John Sotcher. William Penn's Steward at Pennsbury Manor

JOHN SOTCHER. WILLIAM PENN'S STEWARD AT PENNSBURY MANOR. BY JOSIAH GRA.NVILLE LEACH. John Sotcher came to Pennsylvania with William Penn in the good ship Canterbury, in December, 1699, on the occasion of the Proprietary's last visit to his Province. Sotcher was, no doubt, well known to Penn in England, and accompanied him for the purpose of managing his affairs at his noted seat on the Delaware, known as Pennsbury Manor. A former Steward there had been James Harrison, Penn's much trusted friend, and a man highly honored in the Province, as is evidenced in his being chosen a member of the Provincial Council, one of the first justices of the peace and of the courts of Bucks County, and Chief Justice of the Provincial or Supreme Court. Upon Sotcher's arrival in Pennsylvania, he took up his residence at Pennsbury, and was installed in the stewardship of the Manor. Among Penn's household was Mary Loftus, to whom Sotcher paid his addresses with the hearty approval of the Governor and Mrs. Penn, and, as the young couple had daily opportunities of meeting each other, it seems safe to assume that Sotcher's wooing soon won from Miss Loftus an acceptance of his hand and heart. Certain it is that he was successful in his suit before 4 September, 1701 as on that day he appeared at Falls Meeting, and after the custom of Friends, announced his intention of "taking Mary to wife." Previous to this date, Penn had determined to return with his family to England, and, being desirous of leaving Pennsbury in possession of Sotcher, ( 264 ) John Sotcher. 265 he was present at the Meeting at which the latter declared his intentions, and expressed his desire to "see the marriage accomplished before he left the country," declaring "that the season hurried his departure." The usual action was then taken, and a committee appointed "to examine the matter" and report at the next meeting, Joseph Kirkbride and Mary Sirkett being named as the committee, and Phineas Pemberton, Joseph Kirkbride, Richard Hough, and Samuel Dark, were named as the committee to draw the marriage certificate. The Meeting re-assembled 8 October, 1701, when a letter from Governor and Mrs. Penn was read, consenting to the marriage, and a favorable report was received from the committee, whereupon the Meeting sanctioned the union. The marriage ceremony took place at Pennsbury, and was attended by Penn and his family, and by many of the most distinguished persons in the Province. The marriage certificate bears date 16 October, 1701, and is witnessed by Penn, his wife Hannah, and daughter Letitia, and by the eminent James Logan, Secretary of the Province ; Phineas Pemberton, Provincial Counsellor and Judge ; Samuel Jennings, Governor of West New Jersey ; Joseph Shippen, son of the then Mayor of Philadelphia, and many others of prominence. It was possibly the only marriage celebrated at Pennsbury, and General Davis states in his History of Bucks County, that "it is the only one Penn is known to have attended in this country." Immediately after the marriage, Penn returned to Enland, leaving the bridal party in full possession of Pennsbury, where they had the direction of numerous servants and others employed on the manor. Penn sailed on the ship Dolmahoy, and while on ship-board he penned a letter of instructions to his worthy secretary, Logan, at the end of which he wrote : "Remember J. Sotcher and Pennsbury ". Penn's letters to Logan and others, from this time on, contain frequent mention of Sotcher. Shortly after his arrival • 266 John Sotcher. in Europe, he learned of the death of Sotcher's brother, which fact he communicated to Sotcher, in a letter to Logan, dated at Kensington, 4th of 11th mo., 1701/2, saying : "Let John Sotcher know that his brother is dead, and has left him £150 if he come in two years for it. He died above six months ago, so that he must come." One week later, in another letter to Logan, he writes : "I writ by an English ship last week—in short, not time to read it,—that if John and Mary come, his brother leaving him £150, if he come for it in two years, that Hugh be steward and gardener, and old Peter go to the garden when needful ; and that Phineas Pemberton's wife and daughters see to the bedding and linen, once a month." Sotcher went to England, and received his legacy, returning to Pennsylvania in August, 1702. Penn on learning of the safe return here of Sotcher, wrote that it was "glad tidings, the dangers on the seas considered." When Sotcher's first child, Hannah, was born, Logan, realizing that Penn's family would be interested in the event, particularly as she had been named in honor of Mrs. Penn, wrote to Penn under date of 3d of 1st mo., 1702/3 "John Sotcher's wife has a fine girl named Hannah, six weeks old ". In a letter to Logan, dated London, 16 limo; 1704/5, Penn writes : "I had John Sotcher's letter, and desire him to go on as he has done.—my love to him and her {Mary] and the family ". I was pleased with his account, but would have it yet more exact." The following letters of Penn to Sotcher and his wife give unmistakable evidence of the friendship existing between them, and of the respect in which Sotcher was held by the renowned founder of Pennsylvania : LOND. 12, 8 ico., 1705. reall love is to you, and desire you and your little ones preservation heartily, and I know so does my dear wife and loving Honest John and ifary,—My John Sotcher. 