Silas Crispen was appointed surveyor-general, and sailed with this commission but, dying on the voyage, Captain Thomas Holme was appointed in his place and commissioned April 18, 1682.
Among the earliest acts of Markham and the commissioners was the selection of a site for a great city, which resulted in the founding of Philadelphia. Soundings along the west side of the Delaware River were made to ascertain “where most ships may best ride of deepest draft of water.”
The growth of the new “city” was remarkable from its very inception. Within a few months Philadelphia contained eighty houses, and more than 300 farms were laid out and partly cleared.
In the summer of 1684 the city contained 357 houses, many of them large and well-built, with cellars. A year later the number of houses had increased to 600. There were nearly 3000 souls in the city at this time.
William Penn sailed for Pennsylvania in the ship Welcome, of 300 tons burden, Captain Robert Greenway, September 1, 1682, accompanied by 100 emigrants, mostly Friends.
He first landed at New Castle October 27, and then at Upland on the 29th. On November 9, Penn visited Philadelphia.
Penn was very favorably impressed with virgin Pennsylvania. Pastorius writes that Penn found the air so perfumed that it seemed to him like an orchard in full bloom; that the trees and shrubs were everywhere covered with leaves, and filled with birds, which, by their beautiful colors and delightful notes proclaimed the praise of their Creator.
Penn’s policy from the beginning of his province was to extinguish the Indian title to his grant of Pennsylvania by purchase. This he did in fact, and the several treaty purchases made by him were executed fairly and honorably.
At the first provincial assembly held at Philadelphia, in March, 1683, a number of acts were passed necessary to put Penn’s government in operation. The country was divided into three counties, Philadelphia, Chester, and Bucks, and their boundaries fixed. A house of correction was ordered for each county, 24 x 16 feet, in size.
The poor, who received relief from the county, with their families, were obliged to wear the letter P made of red or blue cloth, with the first letter of the name of the place they inhabited, in a conspicuous place upon the shoulder of the right sleeve.