You are here:   Cambria > Books > History of Cambria County, V.1
History of Cambria County, V.1

4 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
charter. They further stated that Penn was endeavoring to buy it from the Indians in order to draw away trade to his province, and the King was assured this would do them great damage, because "All the Nations with whom Albany hath a trade live at the head of the Susquehanna river," and declared that "the inhabitants at Albany" had "only seated themselves there and addicted their minds to the Indian language and the mysteries of the said trade with the purpose to manage it." They insistently urged that if Penn's title to Pennsylvania should be affirmed that it should extend no further on the Susquehanna than the falls thereof. The falls are probably at the mouth of the Conestoga creek, about fifteen miles north of the Maryland line. They preferred that Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Connecticut be re-annexed to New York.
     The uneasiness which Penn's negotiations caused in 1683 had now become malevolent; it was bitter and vindictive toward the Province and its rulers. Penn was the central object for the attacks of those who disliked his religious views, his democratic system of government, despised his humane policy, or hated all of these. This was the beginning of Penn's troubles and the historical events relating to Barr, Carroll and Susquehanna townships in Cambria county.
     In 1684 Penn returned to England with the fixed purpose of making a short visit and of bringing his family to Pennsylvania, but in the meanwhile James II had succeeded Charles II as King of England. Penn strove to use his influence for the persecuted dissenters, which included the Roman Catholics, and at first James assented, but political measures demanded the re-enactment of offending measures, however, and Penn continued to intercede for the oppressed people. This condition of affairs continued until the revolution of 1688.
     William and Mary ascended the throne February 13, 1689, in full faith in the doctrine of the Church of England, which radically changed the situation. All the friends of the Stuarts were suspects. Penn was twice arrested on charges of treasonable correspondence with the banished James, and twice was he acquitted. He was accused of being "a cheat," also of being a Catholic, and under these strained conditions of affairs he remained in seclusion for three years. In 1693 three lords presented his case to William with the assurance there was nothing against him, and Penn was given his liberty.
     However, his troubles were not confined to England, inas-


Previous page Title Page Contents Image Next page

Created: 21 Jan 2006, Last Updated:
Copyright © 2000-2006, All Rights Reserved
Lynne Canterbury, Diann Olsen and contributors