25th, 1853. The Barbadoes Carpenters settled there in 1647, at which place Samuel Carpenter and Joshua his brother joined them in 1675. They took passage from the Surrey side of the Thames, in a ship bound for Barbadoes, and hence the assertion of General Davis, that Samuel Carpenter came from Surrey.

Mr. Carpenter soon acquired a leading position in Bridgetown, he became justice of the peace, and represented the Parish of St. Michaels in the Assembly of Barbadoes. In 1683, he left Bridgetown and came to the then infant town of Philadelphia, as appears from the following record of

the monthly meeting of Philadelphia: "Samuel Carpenter from Bridgetown, Barbadoes, signed June 23d, 1683." Mr. Carpenter brought considerable wealth with him, and in less than twenty years was rated the richest resident in the Province; Penn could not be called a resident. Samuel Carpenter's first residence is given by Thomas Holmes in his "Portraiture of Philadelphia," 1683-84. "Samuel Carpenter's lot is from Second to Front Street, and is the second above Walnut. No. 16. His first property in Pennsylvania was 5,000 acres in the Welsh tract, in Union, deeded to him March 22d, 1682. We next find him a witness to a deed of land from the Indians to William Penn, between Chester and Dublin Creeks, July 6,

1685. The first service rendered by Mr. Carpenter in a public capacity was in Dec. 1683, as appears by the following: "Minutes of Council, Dec 21st, 1683. The Prov'll Councill Ordered Wm fframpton and Sam" Carpenter of this town Mercht's to administer on ye behalfe of ye Creditors and Heirs of Jno Vanborson and to make report of what they doe therein to this board." The Second Grand Jury of the Province met Dec. 27, 1683, and Mr. Carpenter's name appears among its members; the Minutes of Council record: "The Grand Jury being attested, the Govr gave them their charge, and the Attorney-Generall attended them with the presentment." Among the indictments found by this worthy body was one of witchcraft against Margaret Matson. The evidence presented is highly amusing, but certainly does not reflect the highest credit on our ancestors' credulity. The Petit Jury brought her in guilty of being a witch, but not guilty under the indictment; rather a questionable verdict we must admit. It only confirms an opinion still in vogue, viz. : that there is nothing so uncertain as the verdict of a petit jury. Neels Matson and Anthony Neelson went bail for her, for fifty pounds apiece, for her good-behavior for six months.

As early as 1684, Mr. Carpenter's business had reached such dimensions. as warranted the Council in asking his opinion upon the subject of duties and customs.

"Minutes of Council Jany 28, 1684, Sam" Carpenter's Judgm't towards rayesing of tax upon Liquors Vizt; upon Brandy 12a ye Gall; Beer, Ale, Mum, Spanish Wine, 5d ye Gall; Medera, each Pipe 50s.; french Wine 4 P. Tunn, and Give him this way £1,000 by way of Customs upon goods, is his best advice."

The next public duty performed by Mr. Carpenter was as follows: "Minutes of Council 29 March 1684. The Gov' and Council Ordered that these Persons following attend the Council ye 30th inst by seven in the morning: Jno Day, Jno Songhurst, Tho: Wynne: Tho: Hooten, Sam" Carpenter, Jno Jones, James Claypoole, Jno Test, Patrick Robinson. March 30, 1684 Of these the following appeared viz Patrick Robinson, James Claypoole, Jno Songhurst, Sam" Carpenter Tho: Winn and Jno Jones and were nominated a commission to collect all moneys arising under the act known as the Bill of Publick Aid. They signified their acceptance at six in the evening through Sam" Carpenter and offered to raise £300, among their friends to answer present purposes and to obtain subscriptions." It appears that during the summer of 1684, the Council came into possession of a French Ship; but by what means does not clearly appear, as England and France happened just at that particular time to be at peace, but the possession of the ship was attested by the following: "Minutes of the Council Aug 22

1684. Ordered that James Claypoole, Sam" Carpenter, and Wm fframpton be Com'iss'rs to Dispose of ye french ship forthwith."

May 11, 1685. Mr. Carpenter appealed to the Council in behalf of a judgment obtained by him against James Claypoole, who had appealed to the English Courts under the Duke of York's Laws, but failed to give the necessary security; the Council on the 17th September, 1685, confirmed the judgment of the lower Court, and ordered execution. July 30, he was witness to a deed of land from the Indian chiefs Shakahappoh, Malebore, Secaue, and Taugoras, to William Penn.

6th of September, 1685, the Commission to collect money under the Bill of Public Aid reported progress.

We now come to Mr. Carpenter's first appearance in the Provincial Council. James Claypoole, member of council and register general of the Province, died June 17, 1687, and the following day, the Council ordered an election to fill the vacancy, and Samuel Carpenter was elected, as appears by the minutes of Council, July 9, 1687: "Sam" Carpenter yt was returned yesterday by ye Sheriff of Philadelphia County to serve in Provll Councill in ye Roome of James Claypoole for ye remayning time he was to serve. This day signed ye attest and took his place at y Board."* During this same year, Mr. Carpenter built the famous "Slate Roof House," torn down in 1867, an engraving of which, made by William C. Armstrong, accompanies this article. When Penn visited Pennsylvania the second time, this house, considered the finest in the city, was secured for his residence. Here also was born "John Penn, the American," the only one of the race born in America. This event took place November Ist, 1699, as announced in the following letter: "30th of 11th mo: 1699, (Tuesday Nov 30). Our Governor has a son born last first day night and all like to do well." The next event in its history was in 1702, when James Logan dined Lord Cornbury beneath its hospitable roof. This nobleman, a cousin of Queen Anne, in speaking of the occasion, says, "he was dined equal to anything he had seen in America." In 1703, Mr. Carpenter sold this house to William Trent, the gentleman who gave his name to the present capital of New Jersey. In 1709, Trent sold it to Isaac Morris, the Elder, in whose family it remained until 1770, when Mary Norris brought it to John Dickinson as part of her marriage dower. It remained with the Dickinsons until sold to the Chamber of Commerce in 1867. Gov. James Hamilton at one time made it his official residence, then it was leased to Mrs. Howell as a boarding-house, who numbered among her boarders Col. Dunbar, the "Tardy," and in 1759 all that was mortal * Col. Rec., vol. I., p. 210.

