Details

Subject(s)

• Tax collection—18th century—Pennsylvania [Browse]
• Tax collection—18th century—New Jersey [Browse]
• Pennsylvania—Sources—History—Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775 [Browse]
• Philadelphia (Pa.)—Sources—History—Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775 [Browse]
• Susquehanna River Valley—19th century—Description and travel [Browse]
• College of New Jersey (Princeton, N.J.). [Browse]
• Log College [Browse]

Associated name

• Morris, Robert [Browse]
• Morris, Robert [Browse]

Getty AAT genre

• Correspondence—18th century [Browse]
• Deeds—18th century—Pennsylvania—Bucks County [Browse]
• Deeds—18th century—Pennsylvania—Luzerne County [Browse]
• Deeds—18th century—Pennsylvania—Philadelphia [Browse]
• Documents—18th century [Browse]

Compiled/​Created

1728-1908 1728-1809

Restrictions note

The collection is open for research.

Summary note

• Consists of selected correspondence and documents from the state of Pennsylvania, the bulk of which date from the eighteenth century. Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn in 1681 in order to establish a safe haven for the English Quakers, who were being persecuted in England at the time.
• The collection consists of selected correspondence, deeds, and other documents dating from the Colonial and Revolutionary periods of the state of Pennsylvania. Of significance are the letters of Robert Morris, who at the time was National Superintendent of Finance, regarding the purchase of supplies and the appointment of William Churchill Houston (Princeton Class of 1768) as Receiver of Continental Taxes for New Jersey. Another letter, in French, written on Morris's behalf to the governor of Cuba, concerns the raising of funds for the United States. There are two passports for safe passage and recommendations for the Rev. Charles Beatty regarding his trips to raise funds for the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University). The first is signed by Robert Hunter Morris (1754) and the second by Richard Penn (1772). There are several documents related to taxes and their collection in Pennsylvania, and lists of persons who are delinquent on them. There is a printed form of the "Constitution" of the Philadelpia Society for the Information and Assistance of Persons Emigrating from Foreign Countries, dated 1795. A letter from the Executive Committee of Founder's Week of the 225th Anniversary of the City of Philadelphia to John Franklin Fort, Governor of New Jersey, dated October 1, 1908, concerns the celebrations in Philadelphia. Among documents are two deeds (1735) of John White and the Rev. William Tennent for land in Warminster, Bucks County, for the "Log College," which Tennent conducted from 1726 until his death in 1745. There are three deeds of Emma Bache, William Bache, and Benjamin Franklin Bache for land in Fayette County, two deeds of Catherine Wistar for land in Northumberland County, and one of Richard Wistar which bears the seal of the "Province of Pennsylvania." Also, there are three deeds for property in Philadelphia, and one of Robert Morris and Alexander Wilcocks for property in Luzerne County, dated December 18, 1797. In addition, there is a one-page description of a journey along the Susquehanna River in 1800; on the verso is a campaign song by Robert Morton, dated March 22, 1801.

Statement on responsible collection description

Princeton University Library aims to describe library materials in a manner that is respectful to the individuals and communities who create, use, and are represented in the collections we manage. Read more...