Lot 221
Very Early William Penn Land Grant to His Infant Son. Document signed ("Wm Penn"), 1 page, vellum, 20 x 50", Worminghurst, Sussex (England), October 22, 1681. Wax seal is intact. Some separation and a few holes at folds, otherwise quite good, with an especially fine signature. With typed transcription. In March 1681, Penn received his charter from Charles II for the colony of Pennsylvania. Seven months later he "leases and releases" 5,000 acres of Pennsylvania to his seven-month-old infant son, William Penn, Jr, for 100 pounds. The land was "bounded on the East by Delaware River from Twelve Miles Distance Northward of Newcastle Town to the Three and fortieth Degree of Northerne Latitude and Extendeth Westward five degrees in Longitude and is bounded on the South by a Circle drawn at Ten Miles distance from Newcastle aforesaid Northwards and Westwards to the beginning of the fortieth Degree of Northerne Latitude and then by a straite line Westward to the Limit of Longitude above mentioned. William Penn…shall and will…Cleare acquitt and Discharge…Five Thousand Acres…from all manner of Titles and Claymes of any Indian Native of the said Tract or Province…." This is possibly the earliest grant made by William Penn in America.
William Penn, Jr. was born at Worminghurst, his mother's estate in Susses on March 14, 1681, ten days after his father received the charter from the King. William Jr. came to Pennsylvania in 1704 but, fortunately, did not stay. While there he broke with the Quakers, lived lavishly, had bar fights, exceeded his father's limit on expenses, kept a kennel of hounds, and supposedly engaged in affairs with unmarried women. He returned to England and at some point before his death in France in 1720, sold the manor at Williamstadt which had, as this early document establishes, been laid out for him at the founding of the colony.
Estimated Value $15,000 - 18,000.
Ex the Henry E. Luhrs Collection.
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