of the famous Gen. Forbes, the "Conqueror of Fort Du Quesne," and aide-de-camp to the Duke of Cumberland at " Culloden," was carried from its portals, to their last resting-place. Just prior, and in fact during the Revolution, Mrs. Graydon kept a boarding-house there, to which flocked many men of note. A young ladies' boarding-school was its next occupant, but after that its glory faded away, and it is now numbered with the things of the past.

May 5th, 1688, the Council appointed Messrs. Cann, Carpenter and Growden, a committee to report on the legality of several important bills, in which they were to be assisted by the attorney-general.; Dec. 7, 1688, Messrs. Turner, Tissick, Budd, Ewer, Carpenter, and Fuller, presented a Petition to Council praying to be allowed to establish a bank. This privilege or right, the governor informed them was vested solely in Penn, but that he (Blackwell) knew no good reason why they should not issue their own personal bills to such as would take them. We apprehend they were to be of the nature of Bills of Exchange. They necessarily ran great risk from counterfeiting. In Jan., 1689, a dispute arose between Gov. Blackwell and the Council on the one side, and Thomas Lloyd, Keeper of the Seal and Master of the Rolls on the other, in relation to Lloyd's abusing the powers of his office by appointing David Lloyd to be his Deputy, without consent of the Governor and Council. But two of the Council sided with Lloyd, viz., Mr. Carpenter and Arthur Cook. The former of these two (Mr. Carpenter) declared that he did not so understand it, yet at the same time stated that he did not justify Lloyd's actions. The Council, however, decided to retain David Lloyd's Commission, Messrs. Carpenter and Cook dissenting.

On the 26th of Jan., 1689, Mr. Carpenter opposed the arbitrary action of the Council in running the line between Chester and Philadelphia, contrary to the wishes of the Welsh settlers who desired to be considered in Philadelphia, but the new arrangement was carried. Messrs. Turner, Jones, Bristow and Markham voting aye, and Messrs. Carpenter and Yardley no.

Fraud in the ballot-box and disorder at the polls seems to have been known to our ancestors as well as ourselves. On the 9th of Feb., 1689, occurred a debate on the admission of John Eckley to a seat in the Council on the ground of fraud and violence at the polls. Said Mr. Carpenter, "as to that man that appeared last viz., John Eckley, I hope thou hast nothing against him, nor his Election. If thou hast I desire to know what thou hast. I desire he may be admitted to take his place." Griffith Jones complained of great disorder at the polls, charging that several inhabit

ants of Chester County and even some from West Jersey had voted. (Probably McMullen had been searching these records when he introduced his system into the fourth ward of Philadelphia.) The Council finally decided, however, to admit Eckley.*

On the 17th of March, 1689, there occurred a debate upon the power of the Assembly to adjourn by their own act: Messrs. Carpenter and Stockdale erroneously held the affirmative, that they could, but the governor and a majority of the Council very properly held the negative. Sept. 2, 1689, the governor and Council issued a proclamation announcing the accession of William and Mary to the English Throne, and giving the allegiance of Pennsylvania to the new Sovereigns, but at the same time declining to fit out a fleet for the West Indies, to take part in a war with France, as requested in a letter from the Earl of Shrewsbury, Sec'y of State for Foreign Affairs. During the debate, Mr. Carpenter said, "We cannot vote one way or other to either of the questions. We say nothing against it, in regard, it is a matter of conscience to us, I had rather be ruined than violate my conscience in this case. We do not take upon us to hinder any [one]. I do not think the Govr need to call us together in this matter; and therefore we desire we may be no farther prest in this matter." Mr. Carpenter's time expired January 1, 1690.

Philadelphia, by this time, seems to have attained a considerable size, as we find that on the 5th of February, 1696, Mr. Carpenter presented a petition to Council requesting the passage of an act to prevent the running at large of hogs, etc., in the street of the city.

July 7, 1690, Messrs. Carpenter, Richards, and Delaval appear as complainants against Jno. James, Master of a certain vessel, praying that an examination be made of as to the safety of said vessel before she leaves for England. In 1691, Mr. Carpenter and William Bradford erected a paper mill on the banks of the Schuylkill, near the mouth of the Wissahickon. May 6, 1693, Mr. Carpenter was offered the office of Justice of the Peace, but declined. July 18th, his brother Joshua was appointed.†

May 15, 1693, Mr. Carpenter took his seat in the Assembly from Philadelphia, after an absence from the Councils of the Province for three years. May 24, Mr. Carpenter was placed on the committee to revise the Book of Laws; and on the 31st on the committee to bring in a Bill of Supply. April 10, 1694, Mr. Carpenter took his seat in Assembly for the second

* Col. Rec, Vol. I., bp. 278-83.

Joshua Carpenter, in 1693, was rated the richest man in the province next to his brother SamHe served as Justice of the Peace, Member 1st Select Council of Phila., 1705, and Member of Assembly and Common Council. He was not a Quaker.

uel.

VOL. XIX.-No. 1.-3