my Will which I declare to be my last Will revoking all others formerly made by me.

Signed Sealed and Published by the Testator William Penn in the presence of us who sett our names as Witnesses thereof in the p’sence of the said Testator after the Interlineacon of the Words above Vizt whom I make my sole Executrix.

Sarah West. Robert West.
Susanna Reading.
Thomas Pyle.
Robert Lomax.

This Will I made when ill of a feavour at London with a Clear understanding of what I did then but because of some unworthy Expressions belying Gods goodness to me as if I knew not what I did doe now that I am recovered through Gods goodness hereby declare that it is my last Will and Testament at Ruscomb in Berkshire this 27th of the 34 Month called May 1712.

Wm Penn.
Witnesses p'sent.
Eliz. Penn.

Mary Chandler.
Tho. Pyle.

Josiah Dee.
Tho. Penn.

Mary Dee.
Eliz. Anderson.
Postcript in my own hand.

As a further Testimony of my love to my dear Wife 1 of my own mind give unto her out of the rents of America vizt Pensilvania 6300 a year for her naturall life and for her care and charge over my Children in their Education of which she knows my mind as also that I desire they may settle at least in good part in America where I leave them so good an Interest to be for their Inheritance from Generacon to Generacon which the Lord p'serve and prosper.' Amen.

(Face page 280.

CHAPTER XXV

THE FOUNDER'S SONS

WILLIAM PENN had made his last will in 1712, shortly before his seizure. In it he left his estates in England and Ireland to his eldest son, William, while to Hannah and her children he bequeathed all lands, rents, and other profits in America, and he made her sole executrix.

The government of the province descended to his sons, John, Thomas, and Richard Penn, to the exclusion of William, and they became from henceforward the proprietors. At the time of the making of this will, affairs were so bad in Pennsylvania that this division of his property seemed rather an unfair one, as much of his land in America was mortgaged, but during the long years of his illness, the increase of trade and population there, and the period of uninterrupted tranquillity, had so improved the value of his property, that it was no mean income which he left to his widow and second family, and, fortunately for them, his inability to conclude

232

THE INDIANS' GIFT

[CHAP. XXV

his bargain with the Government made the agreement he had entered into void.

Sir George Keith was an able administrator, and much of the prosperity at this time arose from his efforts. All the debts and mortgages were paid off by Hannah Penn, and it is astonishing what that clever lady accomplished on behalf of her children in the few years she survived her husband.

Many loving testimonies to William Penn's worth and excellence came from Pennsylvania, none more touching than those from the Indians. They mourned the loss of their brother Onas, and sent Hannah a present of beautiful skins to be made into a cloak, which, they wrote, was “to protect her while passing through the thorny wilderness without her guide.” To James Logan she wrote at that time: “I take very kindly the sympathy of all those that truly lament mine and that country's loss, which has brought a vast load of care and toil of mind and sorrow upon me. For my own part, I expect a wilderness of care—of briers and thorns transplanted here from thence. Whether I shall be able to explore my way, even with the help of my friends, I have great reason to question, notwithstanding the Indians' present, which I now want to put on, having the woods and wilderness to travel through indeed."

As the rights which were inherited by the

1718) PROPRIETORY TROUBLES

233 Penn family were proprietory, it was not surprising that the sons encountered much the same experiences as their father had done. The usual difficulties arose of embezzling agents and jealous members of the Assembly putting obstacles in the way

There were troubles with the Government, and troubles which arose from the private property, for Penn had left much real estate in Pennsylvania, as well as the revenues of the country, which still accrued to the family, he had been the largest landowner in the world of his day, said to own several million acres. His sons had no longer any desire to resign their rights to the crown. The heir-at-law was William, only surviving son of the first marriage, who, though living in obscurity abroad, on hearing the news, sent word that his father had no right to separate his private property from the Government. But the Assembly and the Board of Trade refused to recognise him in any way, and although after his death in 1720 his son Springett claimed his right to the proprietorship, the law did not support him either.

It was Mrs Penn who conveyed the province to her sons John, Thomas, and Richard.” John, the eldest, received half the proprietory estate, with a charge on his portion for his sister