Payment For Repair of William Penn’s Famous Barge, the Official Barge of the Proprietors of Pennsylvania, as His Sons Arrive in Philadelphia to Govern the Commonwealth, Signed by Thomas Penn

William Penn had a house in his new city of Philadelphia. But early in the spring of 1700 he moved with his family to a mansion at Pennsbury, twenty miles up the Delaware River. Pennsbury comprised upwards of six thousand acres of fertile alluvial soil, and was built by the bank of the river, extending about two miles along it. Back of the house were deep forests, penetrated by only a few roads and trails. Its remoteness in the wilderness made it more costly to build, but Penn loved the country, saying “Country life is to be preferred; for there we see the works of God; but in cities we see but the works of man, and the works of God makes a better subject for our contemplation…” It was the most imposing residence to be found anywhere between the Hudson and Potomac rivers, many thought. Pennsbury is associated with some of Penn’s happiest days.

Penn’s usual mode of transit between the city and his country-house was a large barge, which is a flat bottom boat designed to ferry goods and passengers through shallower water to their destinations.  Penn’s barge had one mast and six oars, plus officers and crew, among whom were George Markham, boatswain, and Michael Larzilere, cockswain. It had an awning to protect the passengers from the sun, and according to one author, “no doubt a pennant with the Penn arms”. Penn loved this method of travel, using it when official business brought him to Philadelphia, to visit New Jersey Governor Samuel Jennings, and on other occasions. He once wrote his steward James Harrison that he prized the barge “above all dead things". When Penn returned to England, the barge was stored away carefully by James Logan. It would be almost 30 years before a Penn again visited Pennsbury.

Penn's American-born son, Thomas Penn, and his other sons John (the eldest) and Richard, jointly inherited the position of Proprietor of the Colony of Pennsylvania in 1718 on the death of their father. Thomas returned to Pennsylvania in August 1732 as Proprietor, and John joined him in that role disembarking in September 1734. Thomas found Pennsbury a wreck – “very near falling” – and the condition of the barge was likely poor as well. Thomas prepared for his brother’s 1734 arrival by repairing the family barge, one displaying the Penn family coat of arms, which would officially transport the Proprietors to their postings in Philadelphia. However, instead of simply having a flag with the coat of arms displayed, as had his father, Thomas wanted a nice, carved wooden one, almost certainly painted in bright colors. Anthony Wilkinson was a master wood carver in Philadelphia, and the man merchants turned to to carve the beautiful figures that were placed on the prow of their ships. He was hired to carve the coat of arms for the Penn barge.

Manuscript invoice, with autograph memorandum signed, Philadelphia, “August ye 28th 1734”, to “Mr. Tho. Penn”, being an invoice and pay order for building the barge and carving the coat of arms. “To Cut[t]ing 36 feet of Trees for the Barge at 2 [shillings] per foot, £3=12=0; To Brackets at 3 [shillings] 3 [pence] per pair, £0=13=0; To the Cote of arms £1=15=0”, for a total of “£6=0=0. Errors excepted, per Mr. Anthony Wilkinson”. This was quite a sum at that time. Penn then orders James Heel Esquire, who handled his financial accounts, “Enquire whether this is reasonably charged and if it is, pay it.”

An extraordinary memento of the Penn family's official barge that plied the Delaware River.