The first act of William Penn was to write a letter to the inhabitants of Pennsylvania, dated April 8, 1681. Two days later he appointed his cousin Captain William Markham deputy governor and commander-in-chief of the province, whom he clothed with full powers to put the machinery of the new government into motion.
At what time Captain Markham sailed for America is not known, but we find him in New York, with the King’s letter in June, which, with his commission, he laid before the council and commander in the absence of Governor Andros.
On June 21, the authorities at New York addressed a letter to the justice and other magistrates on the Delaware notifying them of the change of government.
Markham departed from New York a few days later and repaired to Pennsylvania to enter upon his duties, bearing with him Penn’s letter to the inhabitants, which assured them that they should be governed by laws of their own making, and would receive the most ample protection to person and property.
Markham was authorized to call a council of nine, which met and organized August 3, from which time we may date the establishment of a civil government in Pennsylvania.
There was very little interference in the established order of things, and the people found a mild ruler in the deputy governor.
The seat of government was fixed at Upland, the present Chester. The old court closed its session September 13, and the new court opened the next day.
Among the business transacted at the opening of the new court was the appointment of William Biles and Robert Lucas, who lived at the falls, justices of the peace. Pounds, shillings, and pence were declared to be the currency of the country. But it was difficult to get rid of the guilders after they had been so long in circulation.
Markham was instructed by William Penn to select a site, and build for him a dwelling, and he chose the spot whereon Pennsbury house was erected, in Falls Township, Bucks County.
On September 30, William Penn appointed William Crispin, John Bezar, and Christopher Allen, commissioners, to go to Pennsylvania with power to purchase land of the Indians and to select site for, and lay out a great city. About this same time he appointed James Harrison his “lawful agent,” to sell for him any parcel of land in Pennsylvania of not less than 250 acres.