Papers : 1714 - 1832.
Call Number: | HIL-MICL FC LFR .P4T4P3 |
Category: | Family |
Creator: | Penn, Thomas, 1702-1775. |
Description: | 10 microfilm textual records () ; 35 mm |
Background: | Thomas Penn was the son of William Penn (1644-1718), the Quaker statesman and founder of Pennsylvania, and his second wife Hannah Callowhill (d.1727). He was born in Bristol, England, but spent his early years in Ruscombe, Berkshire. In 1715 or 1716, he was sent to a mercer in London to begin a business career and following that he became a partner in a commercial establishment. The experience he gained would prove valuable in later life. When his father died in 1718, and later his mother and youngest brother, Dennis, the proprietorship was divided with John (1700-1746) the oldest brother inheriting one half interest, while Thomas and Richard (1706-1771) each received one quarter share. |
Contents: | In 1870 the Historical Society of Pennsylvania was able to purchase several thousand documents that had survived destruction. Since that time through gift and purchase, the Society has been able to almost double the size of the original collection. The Thomas Penn correspondence consists of communications with his appointed representatives in the colony, who were deputy governors with the approval of the Crown. Aside from the governors, numerous officials were appointed to such positions as surveyor-general, chief justice, provincial secretary, receiver-general and many other offices. Material can be found in the Papers on every aspect of colonial life such as: political events; Indian Affairs, including the French and Indian Wars; land and boundary problems with Virginia and Maryland in particular; government administration; and cultural, educational and religious interests. |
Originals: |
The original records are held by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. |
Archival Ref. No.: | Collection 0485A |
Finding Aids: | A guide to the microfilm edition of the Thomas Penn Papers by Nicholas B. Wainwright, Director of the Society, accompanies the Papers. Background information on the collection, biographical material on the Penn family, and a reel list, can be found at the beginning of each microfilm reel. |
Electronic Finding Aid Record: |
Penn, Thomas Papers Shelf List.pdf |
Notes: | The background material provided by the author of the Introduction has been a source of much useful information in the preparation of this Inventory description. |
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