Welsh Journals

A PARTY OF RADNORSHIRE EMIGRANTS TO PENNSYLVANIA IN 1698 The following document, first printed in the Pennsylvanian Magazine of History and Biography, in 1877 (Vol. 1. pp. 330-2), throws an interesting light on the part played by Radnorshire in the early settlement of Pennsylvania. The earliest Radnorshire emigrants had been among the first settlers in 1682, and others had followed at intervals, but this seems to be the first case of a whole shipload going together from the county. AN OLD CHARTER PARTY Communicated by W. F. CORBIT Articles of ffreightment, covenanted, indented, and made the seventh day of March, 1697-8, between Owen Thomas, of the County burrough of Carmathen, mercer, owner of the good shipp called the William Galley, now riding in the river of Towy, of the one part, and David Powell, of the parish of Nantmell, in the county of Radnor, and John Morris, of the parish of Karbadamfyneth (sc. Llanbadarn- fynydd) in the said county of Radnor, yeomen, of the other part: Witnesseth that the said David Powell, John Morris, and several other persons hereunto subscribed, being desirous to goe beyond seas for Pensilvania, have covenanted and agreed to and with the said Owen Thomas, owner of the said shipp, and Samuel Haines, master thereof, for a voyage or passage in the said ship by God's grace, in manner and form following (vizt.). The said Owen Thomas, owner of the said ship, and the said Master covenant and grant by these presents, to and with the said David Powell and John Morris, that the shipp with the first and next good wind and weather that God shall send after the tenth day of May next ensuing the date above written, shall depart from the said river of Towy, and directly sail for Philadelphia in Pensilvania, with the said passengers and such goods and wares as they shall sett aboard, or lay in the said shipp, on the River Towy, and being arrived or come to the sd. port of Philadelphia, or so nigh to the same as she safely and conveniently may come, shall there tarry for the space of ffive days next after her arrival, there to discharge and unload the said passengers, with all the goods and wares that shall be freighted and laden in her by them, freely on shore, upon the Key of Philadelphia. And it is further covenanted and granted between the sd. parties, that the sd. David Powell and John Morris as well for themselves as also for all others the passengers hereunto subscribed, do hereby promise