county, their time of service, payment, and freedom."

In the 5th month, 1683, William Penn issued an order for the establishment of a Post Office, and granted to Henry Waldy, of "Tekoney," authority to hold one, and to "supply passengers with horses. from Philadelphia to Newcastle, or to the Falls.” The rates of postage of letters were, from the Falls to Philadelphia, three pence;-to Chester, five pence; to Newcastle, seven pence; and to Maryland, nine pence. From Philadelphia to Chester, two pence; to Newcastle, four pence; and to Maryland, six pence. This post went only once a week, and the Governor requested Phineas Pemberton "carefully to publish" this information, "on the meeting house door, and other public places." By

the meeting house door, must be understood the door of the private house in which the Society of Friends was then accustomed to meet; for the meeting house at the Falls was not erected until 1690, nor at Burlington till 1696; nor that at Bristol, until 1710. It was usual for Friends settled about the Falls, to assemble for worship at the houses of William Yardley, James Harrison, Phineas Pemberton, William Biles, William Dark, Lyonel Britain, and William Beaks.

On 7th month 29th, this year, Thomas Janney, an eminent and much beloved minister, and uncle to Phineas, arrived from England with his family, and settled near them.

In 1684, Roger Longworth, after having traveled through several other provinces, in the service of Truth, arrived in Pennsylvania, and took up his abode with James Harrison, or with Phineas Pemberton. James had then erected a house, and also had been appointed by William Penn, as his steward at Pennsbury; which station he held until his death. This office embraced the oversight of "the servants, building, &c. and what relates to the place, to receive and pay,-take, and put away every servant;—to receive all strangers, and to place them as to lodgings." His wife was to "overlook the maids in the dairy, kitchen and chambers, with the charge of linen and plate, and to have the maids accountable for inferior matters to her." For this service, being merely "oversight," as William Penn remarks, he offered to allow them "a couple of chambers and a horse, and besides meat, drink, washing and lodging, forty pounds the first year, and fifty ever after; which I conceive," he says, "will be a

clear subsistence. I have truth and virtue in my eye for my family. Pray let me know your answer as soon as you well can."

Having accepted the proposal, the commission was issued on the 15th of 6th month. In this year also, Phineas was appointed by C. Taylor, register of wills for Bucks county. Thus we see, by the fidelity and integrity of these settlers, they were rapidly advancing in the favour and confidence of those who were in power.

Robert Bond, the youth who had been placed by his father under the tuition of James Harrison, being of a weakly constitution, died on the 30th of 7th month, this year. Phineas records of him, that "he was a sober, solid youth; his deportment grave; having the fear of God before his eyes. I loved him with a true love."

On 12th month 20th, 1684-5, Israel Pemberton was born, being the fourth child of Phineas and Phebe. Early this year, 1685, Roger Longworth, still zealous in the service of the gospel, embarked at New York, in order to proceed to Barbadoes, thence to England, Holland, and Ireland. From these travels he did not return until the 3d month, 1687.

In the latter end of 1685, Phineas went to Philadelphia to attend the Assembly; and on the 5th of 3d month, in the year following, he received a commission from Thomas Lloyd, to be deputy master of the Rolls for Bucks county. Having been engaged in erecting a more comfortable habitation for his family, he finished the same early in the year 1687. On the 16th of 3d month, he records, "there was a great land flood;" and on the 29th, a "rup

ture." It is probable that the river overflowed its banks to a great extent; and that on its subsiding it left a vast quantity of vegetable matter, which, being decomposed by a hot sun, the miasmata thence exhaled, together with an unusual quantity of rain, became the cause of much sickness in the neighbourhood near the river and Falls, and a number of the settlers were removed by death.

The first of these in Bucks county, was Ralph Pemberton, who died on 5th month 17th, at the age of seventy-seven. He suddenly sunk under the disease, having a high fever, but remained sensible and cheerful to the last. He was buried in a burial ground which Phineas had laid out on his own land, not far from his dwelling house, and near the river Delaware. It was ten rods square, and was designed for the interment of the members of his family, and also for those of his own religious Society, in the neighbourhood.

Phineas himself was also taken sick about this time, nor did his wife and children escape, but they all slowly recovered. Agnes Harrison, her grandmother, who was an aged woman when she came with them from England, was the next of the family who was removed by this disease; she departed in peace, on the 6th of the 6th month, at the age of eighty-six years. On the next day, that good and eminent man, Roger Longworth, also "laid down the body." He had been at home about ten weeks since his return from the religious visit before mentioned.— The fever was violent, yet he bore his last illness. with much meekness and patience, and was preserved remarkably still and quiet during his sickness, which continued fourteen days. He "passed away