American Quotations by William J. Federer 2024

Concessions to the Province of Pennsylvania (July 11, 1681) agreed upon by William Penn, proprietor: <That so soon as it pleaseth God that the above said persons arrive there, a certain quantity of land, or ground plat, shall be laid out, for a large town or city... And forasmuch, as it is usual with the planters to over-reach the poor natives of the country, in trade, by goods not being good of the kind, or debased with mixtures, with which they are sensibly aggrieved, it is agreed, whatever is sold to the Indians, in consideration of their furs, shall be sold...

Charter of Pennsylvania (February 28, 1681) was granted to William Penn by King Charles II of England, in payment of a large debt he owed to Penn's father, who had been an Admiral in the king's navy. When his father died, 1670, William Penn inherited his estate. The area consisted of all the land between Maryland and New York. The following year Penn received from the Duke of York the territory that is now Delaware. William Penn had named the area "Sylvania," meaning "woodland," but King Charles II changed it to "Pennsylvania." The state has since become known as "The Quaker...

Province of West New Jersey (November 25, 1681): <Forasmuch as it hath pleased God, to bring us into this Province of West New Jersey, and settle us here in safety, that we may be a people to the praise and honor of His name, who hath so dealt with us, and for the good and welfare of our posterity to come, we the Governor and Proprietors, freeholders and inhabitants of West New Jersey...do make and constitute these our agreements to be as fundamentals... 10. That liberty of conscience in matters of faith and worship towards God shall be granted to...

New Hampshire Commission of John Cutt (1680) <And ye President & Council...before they be admitted to their...offices... shall also take this Oath following, You shall swear, well and truly to administer Justice to all his Majesty's good subjects, inhabiting within ye Province of New Hampshire under this Government: & also duly & faithfully to discharge & execute ye Trust in you reposed, according to the best of your knowledge; you shall spare no person for favor or affection; nor any person grieve for hatred or ill will. So Help You God... And above all things we do by these presents...

Sieur de Bienville (February 23, 1680-March 7, 1768) was the French naval officer who founded New Orleans. Born in Canada, he helped to colonize French Louisiana and served as its Colonial Governor various times during the period 1701 and 1743. In his Last Will and Testament, Jean Baptiste LeMoyne Sieur de Bienville: <In the name of the Father, etc. Persuaded, as I am, of the necessity of death, and the uncertainty of the hour, I wish, before it arrives, to put my affairs in order. First, I consign my soul to God...I implore the mercy of God and of Jesus Christ,...