267 mistress. We are all, through the Providence of God Lord's mercy, well, save little Hannah at Bristol, whose arme has a weakness. She is a sweete childe, as Thomas and little Margaret. I doubt your care and good husbandry, and good housewifery, to make that place profitable to me, after the hundreds, yea thousands, yr have been sunk there from the beginning. Though if that could be lett, to one that would not misuse it, and you upon a plantation for my dear Johnnie, I should like it better, and pray tell James [Logan] so ; for I think I have spent too much there already. Johnnie grows a fine childe, tall, briskey as a bird, his mother's limbs, but my countenance, and witty, as others say, and as healthy as any of them. Let me hear from you how Sam and Sue begin to be diligent. The Lord be with you, and all his humble and faithful ones, on both sides the water. Farewell : your reall friend, WM. PENN. LoNn. 18, 3 Ito., 1708. John Sather—Loving friend.-1 had thy letter with satisfaction, and glad to hear of thy and family's welfare. I am glad to hear of the good condition of poor Pennsbury, beloved of us all, and there, in the will of God, we wish ourselves. If thou leaves it, give J. Logan an account of thy labor, as acres cleared, and fence, and of both plow and sow land. Likewise, deliver all ye linnen, and household stuff into his possession and care. I bless God, we are all alive and well, save our dear sweet Hannah, whom the Lord took four months ago, at 4 years, the wittiest and womanliest creature that her age could show, but his holy will be done. Thy loving friend, Wm. PENN. To Honest Diary.-1 had thine by our frd. Mary Dannester, with the pair of gloves to Johnnie, which both pleased and fitted him well. I was well pleased to heare of yr well doing while at that place of my pleasure, poor Pennsbury, (which I like for a place better than any I have ever lived at, and I hope since 'tis lett, which to be sure James (Logan) does to our advantage,) it will be kept as it deserves, and be fitt to receive me, if the Lord please to make our way for our thither again. My dear father has been dangerously ill, which hurried me to Bristoll lately. There I saw thy brother, who has three children, and thrives in person and trade. With true love to thee and thy husband, and honest friend Jane, remain thy friend, W. P. About 1708 Sotcher gave up his stewardship, and withdrew from Pennsbury to an estate which he purchased at Bristol in the same county. Here, under the authority of the colonial government, he established a ferry across the Delaware to Burlington, New Jersey. His effort to secure the same is shown in the following extract from the records 268 John Sotcher. of the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania, under date of 31st of August 1709, as follows : "John Sotcher of the County of Bucks, presented to the board an address or petition of the Magistrates of the said County, Grounded on divers Presentments of the Grand Juries of that County, complaining of the great want of a ferry over Delaware, from Bristol to Burlington, and requesting this board to authorize the said John Sotcher as the most proper person to keep the said ferry for the general accomodation of the Country there. "Ordered, that it be first recommended to the House of Representatives, and it is hereby recommended to them, to agree on an act to be passed, for the establishing a ferry from Bristol to Burlington, in such manner as may give sufficient Encouragement to a fitt person to give it due attendance at all seasons, after web the said John Sotcher shall be appointed to keep the same, as requested." In Sotcher's day, as now, ferry privileges were important franchises, and were granted only to men of estate and good standing in the community, so that the action taken by the Provincial Council clearly indicates that Sotcher was known to and well regarded by the members of this distinguished body. He is next heard of in 1712, when he was chosen by the good people of Bucks County, as one of their representatives in the Provincial Assembly, which trust he filled with such acceptance, that he was again chosen in 1715, and continuously thereafter until 1722. He was also prominent in the Society of Friends, and for seven years preceding his death, was an Elder of Falls Meeting. He died January 19, 1729, and his will, dated 6th of the previous December, was probated in Bucks County, February 26, 1729/30, of which his only son, Robert Sotcher, was made executor. By Mary Loftus he had four children, to wit : 1. Hannah Sotcher, born 25, 11th month, 1702; died probably in 1723; married in 1720, Joseph Kirkbride, Jr., a prominent citizen of Bucks County. John Sotcher. 269 2. Mary Sotcher, born 18 September, 1704; died 22 November, 1778; married Mahlon Kirkbride, brother of Joseph, and equally prominent. 3. Robert Sotcher, born 3 September, 1706; died in 1753; married Mercy Brown. 4. Ann Botcher, born 27 March, 1710; married in 1729, Mark Watson, a member of the Assembly and justice of the peace and of the courts.