The Chief Justice, the Hon. Thomas McKean, in solemn form administered to Mr. Mifflin the oath required by the Constitution of the Commonwealth and also the oath required by the Constitution of the United States, which said oaths the Governor-elect took, and subscribed in the Senate chamber, and Speaker and members of the House of Representatives and the Governor then withdrew from the Senate chamber in order to proceed to the court house on High Street, agreeably to the following order of procession:
Constables with their staffs; sub-sheriffs with their wands; High Sheriff and Coroner with their wands; Judges of the Supreme Court and Judge of the High Court of Errors and Appeals; Attorney General and Prothonotary of the Supreme Court; wardens of the Port of Philadelphia; Treasurer, Comptroller and Register General; Secretary of the Land Office; Receiver General and Surveyor General; justices of the peace; Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas and clerk of the Court of Quarter Sessions; clerk of the Mayor’s court and the corporation; Mayor, Recorder and aldermen; Common Council, two and two; Master of the Rolls and Register of Wills; Register of German Passengers and Collector of Excise in the City and County of Philadelphia; assistant secretary of Council, members of Council, two and two; the Governor-elect; sergeant-at-arms of the Senate; clerk of the Senate; Speaker of the Senate; members of the Senate, two and two; doorkeeper of the Senate; sergeant-at-arms of the House of Representatives; assistant clerk; clerk; members, two and two; doorkeeper; provost and faculty of the University, two and two; officers of the militia; citizens.
Arriving at the court house, the certificate of the election of the Governor was read by the clerk of the Senate, when the official proclamation was thrice made by the clerk of the court declaring Thomas Mifflin Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and commander-in-chief of the army and navy thereof. This being done, the procession reformed, returning to the Senate chamber. The Governor then delivered his inaugural address.
On the days following various bodies of tradesmen and society organizations waited upon the Governor and tendered their congratulations, and upon the first day of January following, City Councils, with the Mayor and Recorder, waited upon his Excellency and formally congratulated him on his accession to his high office.
First Newspaper in Pennsylvania Published
December 22, 1719
The first newspaper published in Pennsylvania was entitled the American Weekly Mercury, and was established by Andrew Bradford, at Philadelphia, and sold by John Copsom. The initial number appeared December 22, 1719.
The Mercury was published weekly, generally on Tuesday, but the day of publication varied.
Andrew Bradford died November 23, 1742; and the next number of the Mercury, dated December 2, appeared in mourning.